Tottori is an 80-minute flight from Tokyo and a few hours by train from Osaka and Kyoto. Nestled between the Sea of Japan and the Chugoku Mountains, this region of unparalleled natural beauty blessed with the fruits of the land and bounty of the sea is an ideal destination for travelers seeking to venture off the beaten path. This page introduces some of the seasonal attractions in Tottori. Though only a portion of the many attractions across Tottori, we hope that they help convince you to come and see this beautiful land.
Cherry Blossoms
Spring is one of Japan’s most stunning seasons, and it’s especially lovely in Tottori with all of the exquisite parks and gardens where you can admire beautiful cherry blossoms in all their glory. Home to nearly 4,000 cherry trees, Utsubuki Park in Kurayoshi is a prime destination for hanami. Located at the foot of a mountain, this forest park bursts to life with color when the trees bloom all around a peaceful pond and charming red bridge. At nightfall, traditional lanterns light up creating an ethereal scene sure to leave you breathless. At the Tottori Castle Ruins, the historical Jinpukaku, a two-story white mansion that stands as symbol of Meiji era modernization, provides a marvelous backdrop for admiring cherry blossoms.
Ethereal Evenings Illuminated by Fireflies
Summer in Tottori is filled with enchanting scenes, one being the fireflies of Fukumaki. After sundown, some 20,000 wild himebotaru fireflies illuminate the mountainside forest with ghostly lights that dance and flicker. It’s an otherworldly experience you won’t soon forget.
Go “Glamping” on Mt. Daisen
At First Class Backpackers Inn DAISEN (FBI DAISEN), experience “glamping” which is a blend of the words “glamorous” and “camping”. A variety of cozy tents and cabins are available to choose from, and there are full amenities including showers. Furthermore, there is a restaurant and bar to enjoy food, drinks, and music in a beautiful forest setting.
Stunning Fall Foliage
The transformation of verdant mountain forests into a tapestry of red, orange, and gold heralds the return of Tottori’s intensely beautiful autumn. The hiking trails of Oshika Gorge offer breathtaking views year-round but are particularly striking when flame-kissed leaves surround its rushing waterfalls and extraordinary rock formations.
Another ideal spot to enjoy the fall is Daisenji Temple, a 1000-year-old Buddhist complex sheltered in the forest on the sacred Mt. Daisen. Take in the brilliant colors in a setting of historical architecture, mighty gates, stone paths, riverbeds, and more. At night, the temple compound is vividly illuminated in blazing-hot fiery hues giving this site of autumnal grandeur an air of sacred tranquility.
Winter Wonderland
The Mt. Daisen area offers the best skiing in all of western Japan. At Daisen White Resort, four major ski slopes boasting prime snow quality and stunning scenery — vistas of snow-covered Mt. Daisen and the Sea of Japan stretching out as far as the eye can see — await alpine enthusiasts.
Winter Sports Paradise
Mt. Hyonosen, western Japan’s number one ski and snowboard destination, attracts lovers of winter sports from far and wide. Sail down the slopes and take in the otherworldly sight of the “ice monsters” (ice-covered tree formations) for which the area is famous.