Trip Report – Tottori (Conan and Sand Dunes)

Took this trip earlier this year in May, might as well add my two cents to this sub reddit. Just for context I live in Yamaguchi and study at a local uni. Decided to bring an exchange student to Tottori because he was into Conan and I didn’t mind driving there. There was minimal planning because the trip was decided a week prior to the dates.

Day 1: May 20 2023 (Sat)

1PM > 8PM : Driving from Yamaguchi city to Tottori City

Took the highway route. Driving there the scenery can be a tad boring since it will be just the side of a mountain that you can look at.

8PM > 10PM: Central Tottori

* Food
* **FukFuk** \- Your local yakiniku joint that serves Tottori wagyu.
* Attractions
* **Shinkosai Festival** \- Arrived just in time to see mikoshi being carried on top of K-trucks around central Tottori. It was like looking into the future. Depressing but cute. There aren’t any yatai to walk/eat in but still interesting to drive/walk by.
* **Hinomaru Onsen** \- Your local public bath house. It’s old fashioned, lacks amneties but it’s dirt cheap.
* Accommodation
* **Tottori Guesthouse Miraie Base** \- It’s cheap and located just on the outskirt of the local shotengai. The rest of the locations are within 5 mins walking of each other.

Day 2: May 21 2023 (Sun)

9AM > 11AM: Breakfast and Stroll at the Sand Dunes

* Food
* **Tottori Sandbox** \- Recently built co-working office that also serves bagel sandwiches. Located right next to the sand dunes. Not near the tourist area so it’s quiet and you can enter the dunes via the carpark below.
* Attractions
* **Sand Dunes** \- Went to the tourist spot. Quiet a number of people already there. Walked to the edge of the sand dunes. Was getting toasty at the end though.
* **Camel Photos** \- Rides on the day weren’t available because the camels had to rest after Golden Week. Still can take a photo though.
* 月面極地探査実験A – Not available in English and wasn’t available this time round. But if you are into space exploration, can understand Japanese it’s a cool experience. You walk around the sand dunes at night in pitch darkness while wearing AR glasses and experience what it’s like on the moon base and space travel. I think it’s only available in Spring \~ Summer. I experienced it last year in 2022.

12PM > 1:30PM: Conan Sightseeing

* Food
* Skipped lunch
* Attractions
* **Beika Shopping Street / Conan’s House** \- Around lunch time the restaurant was packed. Conan’s house and the doorbell was a cool touch though.
* **Yura Station** \- Not much stuff, not really worth to walk all the way there.
* **Gosho Aoyama Manga Factory** \- It’s museum for a manga. Adults aren’t out of place there. Sure there are game stations intended for kids but you’d be fine.
* **Conan Statues / Manga Cover Monuments** \- These are dotted around the road from the Manga Factory to the station. The manga covers can pique your curiosity at first but after the 10th one, it is just scenery.
* Notes: If I had to do this trip again, I would have rented a bicycle. Wasn’t able due to COVID restrictions. The route is doable by foot though.

1:30PM > 9PM: Drive back to Yamaguchi

Took the “scenic” route back. Looking at the sunset while having the sea by the side was not bad. Took slightly longer and many twists and turns in the local roads.