Tottori

Tottori Prefecture

We visited Tottori Prefecture in late March 2024.

We flew to Haneda, where we overnighted before travelling on to Tottori Airport.

We stayed in Tottori City, which is in the eastern part of the prefecture, and has a population of 183,000. 

 Greeting at the airport:

AROUND TOTTORI CITY

Kanonn-in Temple. Ah, lovely, and even brighter in spring to be sure.

Duckie reflects

A cup of whisked green tea was included in the entry fee. Now I'm sure the whisking releases the natural sugars in the tea ? Absolutely beautiful.

Tottori Castle ruins

A crab on the footpath, escaping. Crab is a Tottori speciality.

The Railway station surrounds, trees not quite in spring mode, next to a sculpture.

What great roomy taxis

There's always a restaurant at the railway station. Here is a yummy tempura prawn and soba. 

Rabbits are everywhere in Tottori Prefecture. 

It seems that some centuries ago, the poor bunnies were stuck on an island off the coast, and were unable to return to town. Clever, they convinced sharks to line up, and then jumped from one to another till they were back in town.

Here's one on a back street on the way to the convenience store.

Jolly dragon for the kids to sit ?

Sit next to scary:

The Rabbit Shrine.

Sand Dunes Chair lift, kids ? enjoy. Safe, camel rides available, .....

Uradome cruising, ah, now, in the rain, the boat seemed to cope with the wet, and it got close to the rocks for a good view. Amazing and worthwhile cruise. If sunny, my pics would be better, well that's my excuse.

 TOWARDS KAWAHARA CASTLE 

Well now, the journey is part of the joy, eh, isn't it ?

Somehow we got on a train that turned away from Kawahara, with one stop to go. So we got off at Yazu. 

(Now that train we travelled on was quite well done up on the inside.)

The Yazu Mascot greeted us,

And what was this outside then ? Some mum and bubs rabbits.

As the next connecting train was one hour fifty minutes, we taxi'd to the castle, which, on top on the hill so, was beautiful, even in the spitter.

Ah, push the brightness button on the phone ?

Now as for the 300 cherry blosssom trees on the slopes of the hill, what a sight they'd be in full bloom.

Mizuki Shigeru is a famous Japanese comic author and illustrator

After an hour train trip west to Yonago, then a 38 minute train to Sakaiminato, we came upon an 800 metre road celebrating one of Japan's most famous Manga (comic) authors. There are over 100 bronze statues of his charcters along the street. 

Did I mention the trains ?

And on the way we passed Mt Daisen. Stunning. In summer, it is prettily surrounded by fields of flowers.

The Prefectural Flower gallery

Whereas the comic characters are north of the hour train trip to Yonago, the flowers are a twenty minute shuttle bus trip south.

No matter how politely you say "shuuuu" some just want fame.

 YONAGO

Passing through on the way to the flowers and comic statues

FINALLY

Of late, if we like a sushi restaurant, that sells a bit of tempura and grilled chicken, well we go back.

The Hokkaido sushi train served simple good food, and so inexpensive ! Why, lots to eat and three jugs (150ml?) of sake, would cost us a little over $40 to $45 (AUD) for the two of us !

Lastly, of all the places we have visited in Japan, we have not found such an exceptional tourist bureau.  It was outside the train station. They had sheets prepared for the sushi restaurants even. They had maps. If you asked how to get to a shop that sold inexpensive yukata ( dressing gown ? kind of, summer wear) they printed off a map with directions. They answered all questions thoroughly, politely.

Thank you.

Map of Japan highlighting Tottori Prefecture thanks to:

 chushikokuandtokyo.org

AND THEN:

Ah, after finding the air conditioning in Japanese hotels to be quite warm, with many of the dials to change temperature NOT working, we found that each room's air con can be turned off. Simply ask at the reception desk.

Great, especially when so many hotels have windows that can be opened. If only a wee smidgen. Don't want anyone jumping now, do we !

The view from our hotel window, panoramic eh. 

And to think the author has shrunk to 5 foot 11 inches. 

Still, the loss of an inch was not of much use,  on the town buses ......  eh.