©The Sand Museum Tottori Sand Dunes 2025
A five day journey to experience the vigor of modern Japan in the major city of Tokyo, and the beautiful nature, history, and culture of Tottori and Shimane.
In Tokyo, you will visit the Hama-rikyu garden and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observatories, the famous Shibuya Crossing, and then get your fill of the Tokyo nightscape on a Yakatabune night cruise. In Tottori you will visit the Tottori Sand Dunes and experience history at the Kurayoshi White Wall Warehouses (Kurayoshi Shirakabe Dozogun), get a taste of nature by walking through the beech tree forest at Mount Daisen (Daisen Buna no Mori Walk), and experience art at the Shoji Ueda Museum of Photography.
Then you will move on to Shimane and get a taste of Japanese beauty and serenity at Japanese garden, Yuushien Garden and Adachi Museum of Art, and discover the treasures of myth and history at Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine and Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine.
This special journey will take you from the city to the unexplored corners of the San’in region in pursuit of the beautiful scenery and undiscovered treasures of Japan.
Destination
Itinerary
5Days
Transport
Plane
Tokyo to Tottori
Tokyo to Tottori
about
1 hour
20 minutes
1 hour
20 minutes
*The times represent the approximate time needed to travel between major spots.
Day 1
Spend a day encountering the power and nightscapes of Tokyo
Start the morning with a visit to the Hama-rikyu garden to enjoy historic buildings and spectacular morning views.
Then in the afternoon, get a bird’s eye view of Tokyo from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observatories, and in the evening, experience the city bustle at the famous Shibuya Crossing.
Then finish off the night with a Yakatabune and Daiba night cruise to enjoy the sparkling nightscapes and wonderful waterfront views.
This will be the perfect day to start your journey in Tokyo, where tradition and urban scenery intersect.
Then in the afternoon, get a bird’s eye view of Tokyo from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observatories, and in the evening, experience the city bustle at the famous Shibuya Crossing.
Then finish off the night with a Yakatabune and Daiba night cruise to enjoy the sparkling nightscapes and wonderful waterfront views.
This will be the perfect day to start your journey in Tokyo, where tradition and urban scenery intersect.
1
Hama-rikyu Gardens
Featuring a tidal pond with water drawn from Tokyo Bay and duck hunting grounds, Hama-rikyu Gardens is the garden of the Tokugawa Shogunate family, and functioned as the branch castle of the Edo Castle during the Edo period. It's said that the garden's current form was completed during the reign of the 11th-generation Shogun, Ienari. After the Meiji Restoration, it became the detached palace of the Imperial family, and was renamed Hama-rikyu.
21 minutes by foot
20 minutes by train(non-JR lines)
2
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observatory
Take in sweeping views of the city of Tokyo from 202m above ground level.
To access the observation deck, take the Observatory Elevator, which climbs directly to the 45th floor, at an elevation of 202 m above ground level, in 55 seconds. In the observation deck, visitors can admire the breathtaking views as well as enjoy the attached cafe and shop.
To access the observation deck, take the Observatory Elevator, which climbs directly to the 45th floor, at an elevation of 202 m above ground level, in 55 seconds. In the observation deck, visitors can admire the breathtaking views as well as enjoy the attached cafe and shop.
17 minutes by foot
7 minutes by train (JR)
3
CROSSING VIEW & ROOFTOP LOUNGE MAG8
CROSSING VIEW ＆ ROOFTOP LOUNGE MAG8 is an observation deck and lounge on the roof of the MAGNET by SHIBUYA109 commercial facility, facing Shibuya Scramble Crossing. It is the best spot to look down on Shibuya Scramble Crossing, located approximately 30 meters above ground. Visitors can see the many people using Shibuya Scramble Crossing during the day, and the unique nightscape of Shibuya at night. You can take a normal commemorative photo on your own, but we recommend the Crossing photo service, as a way to insert yourself into the background of Shibuya Scramble Crossing. That way you can easily take a dynamic selfie as though you were shooting the crossing with a drone.
Use the elevator at the front of the building on the 1st floor to get to the roof. The 1,800 Yen admission fee includes one drink (cash not accepted). The Crossing Photo costs 1,500 Yen for 150 seconds (enough time to take 3 or 4 photos).
Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (last admission: 9:30 p.m.)
*The lounge will be closed from January to mid-March 2026 for renovations.
*Please contact the MAGNET by SHIBUYA109 official website for more details.
Use the elevator at the front of the building on the 1st floor to get to the roof. The 1,800 Yen admission fee includes one drink (cash not accepted). The Crossing Photo costs 1,500 Yen for 150 seconds (enough time to take 3 or 4 photos).
Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (last admission: 9:30 p.m.)
*The lounge will be closed from January to mid-March 2026 for renovations.
*Please contact the MAGNET by SHIBUYA109 official website for more details.
39 minutes by taxi
4
Yakatabune Harumiya
Taking a ride on the Yakatabune Harumiya pleasure cruise is the perfect way to take in the highlights of Tokyo tourism. A chef on board will prepare fresh tempura and richly fragrant Japanese cuisine. The seats are Horigotatsu (low tables with a sunken floor for your legs), so you can relax and stretch out. You can also get amazing nighttime views of TOKYO SKYTREE or Odaiba by going up to the Sky Deck, to get the most out of a Japanese pleasure cruise. You can make bookings from a minimum of two people, making them ideal for tourism, celebrations, or group trips. Make unforgettable memories of Tokyo from aboard our ships.
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Days 2 to 3
Tour treasures woven of sand, nature, and art
On the afternoon of the first day you will immerse yourself in the sandscape of the massive Tottori Sand Dunes. Then in the evening, you will travel to walk among the Kurayoshi White Wall Warehouses (Kurayoshi Shirakabe Dozogun) and enjoy a townscape that has been maintained since the Edo period. On the second day, you will soothe your mind and body in the abundant nature offered by the Daisen Buna no Mori Walk (a hike through the beech forest of Mount Daisen), followed by a visit to see the creative works on display at the Shoji Ueda Museum of Photography in the afternoon. Enjoy this journey to get your fill of sand, art, townscapes, and nature.
5
Tottori Sand Dunes, The Sand Museum
The Tottori Sand Dunes are located in an area of the San'in Kaigan Geopark and are Japan's second largest sand dunes, stretching 2.4km south-to-north and 16km east-to-west. The wind ripple patterns on the sand created by winds from the Sea of Japan are very beautiful and charm the hearts of all who see them. In one corner of the Tottori Sand Dunes is the world's first Sand Museum dedicated to exhibiting sculptures made of sand. The basic concept of The Sand Museum is "World Tour on Sand," with their theme changing every year. The world's top sand sculptors create intricate works with powerful presence here.
©The Sand Museum Tottori Sand Dunes 2025
1 hour 4 minutes by taxi
6
Shirakabe Dozogun Akagawara
The Shirakabe Dozogun storehouses are a collection of buildings from the Edo and Meiji periods that have been designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. The white-walled storehouses and buildings are home to various types of stores such as sundry shops, cafes, and art galleries, that offer up a retro ambience.
1 hour 8 minutes by taxi
7
Mt. Daisen
Mt. Daisen, which towers over Tottori, is the highest mountain in the Chugoku Region and is also called the Mt. Fuji of the Hoki Province. The forest of Japanese beech that stretches across the foot of the mountain is the largest of its kind in western Japan, and offers beautiful sights throughout the four seasons, from the green season starting in May to the autumn foliage spanning from late October to early November. You can enjoy mountain climbing, trekking, cycling and other activities, and in winter it is the place for skiing and snowshoe hikes. This is a spot where you can enjoy nature and activities throughout the year. It is also known as a historically religious site for places such as Daisen Temple and Oogamiyama Jinja, making it an attractive place that balances rich nature and culture.
12 minutes by taxi
8
Shoji Ueda Museum of Photography
The Shoji Ueda Museum of Photography is an art gallery that houses and displays 12,000 photographic works by photographer Shoji Ueda (1913-2000), who was born in Sakaiminato City, Tottori.
Opened in 1995, the museum features collection exhibitions and three special exhibitions per year. Throughout his life, Ueda never left his hometown and continued taking photographs in Tottori Prefecture. His signature style featured staged photography where people were arranged like objects against the backdrop of the San'in region's skies, horizons, and sand dunes. This distinctive approach is widely recognized even in France, the birthplace of photography, where it's referred to as "Ueda-cho" (Ueda style) using the original Japanese characters.
The building was designed by architect Shin Takamatsu and features three ponds, four structures, and distinctive large curved walls. This museum won the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's Art Encouragement Prize for architecture. With Mount Daisen out front, on clear days you can see the magnificent inverted reflection of Mount Daisen in the three ponds, making it a popular photography spot.
Opened in 1995, the museum features collection exhibitions and three special exhibitions per year. Throughout his life, Ueda never left his hometown and continued taking photographs in Tottori Prefecture. His signature style featured staged photography where people were arranged like objects against the backdrop of the San'in region's skies, horizons, and sand dunes. This distinctive approach is widely recognized even in France, the birthplace of photography, where it's referred to as "Ueda-cho" (Ueda style) using the original Japanese characters.
The building was designed by architect Shin Takamatsu and features three ponds, four structures, and distinctive large curved walls. This museum won the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's Art Encouragement Prize for architecture. With Mount Daisen out front, on clear days you can see the magnificent inverted reflection of Mount Daisen in the three ponds, making it a popular photography spot.
54 minutes by taxi
Days 4 to 5
Experience a place rooted in myth and history
Take a walk through a beautiful Japanese garden at Yuushien Garden on the first day, and then enjoy another example of a Japanese garden accompanied by famous artworks at Adachi Museum of Art. In the afternoon, tour Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine, a place of sacred myth. On the second day, view the Omori townscape at Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine to experience the culture of this World Heritage mine.
Discover unknown treasures in this place where myth, art, and history intertwine.
Discover unknown treasures in this place where myth, art, and history intertwine.
9
Yuushien Garden
Yuushien Garden is a kaiyu strolling style (pond with a walking path) Japanese garden, located on Daikonshima Island in Matsue City, Shimane. In spring, peonies bloom in splendor, while in autumn, the foliage colors the water's surface. There is also a Peony House where visitors can view peonies year-round, and enjoy them regardless of the season. Furthermore, this area is also known as a producer of Korean ginseng, and features the Ginseng Magistrate's Office and Ginseng Museum where you can experience this history.
35 minutes by taxi
10
Adachi Museum of Art
This 165,000-square-meter garden has been selected by "The Journal of Japanese Gardening" as Japan's best garden since 2003. It was also rated three stars by "Michelin Green Guide Japan", a travel guidebook published in France.
The collection of Japanese paintings is popular, with a true highlight being the Yokoyama Taikan collection.
The collection of Japanese paintings is popular, with a true highlight being the Yokoyama Taikan collection.
1 hour 27 minutes by taxi
11
Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine
Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine is an ancient shrine that appears in the Kojiki, the oldest historical chronicles of Japan. The shrine's main hall is currently designated as a National Treasure. The shrine's Sacred Dance Hall features a "shimenawa"(shinto rope indicating that the space behind is sacred) that is around 13 meters long and weighs 5.2 tons, making it one of the largest in all of Japan. It is believed that deities from across Japan gather in Izumo during the 10th month of the lunar calendar to hold a matchmaking conference.
1 hour by taxi
12
Iwami Ginzan World Heritage Center and the townscape of Omori
Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine was Japan's biggest-class silver mine. At its peak period, it is estimated that about a third of all the silver mined throughout the world came from Japan, and most of it from Iwami Ginzan. The entire area is listed as a World Heritage Site.
Iwami Ginzan World Heritage Center introduces the history of Iwami Ginzan and the technology that was used there. The Omori district has samurai residences from the Edo Period, a residence of the wealthy merchants of the Kumagai family, as well as other historical buildings, maintaining the atmosphere of that time. There are cafes which are renovated from an old Japanese-style house that is a popular spot for relaxing.
We recommend taking a relaxing walk by the beautiful stream in the forest that connects the mining shafts and Omori Town. The walk from Iwami Ginzan Park takes 40 minutes one-way.
But make sure to dress appropriately for the walk.
Iwami Ginzan World Heritage Center introduces the history of Iwami Ginzan and the technology that was used there. The Omori district has samurai residences from the Edo Period, a residence of the wealthy merchants of the Kumagai family, as well as other historical buildings, maintaining the atmosphere of that time. There are cafes which are renovated from an old Japanese-style house that is a popular spot for relaxing.
We recommend taking a relaxing walk by the beautiful stream in the forest that connects the mining shafts and Omori Town. The walk from Iwami Ginzan Park takes 40 minutes one-way.
But make sure to dress appropriately for the walk.
*The information provided here is as of December 2025.
*Transportation information does not include the number of transfers or transfer time.
*Admission fees may be charged depending on the spot/facility. For the latest information on business hours, days when spots/facilities are regularly closed, prices, etc., please check the official website for each spot/facility or check directly with the spot/facility.
*Transportation information does not include the number of transfers or transfer time.
*Admission fees may be charged depending on the spot/facility. For the latest information on business hours, days when spots/facilities are regularly closed, prices, etc., please check the official website for each spot/facility or check directly with the spot/facility.
update: Dec.16.2025