Tottori Prefecture Tied for 5th in National Satisfaction—The 5 Testimonials Were Divided East and West by Sand Dunes and Yokai
In the 2024 fiscal year results of the Jalan Domestic Accommodation Travel Survey, Tottori Prefecture is tied for 5th place in satisfaction (88.0%) alongside Kumamoto and Oita Prefectures. Tottori, the prefecture with the smallest population, is breaking into the top tier in traveler satisfaction—this gap is the starting point for this article.Source
If you are unsure about your destination, it is worth remembering at least this figure. Just because it is the least populous prefecture does not mean it lacks substance as a tourist destination.
First, I would like to confirm the relative positions of these five spots on this map.
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I will identify the top 5 spots in Tottori Prefecture from the popular spot ranking by prefecture published by Google Maps and analyze the collected reviews.
| Rank | Spot | Location | Main Reviews | Evaluation Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tottori Sand Dunes | Tottori City | Approx. 1,500 (TripAdvisor) | Rating 4.5 |
| 2 | The Sand Museum, Tottori Sand Dunes | Tottori City | 1,238 (Jalan) | Rating 4.3 |
| 3 | Mizuki Shigeru Road | Sakaiminato City | 808 (TripAdvisor) | Rating 4.1 |
| 4 | Sakaiminato Seafood Direct Sales Center | Sakaiminato City | 54 (Yahoo! Maps) | Rating 4.06 |
| 5 | Mizuki Shigeru Museum | Sakaiminato City | 316 (TripAdvisor) | Rating 4.2 |
1st Place: Tottori Sand Dunes (Tottori City)
One of Japan's largest tourist sand dunes, spanning 2.4 km north-to-south and 16 km east-to-west. The "wind ripples" created by the wind and the 47-meter-high "Umanose" (Horse's Back) standing in the center of the dunes are iconic features. There are about 1,500 reviews, and with a rating of 4.5, it is the highest in the top 5.
When reading the testimonials, many mention not just the impression of it being "vast," but also the view from the top of the slopes. It seems to be a place that requires more physical stamina than it looks like in photos, and voices repeatedly emerge suggesting that one should be prepared before heading there.
2nd Place: The Sand Museum, Tottori Sand Dunes (Tottori City)
The world's first indoor museum exhibiting sculptures made exclusively from "sand." They are sculpted using only sand and water, without the use of adhesives. The theme changes every year, and the sand sculptures return to sand once the exhibition period ends. It has a rating of 4.3 and has collected 1,238 reviews.
Many testimonials mention the fleeting nature of these "one-year-only works." They are almost always discussed in conjunction with the adjacent Tottori Sand Dunes, and the contrast between the outdoor spectacular scenery and the indoor intricate sculptural beauty seems to lead to praise for the combination of these two sites.
3rd Place: Mizuki Shigeru Road (Sakaiminato City)
A shopping street in Sakaiminato City, the birthplace of Shigeru Mizuki, the creator of "GeGeGe no Kitaro." Nearly 180 bronze statues of yokai, including Kitaro and Nezumi Otoko, line the street. There are 808 reviews. The rating is 4.1.
Testimonials mentioning the "fun of searching for the bronze statues one by one" make up the majority. There are also voices praising the nighttime illumination, and a certain number of people seem to have the impression that the street shows a different face depending on the time of day.
4th Place: Sakaiminato Seafood Direct Sales Center (Sakaiminato City)
Sakaiminato is one of Japan's leading fishing ports, known for landing snow crabs, red snow crabs, and tuna. At the direct sales center, you can purchase freshly caught seafood at the storefront and enjoy it on the spot in the dining area. It has a rating of 4.06. The number of reviews is 54, the lowest among the top 5.
Although the number of reviews is modest, the content of the testimonials focuses on 'freshness' and 'reasonable prices,' with many voices highlighting its value as a local kitchen rather than just a tourist spot. It seems to be a spot for those who value substance over flashiness.
5th Place: Mizuki Shigeru Museum (Sakaiminato City)
The museum stands at the end of the Mizuki Shigeru Road in Sakaiminato City. It features exhibits of original drawings, yokai sculptures, and the life of Shigeru Mizuki himself. It has gathered 316 reviews and reached a rating of 4.2.
In contrast to the outdoor exhibits along the road, this place is often described as a 'place to learn the background of the artist's world.' Many testimonials suggest visiting after walking the road, indicating that the street and the museum function as a set.
Summary: One Prefecture, Two 'Protagonists'
Looking at these five spots, it becomes clear that Tottori Prefecture does not rely on a single star tourist destination. The eastern Tottori City area (Tottori Sand Dunes, The Sand Museum) has over 2,700 reviews in total, while the western Sakaiminato City area (Mizuki Shigeru Road, Museum, Direct Sales Center) has a total of 1,178. Two completely different 'protagonists'—natural scenic beauty and a town associated with a manga artist—function independently within the same prefecture.
The title of the least populous prefecture does not mean a lack of tourism options. Rather, whether you head east or west, different forms of satisfaction are prepared for you. If you have never visited Tottori, please consider adding it to your list. If there are any spots that caught your interest, please let me know in the comments.