Horse's back
A crest above the sea.
Seko Naotomo — CC BY 3.0 · Raita Futo from Tokyo, Japan — CC BY 2.0 · Raita Futo from Tokyo, Japan — CC BY 2.0 · Cheng-en Cheng — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Suicasmo — CC BY-SA 4.0
The Tottori Sand Dunes stretch along the Sea of Japan coast just outside the city of Tottori in western Japan, about 5 km from Tottori Station and 148 km northwest of Osaka in a straight line. About 14 km long and up to 2.4 km wide, they are often described as the largest sand dunes in Japan. The Sendai River carried the sand down from the Chugoku Mountains into the sea, and strong winds shaped it over some 100,000 years. The dunes are part of the San'in Kaigan UNESCO Global Geopark. The height difference reaches about 90 metres, with broad bowl-shaped hollows, and the wind draws fine ripples across the slopes. Tree planting in the 20th century shrank the open sand, and work continues to protect it. From the edge of the pine woods the sand rolls away in golden ridges, and a steep crest called the «horse's back» stands between the visitors and the sea. Footprints and wind ripples cover the slopes, and from the top the blue water of the Sea of Japan opens up below. Visitors climb the crest for the sea view, ride camels, try sandboarding or paragliding, and visit the Sand Museum next to the dunes, which shows a new exhibition of giant sand sculptures each year. Sunset is the most popular time, and the sand gets very hot on summer afternoons.
A crest above the sea.
Giant sand sculptures.
On the sand.
Sea of Japan coast, Tottori, western Japan
Late afternoon, at sunset.
By bus from Tottori Station.