Moopon

The museum displays a collection of works by Katsushika Hokusai, one of Japan's most famous painters from the Edo Period.
The museum ranges from ukiyo-e (Japanese woodblock prints) to illustrated books by the artist and some of his pupils.

Hokusai himself did not have a special relation to Tsuwano.
Rather, the museum was opened here owing to the discovery of one of his works by a local researcher.
 

Facility Information
Hours: 9:00 to 17:00 (last entry at 16:30) 
Closed: Tuesdays and New Year holidays 
Admission: 500 yen

 

This church was built in 1931 by a Catholic priest from Germany. The best thing to watch is its unique style of building; Outside-Western, Inside-Japanese featuring tatami mats inseted of pews, Next to the church stands a small museum with exhibits related to the story of the Christians who were persecuted in Tsuwano during the early Meiji Period.
The church itself is dedicated to Saint Francis Xavier, who visited Japan as a missionary in 1549–50, and is located on its mainstreet. The Santa Maria Church at Otome Pass was dedicated in 1951 and is part of a memorial for Japanese Christians persecuted and tortured in Tsuwano by the government during the Edo and Meiji periods.

Hours: 8:00 to 17:30 (until 17:00 from November to March)
Closed: No closing days
Admission: Free
English information: No

Within the hills which surround Tsuwano Town in Shimane Prefecture, is the Taikodani Inari Shrine (太皷谷稲荷神社). The red shrine structures along the green mountains, makes this shrine hard to miss.

Originally built in the 18th century near the Tsuwano Castle, the shrine’s primary function was to protect the castle. However, currently people visit Taikodani Inari Shrine to pray for good health and fortune. Being one of the five greatest Inari Shrines in Japan, many traditional ceremonies are also performed here.

There are a large number of red torii gates over the steps leading up to the shrine.

Visitors will feel they are passing a torii tunnel as they approach the main shrine grounds.

Within the main shrine grounds lies a beautiful main hall.

The former main hall can also be seen here.  

As seen in other shrines in Shimane Prefecture, sacred straw ropes are strung across the front of the halls at Taikodani Inari Shrine.
 

Hours: never closed
Closed: opened all year round
Admission: Free

Access Information:
**From Tsuwano Station, about 15-20 minutes on foot to the bottom of the stairway leading up to the shrine. It takes about 15 minutes to walk up the stairs to the main shrine grounds. 




 

The Tottori Sand Dunes (鳥取砂丘, Tottori Sakyu) is Tottori’s most famous tourist attraction.  The sand dunes are located outside the center of the city; they are a part of the Sanin Kaigan National Park.

Being the largest in Japan, the Tottori Sand Dunes span 16 kilometers along the Sea of Japan coast.  Being along the coast, the tides and winds constantly reshape the sand dunes to a new design.

Between the visitor center and the sea is the main sightseeing area. Visitors will find many of the largest sand dunes here.  Walking to the top of the tall dune will enable visitors to experience breathtaking sea views. From this location, visitors can see the trails of never-ending sand in almost every direction.

Beside the sand dune, there are other tourist attractions in this areas. There are camel rides as well as horse drawn carts to travel through the dunes.  Adventurous visitors have the option to try paragliding or sandboarding (similar to snowboarding) here as well.


Next to the dunes is The Sand Museum, a unique museum which displays large sand sculptures by artists from around the world. In the past, the exhibits were held outdoors or in temporary structures but since 2012, the sculptors are displayed in their permanent home.

The span of an exhibit is from mid April to early January of the following year. Each exhibit has its own theme which is usually a country or a region.  For 2014, the theme is Russia.  The current show started on April 19, 2014 and will close on January 4, 2015.

**Camel Ride Information:
Hours: 9:30 to 16:30 (March to November)
10:00 to 16:00 (December to February)
Closed: No closing days
Admission: 1300 yen (one person), 2500 yen (two persons)

**Sand Museum:
Hours: 9:00 to 20:00 (entry until 19:30)
Closed: Between exhibitions (early January to mid April)
Admission: 600 yen
English Level: Good

**Access Information:
By Bus:
*from Tottori Station, board the regular city bus bound for Tottori Sakyu (鳥取砂丘). Visitors can board the bus from bus stop #0 in front of Tottori Station.  Visitors will disembark at the final stop. The ride to the dunes takes about 20 minutes. The fare is 370 yen.  There 1 bus per hour.
*from Tottori Station, board the Kirin Jishi Loop Bus.  The A-Course takes about 25 minutes to the dunes whereas the B-Course takes about one hour. The frequency is one bus every 1-2 hours. The cost is 300yen per ride or 600 yen for a 1-day pass.
NOTE:  the Kirin Jishi Loop bus to Sand Dunes operates only on the weekends, national holidays and summer vacation (July 20th to August 31st). For other dates, please use the regular city bus.
By taxi:
*from Tottori Station, it is a 20 minute ride with a fare of about 2200 yen.