When building a 3 day Tottori itinerary with friends, you don’t just do the tourist stops. You get in the car, turn up the music, and drive.
Last week, I hosted a few friends for a three-day adventure across the San’in region. We didn’t stick to a strict schedule. Instead, we chased good views, better food, and the kind of hidden spots you only find when you’re willing to get a little lost in this Tottori Road Trip.
If you are planning a trip with friends, feel free to steal our itinerary.
We started the trip on Route 9, heading west from Tottori City. This road hugs the Sea of Japan, offering glimpses of the ocean that make you want to pull over every five minutes.
And that’s exactly what we did.
The Unexpected Discovery Somewhere along the coast, we spotted a silhouette of a Big Buddha statue. It wasn’t in the guidebook. We drove down into a small, quiet village to investigate. It was one of those perfect travel moments—no crowds, just us looking up at this massive statue guarding the sea.
The Pear Museum By afternoon, we arrived in Kurayoshi. You can’t come here without visiting the Tottori Nijisseiki Pear Museum. It sounds funny to visit a museum dedicated to fruit, but Tottori is famous for its pears. The giant pear tree inside is impressive, and yes, the tasting samples were delicious.
The Sashimi Feast We ended the day back in Tottori City at a very local Izakaya. We ordered the “Omakase” sashimi platter. When it arrived, the table groaned under the weight. Thick slices of fresh fish caught that morning—it was the kind of meal that makes you realize why the food in the countryside is superior to the big cities.
One of my friends is a professional photographer. While the rest of us were sleeping, he woke up before dawn and headed to Karo Port.
He came back with stunning shots of the fishermen unloading their catch and the old wooden houses bathed in morning light. By the time he returned, we were ready for coffee. We sat together, looked at his photos, and fueled up for the hike ahead.
We drove out to Togo Lake for the highlight of the day: a hike to a hidden castle ruin (often called the “Castle in the Sky” by locals).
It’s not a walk in the park. It was a solid 25-minute steep climb. But the burn in our legs was forgotten the moment we reached the top. The view was magical—looking down over the lake and the Sea of Japan. It felt like we were the only people on earth.
Hungry from the hike, we descended to the lake and found a great Chinese restaurant nearby. There is something about eating hearty noodles after a mountain climb that just hits the spot.
We timed our drive back perfectly to catch the famous Tottori Sand Dunes sunset. The golden hour light hitting the ripples in the sand was the perfect end to an active day.
After two busy days, we took it slow. We left the house around 9:00 AM and headed to the Uradome Coast.
We opted for easy Uradome Coast hiking along the trail. The water here is crystal clear (they call it “Tottori Blue”), and the jagged pine-covered islands look like a traditional Japanese painting came to life.
We couldn’t let our friends leave without the ultimate Tottori experience: Crab.
We went to a specialist crab restaurant for lunch. We ordered the full set. Grilled crab, boiled crab, crab miso… it was a feast. It was the perfect, luxurious end to a 3-day road trip.
3 Day Tottori Itinerary Summary
Day 1: West Tottori – Route 9 Drive, Big Buddha, & Pear Museum.
Day 2: Central Tottori – Karo Port, Castle Ruins Hike, & Sand Dunes sunset.
Day 3: East Tottori – Uradome Coast clear kayak & Crab lunch.
You can try to navigate Route 9 yourself, or you can join me. Whether you want to find the hidden castle ruins or just know exactly where to get that massive sashimi platter, I can guide you there.
This itinerary covers the best things to do in Tottori for nature lovers
Tottori Cherry Blossom Guide: The 2026 Forecast & Best Local Spots Escape the Crowds. Experience
