Tottori is a destination on the rise in Japan, approximately 3.5 hours away from its more famous neighbor Osaka, best known for its sand dunes, Mt. Daisen, and Detective Conan. It’s the FOOD CAPITAL OF JAPAN. Tottori City is the capital of Tottori Prefecture. Although there’s no MTR here, it’s easy to get around by bus. You can read my guide on How to get Tottori from Osaka as well as How to get around in Tottori to help your plan your Tottori itinerary.
Interestingly, Tottori’s transportation is discounted for foreign tourists because it is partly subsidized by the government, making it tempting to travel to this under-the-radar prefecture. For example, from June to March 31, the OCAT (Osaka City Air Terminal) to Tottori bus fare is only JPY 1,000/PHP 481 for adults and JPY 500/PHP 240 for children. The tourist taxi, which is a great option for touring around Tottori, is only JPY 2,000/PHP 961 per person for 3 hours. And they also have a JPY 100 Kukuri bus, only JPY 100/PHP 48 per ride or JPY 300/PHP 144 for unlimited rides for a day! See more information below.
I recommend you drop by at the Tottori Tourist Information Center located near JR Tottori Station. They have several brochures for transportations within Tottori and other brochures for Tottori Prefectures that are really helpful. In the meantime, here’s my quick guide on How to get to Tottori from Osaka. I promise to write a Tottori travel guide with itinerary soon.
TRAVEL BLOG CONTENTS
HOW TO GET TO TOTTORI FROM OSAKA
TOTTORI FROM KANSAI AIRPORT IN OSAKA
If you are coming from the Philippines or other parts of Southeast Asia, there’s no direct flight to Tottori, you can fly to Osaka or Tokyo instead. Kansai International Airport (KIX) in Osaka is a practical point of entry to Japan if you are headed to Tottori Prefecture because it’s the nearest airport to Tottori, approximately 2.5 hours travel by land. Flights to Osaka from Southeast Asia are usually cheaper compared to Tokyo flights.
Kansai International Airport (KIX) has 2 terminal, Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. If you are flying to Osaka from overseas, your point of entry is Terminal 1.
Now once you are in Osaka, you have 2 options to get to Tottori: by bus or by train.
ALSO READ: TOKYO TO TOTTORI
KANSAI AIRPORT TO OSAKA
Kansai Airport Bus to OCAT
If you are arriving in Kansai Airport (KIX) Terminal 1 and you need to go straight to Tottori, you need to find your way first to OCAT (Osaka City Air Terminal) in Namba, it’s in downtown Osaka.
Here’s how to do it:
BY BUS
IMPORTANT: First bus trip from KIX Terminal 1 to OCAT in Namba is 6:25 AM, last trip is 11:55 PM. See the Namba bus time table HERE.
Bus fare: (adult) JPY 1,050/PHP 502/USD 9/EURO 8/SGD 13/MYR 38
(child) JPY 530/PHP 255/USD 5/EURO 4/SGD 7/MYR 19
Travel time: Approximately 50 minutes
Departure: Every 30 minutes
You may also pre-book your KIX Limousine Bus ticket in advance below:
PURCHASE AIRPORT LIMOUSINE BUS TICKET HERE
- At Kansai Airport Arrival Hall, go to the AIRPORT BUS to OCAT counter. It’s on your way to Platform 11, where buses to OCAT stops and leaves.
- Buy a bus ticket to OCAT. Show your passport to the counter.
- The staff will give you the bus ticket (white paper) and the receipt (green paper).
- Go to Platform 11.
- Fall in line and wait for the airport bus.
- Once the airport bus arrives, if you have big bags, you need to put it inside the luggage compartment under the bus. The bus staff will take your bags, tag it and give you a receipt with a number. Make sure it matches the number on the bag tag. Don’t lose your receipt/number because you need to give it to the staff to claim your luggage once you arrive in OCAT.
- Show your bus ticket to the driver and then board the Airport Bus.
- Get off at OCAT in Namba. Claim and collect your luggage. The Arrival Area in OCAT is also the same place where you need to take the bus to Tottori. I’ll discuss that below.
Detective Conan Town in Tottori, Japan
BY TRAIN
Alternatively, you may also take the train to OCAT in Namba, Osaka.
To get to Namba Station in Osaka from KIX airport, you can ride the Nankai “Rap:t” Limited Express Trains or the Nankai Airport Express Train. The Nankai Limited Express Train is the faster option, the Nankai Airport Express Train is cheaper, but slower.
ALSO READ: JAPAN IC CARDS: WHICH ONE TO BUY?
Nankai Limited Express Train Fare: JPY 1,400/PHP 673/USD 13/EURO 11/SGD 17/MYR 51
Travel time: Approximately 38 minutes
Departures: every 30 minutes
You may also buy a ticket in advance below:
PURCHASE DISCOUNTED TRAIN TICKET HERE
Nankai Airport Express Train Fare: JPY 920/PHP 442/USD 8/EURO 7/SGD 11/MYR 33
Travel Time: Approximately 46 minutes
Departure: every 15 minutes
RESERVE DISCOUNTED TRAIN TICKETS HERE
- At KIX Arrival Hall, go to the Airport Train Station. It is located on the Level 2F.
- Buy a ticket at the ticket machines. You may also pre-book your train. Just click the red link above.
- There are 2 train stations at Kansai Airport : the Nankai Station and the JR Station. Enter the Nankai Station.
- Ride the train, travel time is roughly 38 minutes for the Nankai Limited Express train. The transit time for the regular train (Nankai Airport Express Train) is about 46 minutes.
- Get off at Namba Station.
- Walk for about 12 minutes to OCAT (Osaka City Airport Terminal). The bus terminal is on the 2nd Floor.
OSAKA TO TOTTORI BY BUS
Now once you are in OCAT, the next step is to get to Tottori. You can go there by bus or by train.
Thankfully, from June 1 to March 31, they’re offering a discounted fare for foreigners, instead of the regular fare for JPY 3,700!
OCAT to Tottori Bus Fare: (adult) JPY 1,000/PHP 481/USD9/EURO 7/SGD 12/MYR 36
(child) JPY 500/PHP 240/USD 5/EURO 4/SGD 6/MYR 18
Travel time: Approximately 3.5 hours
Departure: Every hour
- At OCAT, look for the ticket counter to Tottori City on the 2nd floor. If you are arriving by bus from Kansai Airport, it’s on the same floor (2nd level). See the picture above.
- Purchase your ticket for Tottori City. Fare is JPY 1,00/PHP 481 for adults and JPY 500/PHP 240 for kids.
- Proceed to Platform 7. But double check this because this might change to Platform 8 where buses to Tottori also leaves/stop. Ask the staff to be sure.
- Fall in line. The staff will tag your big bags and give you a number/receipt. Make sure it matches.
- Load your big luggage with tag inside the luggage compartment under the bus.
- Show your ticket to the driver and ride the bus. Travel time is roughly 3.5 hours.
- Get off at Tottori Bus Terminal. Collect your luggage.
ALSO READ: HOW TO SEARCH TRAIN SCHEDULES IN JAPAN
OSAKA TO TOTTORI BY TRAIN
Now, if you already have a JR Pass or you will be purchasing a JR Pass for your multi-city trip around Japan, you can use your JR Pass to Tottori. The whole trip will be covered if you follow the route below. If you don’t have a JR Pass, forget it, as train fare is expensive.
Fare (without JR Pass): JPY 9,880/PHP 4,749/USD 89/EURO 76/SGD 122/MYR 360
Fare (with JR Pass): Covered
Transit time: Approximately 3 hours and 51 minutes.
There are many routes going to Tottori from Kansai Airport or Osaka, but this is the fastest and most convenient since it only involves 2 train transfers.
1. At Kansai Airport Train Station, take the Limited Express Haruka train to Kyoto.
2. Alight at Shin-Osaka Station.
3. Take the Limited Express Super Hakuto Train to Kurayoshi. Travel time is roughly 2 hours and 33 minutes.
4. Alight at Tottori Station. It’s the 10th stop.
Tip: Set your phone alarm so you won’t miss your stop in case you are sleeping while in transit.
ALSO READ: SHOULD YOU BUY A JR PASS?
GETTING AROUND TOTTORI, JAPAN
Tottori Sand Dunes Museum
BY BUS
Unfortunately, there’s no subway in Tottori city. The cheapest way to get around Tottori is by bus. The buses in Tottori usually stop at some Tottori tourist attractions and end/start in Tottori Bus Station. There are 2 buses that’s helpful to tourists: the Loop Kirinjishi Bus and the JPY 100 Kukuri Bus.
LOOP KIRINJISHI BUS
You will recognize this bus because it has the Kirinjishi drawing (mythical creature of Inaba Region) on its side. Take this bus if you are going to Tottori Sand Dunes, Sand Castle Museum, Watabe Museum and Tottori Port.
Loop Kirinjishi Bus Operation: The Loop Kirinjishi Bus operates daily from July 20 – August 30. But for the rest of the year, it only operates on weekends (Saturday and Sunday), summer and holidays, except January 1.
Also take note that during winter, December 1 – February, the bus doesn’t go to Tottori Daigaku Kansochi Kenkyu Center.
The Loop Kirinjishi Bus departs every 1- 2 hours at BUS STOP 0 in front of Tottori Station.
1.Loop Kirinjishi Bus Fare: (Adult) JPY 300/PHP 144/USD 3/EURO 2/SGD 4/MYR 11
(Children) JPY 150/PHP 72/USD 1/EURO 1/SGD 2/MYR 5
(Unlimited 1 Day Pass) JPY 600/PHP 5/USD 5/EURO 7/SGD 22/MYR 288
Loop Kirinjishi Departure: Every 1-2 hours.
Tourist Spots Bus stops:
Warabekan – Bus Stop 2
Tottori Castle Ruins + Juinpukaku Mansion + Tottori Prefectural Museum – Bus Stop 3
Watanabe Museum – Bus Stop 4
Sakyu Center – Bus Stop 5
Sankoen + Tottori Sand Museum – Bus Stop 6 and 8
Tottori Sakyu (Tottori Sand Dunes) – Bust Stop 7 (Sakyu Kaikan)
Tottori Port (Fish Market Karoichi + Tottori Karo Crab Aquarium + Local Products Market Wattaina) – Bus Stop 11 (Kannikokan)
A Course – Tottori Sand Dunes to Tottori Port
B Course – Totori Port to Tottori Sand Dunes
ALSO READ: URADOME COAST, TOTTORI JAPAN TRAVEL GUIDE
2. ¥100 KUKURI
Best known as the ¥100 Bus Kukuri because of their JPY 100 yen fare per ride. The Kukuri Bus has 3 routes that starts and ends at Tottori Station. The buses departs every 20 minutes at Tottori JR Station. The Kukuri Bus operates on weekdays every 8:05 AM to 6:00 PM and on weekends and holidays every 9:10 AM to 6:00 PM. One complete route takes about 33 minutes. You can take this bus if you want to visit any of the following Tottori tourist spots below.
¥100 Kukuri: JPY 100/PHP 48/USD 0.90/EURO 0.77/SGD 1/MYR 4
1 Day Unlimited Bus Pass :JPY 300/PHP 144/USD 3/EURO 2/SGD 4/MYR 11
Departure: Every 20 minutes
Operation: (Monday – Friday) 8:05 AM – 6:00 PM
(Saturday, Sunday and Holidays) 9:10 AM – 6:00 PM
Sightseeing:
Red Course: Hijiri Shrine (Bus stop 26 B), Genchuji Temple (Bus stop 22), Yamabiko-kan Tottori History Museum (Bus stop 12), Ouchidani Shrine (Bus Stop 12), Tottori Folk Museum (Bus stop 29), Kannon-in (Bus stop 9 & 13),Takasagoya ( Tottori Castle Town Exhange Center) Bus stop 14 A
Blue Course: Totori Folk Crafts Museum (Bus stop 3), Takasagoya (Tottori Castle Town Exhange Center) Bus stop 23
Green Course: Tottori Castle Ruins (Bus stop 11), Jinpukaku Mansion (Bus stop 11), Warakeban (Children’s Museum) Bus stop 9, Tottori Folk Crafts Museum (Bus stop 3)
TOTTORI SAND DUNES
BY UNLIMITED BUS PASS
If you have a 3-day Tottori itinerary, you can avail of the Unlimited Ride Pass by bus. It means, you can hop-on and hop-off the bus around Tottori, Japan as many times as you can within 3 days. You can use this in Tottori City as well as other cities in West Tottori Prefecture.
Unlimited Bus Pass Fare: JPY 1,800/PHP 865/USD 16/EURO 14/SGD 22/MYR 66
Unlimited Bus Ride Validity: 3 days
How to use the Unlimited Bus Pass:
When getting off the bus, show your Unlimited Ride Ticket with valid dates to the bus driver.
Take a numbered ticket for buses that issue them.
Show your pass before purchasing admission.
ALSO READ: CONAN TOWN ITINERARY IN TOTTORI, JAPAN
Where to buy the Unlimited Bus Pass ticket:
Tottori Station Bus Terminal
Tourist Information Center (Tottori Station)
Tottori Airport
Hinomaru Bus Tourist Office
Yonago Station Bus Terminal
Yonago Airport Information Center
Kaike Onsen Ryokan Association (Yonago Kanko Center)
Hinomaru Bus Yonago Branch
Misasa Onsen Ryokan Cooperative
Bus Plaza
Hinomaru Bus Kurayoshi Office
Nihon Kotsu Kurayoshi Bus Center
Nihon Kotsu Shinmachi Office
Hotel Saint Palace Kurayoshi
Here’s the list of buses where you can use the Unlimited Bus Pass:
Loop Kirinjishi Bus
¥100 Kukuri (Circular Bus)
Daisen Loop Bus (Limited Period)
Yodoe Town Bus (Donguri Korokoro)
Yonago Loop Bus (Dandan Bus)
Fixed-route buses operating in Tottori Prefecture including Nihon Kotsu/Honimaru Bus
Airport Buses: Tottori Station – Tottori Airport, Yonago Station – Yonago Airport
Iwami Town Bus
Yonago-Matsue Route Bus
*Unlimited Bus Pass is non-refundable.
For bus inquiries, contact:
Hinomaru Bus, Ltd.
Tottori:(0857)22-5155
Kurayoshi:(0858)26-4111
Yonago:(0859)32-2121
Nihon Kotsu Co., Ltd.
Tottori:(0857)23-1122
Kurayoshi:(0858)26-1115
Yonago:(0859)33-9116
BY TAXI
If you only have limited time in Tottori, you can avail of the Tottori Tourist Taxi. You’ll love Tottori as their taxi rides are discounted for foreign tourists. Just go to Tottori City International Tourist Support Center near the North Exit of Tottori Station. However, since the taxis are limited, so best to arrive early.
Tottori Tourist Taxi Fare: JPY 2,000/PHP 961/USD 18/EURO 15/SGD 25/MYR 73 for 3 hours per person
Capacity: up to 4 persons
Operation Hours: Daily 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM, except December 31 – January 1
IMPORTANT: So for example, even if you are alone, you can avail of the Tottori Tourist Taxi. According to our guide, you still have to pay JPY 2,000 for the entire taxi. Now if you are traveling with someone or with a group, then each person must pay JPY 2,000.
Sample Routes for Tottori Tourist Taxi:
- Uradome Coast + The Sand Museum + Tottori San Dunes
- Hakuto Shrine + Hakuto Beach and Roadside Station + Uradome Coast + Tottori Sand Dunes
- Karo Port Market Seafood Restaurants + Tottori Sand Dunes
- Hakuto Shrine + Hakuto Beach and Roadside Station + Tottori Sand Dunes
- Amedaki Falls + Tofu Dishes + Ube Shrine
TIP: You will get a coupon card if you avail of the Tottori Tourist Taxi and you can show it at some attractions to get a discounted entrance fee. Make sure you have your passport with you.
(Source: Tottori Tourism)
BY TOUR PACKAGE
Universal Holidays Inc. will soon be offering Tottori tour package. In the meantime, you can book a Tottori Day Tour from Osaka package below:
This Tottori day tour package from Osaka includes: Uradome Coast Cruise, Tottori Sand Dunes, Tottori Sand Museum, and eat-all-you-can seafood grilled lunch.
ALSO READ: HOW TO GET TO CONAN TOWN IN TOTTORI, JAPAN
WHERE TO STAY IN TOTTORI
Here’s a list of top-rated Tottori Hotels according to confirmed Agoda guests. I recommend picking a hotel near Tottori Bus Station and Tottori JR Station for convenience. The hotels listed below also have staff that speak English, so you won’t have a hard time communicating. Anyway, the Japanese are generally super helpful and polite, even if some of them don’t speak English, they will really try their best to help you.
IMPORTANT: To check the room rates, change the date to your preferred date and click SEARCH.
TOTTORI BUDGET HOTEL
Drop Inn TOTTORI
2-276 Imamachi, Tottori, Tottori, Japan
TOTTORI MID-RANGE HOTELS
This is where we stayed at during our trip to Tottori. It’s walking distance to Tottori Bus Station. It’s also near some good restaurants, convenience store and shopping area. The room is small but clean, with refrigerator and sink, TV and hot and cold shower. There’s a free coffee, milk tea, hot chocolate and water at the lobby. Staff are really helpful and attentive.
Tottori Green Hotel Morris
2-107, Imamachi, Tottori-shi, Tottori Prefecture, Tottori, Tottori, Japan
We didn’t stay here, we only paid a visit. But I really like the smell and the ambience of this hotel. If I will return to Tottori, I would love to stay here. It’s just in front of Hotel Resh, the hotel is also walking distance to Tottori Bus Station and Tottori JR Station. Pretty convenient.
Kansuitei Kozeniya
651 Eirakuonsencho, Tottori, Tottori, Japan
I didn’t stay here, only paid a visit. If you want to experience a traditional Japanese hotel in Tottori, this is the place to be. It has 2 private onsen that guests can use and they also have ryokan rooms.
Tottori Washington Hotel Plaza
102 Higashihonji-cho, Tottori, Tottori, Japan
This hotel is right beside the Tottori Bus Station. It’s very near the Tottori JR Station as well.
ALSO READ:
JAPAN VISA REQUIREMENTS + APPLICATION FOR FILIPINOS
OSAKA TRAVEL GUIDE (Itinerary + Budget)
OSAKA KYOTO NARA ITINERARY
KYOTO TRAVEL GUIDE
NARA TRAVEL GUIDE
TOTTORI SERIES:
TOTTORI SAND DUNES + SAND CASTLE
About the Blogger : Gael is a Filipina travel blogger. Her work has appeared in local and international publications.
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