2026 Hoki Travel Guide: must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transport & travel experiences (updated in August)

#art gallery This art museum is located at the foot of the mountain The mountains are to Tottori what Shizuoka is to Mount Fuji. The glass in the museum is also affixed with the black hat that is the masterpiece of Masaharu Ueda. When the weather is nice, you can even take pictures of the mountains wearing black hats! Masaru Ueda is a well-known photographer in Japan and a native of Tottori. Therefore, many of the photos were taken with the Tottori Sand Dunes as the background and with family members as the main characters. This museum collects a large number of his works from early to late period Take a closer look at the exhibition room and you will feel like you have traveled to Tottori in a photo. What’s interesting is that there is also an exhibition room designed here that allows visitors to experience the feeling of being in the camera. You can see that the large lens in the exhibition room is aimed at the mountain and reflects it inside the exhibition room. You can imagine that we sitting in the exhibition room are the characters of the film, recording the mountain at the moment of the lens. There is also a hot dog cafe outside the museum. The signature is the 60CM super long hot dog burger! The buns on the hot dog burgers are crispy and chewy. There is green grass in front of the cafe, and the mountains are right in front of you. There are also picnic mats provided so you can sit directly on the grass to eat. It’s a good place to take a break after visiting the art museum. #dopamine travel #100 ways to travel #tottori #tottoriview #Uedamasaharu #日本 #大山

I had visited Daisen Ranch with high expectations, but I was quite disappointed that I couldn't properly see the magnificent ridges of Mount Daisen due to the cloudy and foggy weather. I had hoped to take a photo with the breathtaking scenery known as the "Japanese Alps" as a backdrop, but the mountain peaks had hidden behind the clouds. However, the ranch had its own unique charm, as the dreamy atmosphere characteristic of cloudy days enveloped it. I soothed my disappointment with rich milk soft serve ice cream, and true to its reputation, the taste certainly didn't disappoint! I definitely want to visit again on a sunny day to see the vivid contrast between the green meadows and the mountains.

Here's a curated list of cute and photogenic art museums across Japan. ・Shoji Ueda Museum of Photography @ Tottori → This spot uses "borrowed scenery" to create a cool optical illusion where a hat appears to be floating! Visit on a clear day to perfectly capture the mountains in the background. ・Hara Museum ARC @ Gunma → A contemporary art museum located near Ikaho Onsen. The outdoor sculptures are absolutely adorable. ・Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum @ Tokyo → Featuring stunning Art Deco architecture, this museum boasts a beautifully spacious garden. It's just a short walk from Meguro Station. ・Hiroshige Museum of Art @ Yamagata → Dedicated to the ukiyo-e master Utagawa Hiroshige. The staircase inside makes for a perfect photo op! ・Tokyo Station Gallery @ Tokyo → A museum directly connected to the station! The chandeliers and stained-glass windows are gorgeous. 　 These museums are all incredibly stunning, so be sure to check them out!

Can beginners climb it? Actually... it's a scenic hike with endless stairs ⛰ ~ Hiking Mt. Daisen × Reward Spots ~ The highest peak in the Chugoku region, a famous mountain Mt. Daisen The "Natsuyama Trail" is popular even among beginners, but... To be honest, this route is famous for having a ton of stairs. The stairs continue from the beginning through the middle of the hike, making it a "serious climb" that takes more stamina than you'd expect. But if you keep pushing to the top, a breathtaking view awaits, with the scenery suddenly opening up before your eyes ✨ The summit is an open area with a well-maintained wooden boardwalk, offering a sweeping panorama that stretches all the way to the Sea of Japan on a clear day. It feels just like you're walking in the sky. (*Note: Entry to the highest peak, Kengamine, is currently restricted.) ーーーーーーーーーー 🚗 Parking Information ・Parking lots around Daisenji Temple ・"Nankogawara Parking Lot" is the closest to the trailhead 🅿️ *Beware that lots fill up early in the morning on weekends and during peak season. ーーーーーーーーーー And for the fun part after your descent 👇 A scenic ranch overlooking Mt. Daisen Daisen Makiba Milk no Sato Their rich soft-serve ice cream is the ultimate treat for a tired body 🍦 A healing spot where you can relax while taking in the vast scenery. Plus one more spot 👇 Enjoy a walk in the sky Masumizu Highland Sky Lift You can easily take the lift up, and enjoy the breathtaking view of Mt. Daisen from a different angle ✨ ーーーーーーーーーー 📍 Mt. Daisen (Natsuyama Trail) Daisen-cho, Saihaku-gun, Tottori Prefecture ⏰ Ascent: Approx. 3-4 hours ⏰ Descent: Approx. 2-3 hours ーーーーーーーーーー ✔ A more strenuous hike than it looks ✔ The view from the summit is truly exceptional ✔ A perfect course complete with post-hike rewards Makiba Milk no Sato Masumizu Highland Sky Lift

The museum is located in Hokuei — correction: wait; actually it’s in Hōki, a small rural town in Tottori Prefecture. The building sits in wide open countryside with Mount Daisen rising in the background. The view alone makes the trip worthwhile. This museum is dedicated to Shoji Ueda, one of Japan’s most celebrated photographers, famous for his surreal compositions taken in the Tottori sand dunes. 🚆 How I Got There Getting there required a bit of planning, but the journey was scenic. From Yonago or Tottori, I took the JR train to Kishimoto Station. From Kishimoto Station, there are a few options: Taxi (about 10 minutes) Rental car Limited bus services depending on the day I took a taxi, and the ride passed through peaceful farmland and quiet villages before the museum suddenly appeared in the distance. 🏛️ First Impressions The museum building itself is stunning. It was designed to resemble a modern fortress made of concrete blocks. But the clever part is how the structure frames the view of Mount Daisen through its windows and corridors. Every hallway, courtyard, and window feels like a carefully composed photograph. It’s almost as if the building itself is part of the exhibition. 📷 Inside the Museum The museum is dedicated to the life and work of Shoji Ueda, whose photography style is often described as “Ueda-cho” — a unique blend of surrealism and simplicity. Inside the galleries, I found: Original black-and-white photographs Portrait works staged in the Tottori Sand Dunes Fashion photography from his later years Personal items and notes explaining his creative process What fascinated me most was how he used the empty landscape of the sand dunes as a stage, placing people in unusual poses to create dreamlike scenes. Some photos looked almost like minimalist theatre performances in the desert. 🌄 The Mount Daisen View One of the highlights of the museum isn’t even inside a gallery. There’s a viewing window that perfectly frames Mount Daisen, sometimes called the “Mount Fuji of Western Japan.” Standing there, I could see the snow-capped peak rising above the green countryside. It felt like the museum was reminding visitors where the photographer found his inspiration — the landscapes of Tottori. ☕ Café and Museum Shop Before leaving, I stopped at the museum café. From the seating area, I could see the mountain through large glass windows. It was the perfect quiet spot to sit with a coffee and reflect on the photographs I had just seen. The museum shop also had beautiful photography books, prints, and postcards featuring Ueda’s work. #travel2026#travel#couplestrip#beachlife#staycation#naturalwonders#thingstodo#seascapes#familytravel#poolhotel#resorts#museums#myitinerary#citydaytours

This art museum is attractive for its architecture that blends into the rural landscape of Tottori's Hoki Town and its exhibition space with Mt. Daisen as a backdrop. You can experience Shoji Ueda's unique staged photography, including his masterpiece "Sand Dune Series." The building itself is like a work of art, and the views from both inside and outside the museum are exceptional! Recommended not only for photography enthusiasts, but also for those who want to enjoy architecture and beautiful scenery. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~🫧~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Shoji Ueda Photography Museum 📍: 353-3 Sumura, Hoki-cho, Saihaku-gun, Tottori Prefecture ⏰: 10:00-17:00 🗓️: March-November 💤: Closed Tuesdays (occasionally closed on special days) 💰: Adults ¥1,000 💰: High school and university students ¥500 💰: Elementary and junior high school students ¥300 Design: Shin Takamatsu 💫Photography is not permitted inside the exhibition space. Please check beforehand. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~🫧~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ #ArchitectureTour #MuseumTour #TottoriTrip #JapanTripGuide

Four friends and I stayed at the Mercure Tottori Daisen Resort & Spa. The facilities were a bit old, but the food was delicious, just as expected. We checked in early, but the lounge on the top floor was almost full.

Enjoy your trip to Matsue, Yonago, and Tottori🎶🤳

#August Travel Grant: If you're traveling to Yonago by car, this is highly recommended. It's incredibly affordable, the rooms are spacious, and you get access to the lounge, which offers complimentary beer, wine, and cocktails. Breakfast is also free, so even just the lounge and breakfast will cover the cost of the hotel. The view is also beautiful, so you can enjoy it conveniently from your room.

① Tottori Port Seafood Market Karoichi From June to August? The oysters 🦪 harvested in Tottori Prefecture are famous for their deliciousness✨ In particular, Tottori's brand oyster "Natsuki", which has clear seawater and passed strict inspections, is truly delicious🤤 This cost about 1,500 yen per oyster, but it was very delicious💓 There is a supermarket next door, and local vegetables are cheap, so it's recommended for shopping! ② Daisen Makiba Milk Village You can see the cows that are grazing freely, and there is also a cafe after passing a souvenir shop! For some reason, there was a toy train running, which was fun to watch✨ There was also an all-you-can-drink coffee milk! The recommended roll cake🥰 (I even bought a roll cake as a souvenir✨) And, I won a third place cow🐮 in the 1,000 yen lottery! ③ Conveyor belt sushi restaurant Hokkaido There is a long line, so I recommend making a reservation at ePark before coming! The cost performance is great and everything is delicious 💓 There are many stores, so I recommend you to go! #Domestic travel #Asia travel #Tourism #Tottori #Daisen #Daisen cafe #Conveyor belt sushi Hokkaido #Daisen Makiba Milk Village #Natsuki #Raw oysters #Tottori port #Karoichi

Mt. Daisen is the highest peak in the Chugoku region and one of the top three famous mountains in Japan. 🏔️ At the foot of the mountain, we visit the "Makiba Milk Village" ranch and leisure facility, which is surrounded by abundant nature. 🐄 This is a place where you can fully enjoy the natural beauty of Mt. Daisen. ✨ In the pasture area, many cows that have grown up in the great outdoors are grazing, and an open pasture landscape spreads out before your eyes! In the attached restaurant, you can enjoy farm gourmet food made with plenty of fresh milk and dairy products from the area! *I ordered a special steak bowl made with beef from Shimane Prefecture 🤤 It was thick and juicy, and I finished it in no time lol The Shirobara coffee and Shirobara milk on the drink menu were also rich and flavorful, and I ended up drinking more than three cups because I could have as many refills as I wanted 🥛 The shop next to the restaurant sells many products that are unique to this place, and it was a wonderful leisure facility where you can eat and buy in the middle of nature 😌 -—————————————— [Access 🚗] About 2 hours by car from Tottori Sand Dunes Conan Airport [Business hours 🕰️] 10:00-17:00 · Closed on Tuesdays · ————————————— #Domestic travel #Tottori Prefecture #Tottori trip #Tottori sightseeing #Tottori trip #Mt. Daisen #Highest peak in the Chugoku region #Beautiful peak #Mt. Daisen Makiba Milk Village #Ranch #Leisure facility #ShirobaraMilk #ShirobaraCoffee #TottoriDrive #Nature #100ViewsOfTottori #CameraTrip #SLR #CanoneoSx9i #ILoveTraveling #TravelRecords #TravelRecords #CutOutWorld #TravelingJapan #WhereShouldWeGoNext #Japan #JapanTravel #Tottori #EnjoyJapan

A must-see spot in Hoki Town: Daisen Ranch, the hometown of milk! Dashan Ranch Milk Hometown is a ranch that raises dairy cows, but because we visited in winter, we did not see any cows. Despite this, Dashan Ranch is still worth a visit! There is a huge grassland inside where children can run and jump freely. Of course, they must have a milk ice cream. The milk ice cream is made from ranch milk and has a rich milky aroma and a smooth taste. Don’t miss it when you come here! The restaurant and souvenir shop are all European-style wooden buildings, and it feels a bit like being in the European countryside! Daisen Ranch also has a geographical advantage. Here you can appreciate the "Daisen" also known as "Izumo Fuji" from a closer distance. The view is first-class! #AprilGoodDestinations2025

Dashan milk is famous throughout the country, so this time we specially arranged a trip to Dashan Ranch, the hometown of milk! The hometown of milk at Dashan Ranch is located right at the foot of the mountain. As the weather was still relatively cold in March, all the cows had to be relocated, which was a pity. I went to the only shop that was open for business that sold all kinds of Dashan milk products. 🙁 But when I came here, I definitely had to try Dashan milk ice cream. The ice cream had a smooth texture and rich milk flavor. No wonder it is a famous product. 🤭 There is a large grassland here. Standing on the grass, you can have a complete view of the entire mountain. The scenery is beautiful and there is still snow in March! #MarchGoodPlaces2025

From Osaka, you can reach Oyama Kawazu Sakura-no-Oka Park in just over two hours by express train😉 Kawazu cherry blossoms are relatively early blooming cherry blossoms. This park has two rows of densely packed cherry trees. Although it is not large in scale, it has the advantage of few people and no tourists. You can take a quiet walk under the cherry trees or sit under the cherry trees and chat. And the park is right at the foot of the mountain, so you can take pictures of the superb cherry blossoms under the mountain 😍😍😍 I recommend everyone to come and see! address: 1800 Maruyama, Hoki, Saihaku District, Tottori 689-4108 Japan #OsakaSakura

📍Location: Tottori Sand Dunes 📍Location: Daisen

#Seasonal places in Japan

Do you know this place? 😆 This time, we are introducing a stunning spot in Tottori Prefecture where you can see the 'Inverted Daisen'⛰️ This is the Shoji Ueda Museum of Photography📷 The 'Inverted Daisen' seen from here is truly a spectacular view! The reflection of the mountain on the large window, beautifully mirrored on the water surface, looks like a painting. It's a spot where anyone who visits would want to point their camera⛰️ And inside the museum, you can of course enjoy the works of Shoji Ueda. The simple yet meticulously calculated compositions, the dramatic world created by the monochrome light and shadow. And you can feel a playful spirit that makes you smile, each work is simply breathtaking!✨ Especially the famous 'Sand Dune Series', its beauty makes you forget the time☺️ Moreover, this museum is not just for viewing exhibits, but also full of spots where you can enjoy taking photos! The museum itself is like a piece of art, with photogenic points hidden all around. You can also take collaboration shots with the 'Inverted Daisen', making it irresistible for camera enthusiasts!📸 If you visit Tottori, this is a spot you definitely should visit☺️ Please do visit!🏵️ ……………………………………………………………………………… 🔖Shoji Ueda Museum of Photography 🗺️Address 353-3 Sumura, Hoki-cho, Saihaku-gun, Tottori Prefecture 🚗Access 5 minutes by taxi from JR Kishimoto Station 10 minutes from Yonago Expressway 'Mizoguchi IC' ⏰Opening Hours 9:00-17:00 (Last admission 16:30) 📅Closed Tuesdays (next day if it's a holiday) Winter (December to February) During exhibit change periods (3 times a year) 💰Admission Fee General 900 yen, High school and university students 500 yen, Elementary and junior high school students 300 yen

#0yentripnovember A majestic ranch at the foot of Mt. Daisen! There is a large, free parking lot! As it is the birthplace of Shirabara coffee, they sell a variety of dairy products! The soft serve ice cream is really delicious, so be sure to try it! There is also a restaurant, and they even serve ramen made with Shirabara milk, which is hard to find anywhere else, so be sure to try it!! 📍2-11 Kobayashi, Hoki-cho, Saihaku-gun, Tottori Prefecture 💰Free admission

#mytravelhacks #skiing #wintergetaway #trip

Located at the foot of Mt. Daisen in Tottori Prefecture, the Shoji Ueda Museum of Photography has a photo spot where you can take beautiful photos with Mt. Daisen in the background! Everyone was taking photos in all sorts of poses✨ Since it's a photography museum, of course there are photo exhibits♪ The building itself has an artistic shape There are also photo spots outside, so be sure to check them out There is also a cafe and goods store inside the museum♪ General: ¥1000 High school students: ¥500 Elementary school students: ¥300 Opening hours: 10:00-17:00 Entry deadline: 16:30 Closed on Tuesdays Closed from December 11, R5 to the end of February, R6 #besttrip2023#TottoriTrip #ShojiUedaMuseumofPhotography #Mt.Daisen

Mt. Daisen's [Milku no Sato] is famous for its soft serve ice cream. When the leaves turn red in autumn, the mountain road to Milku no Sato is beautifully colored. Milku no Sato has a large parking lot, but on weekends the nearby roads get congested with many cars. Look up and you'll see Mt. Daisen right in front of you! Look down and you can see the cityscape of Tottori. You can also play on the grass, so it's a popular spot for dogs and children. There are also restaurants and shops, so it's recommended to buy souvenirs unique to Mt. Daisen! Opening hours: 10:00-17:00 Closed on Tuesdays #Tottori Prefecture #Mt. Daisen #Tottori Tourism #Tottori Trip #Makiba Milku no Sato

[Shoji Ueda Photography Museum] is located at the foot of Mt. Daisen, so you can get there by car or taxi. It's about a 20-minute taxi ride from Yonago Station. It's an artistic building with a photo spot inside! I recommend taking a photo with a hat! It's very stylish in monochrome. There are also photo spots outside, so please go and check it out. Business hours: 10:00-17:00. Admission until 16:30. Closed on Tuesdays. Admission fee: Adults ¥1,000. High school and university students ¥500. Elementary and junior high school students ¥300. 353-3 Sumura, Hoki-cho, Saihaku-gun, Tottori Prefecture. #TottoriTourism #TottoriTrip #TottoriTrip #ShojiUedaPhotographyMuseum

Daisen Makiba Milk Village is famous for its Shirobara milk! I recommend it because you can relax on the grass while eating soft serve ice cream☺️ The parking lot is also free, so you can relax without worrying! I recommend buying sweets made with Shirobara milk and Shirobara coffee at the shop!!! Shirobara coffee and milk in slightly larger 900ml bottles are placed in cute styrofoam containers with ice packs, so even those who are traveling far away can take them home with them🤤 #DaisenMakibaMilkVillage #Tottori

Mt. Daisen is a place where you can enjoy the changing of the seasons. The weather changes in a short time, so there are limited opportunities to take pictures! A good place to take pictures is across from Miruku no Sato. The Western food menu at the restaurant is delicious, and the soft serve ice cream with a view of the farm is also very popular. If you go further towards the Oyamaguchi area, you will find cafes and shops selling Oyama Okowa. Down the windows and enjoy a green shower while driving♪ Address: Miruku no Sato, 2-11 Kobayashi, Hoki-cho, Saihaku-gun, Tottori Recommended point: It feels good to lie down on the grass! Opening hours: 10:00-17:00 Price per person: Lunch from 1,000 yen Rating: Excellent #Mt. Daisen #Tottori #Nature #Relaxation #Drive #Domestic travel #Tourist spot