[Day Trip Itinerary]Explore the Popular Tourist Spots of Tottori Sand Dunes and Tottori Sand Dunes Conan Airport, All Within a Day from Osaka!

When you think of Tottori Prefecture, the first thing that comes to mind is probably the famous Tottori Sand Dunes! It’s easily accessible for a day trip from Osaka, making it a great recommendation for those looking to explore outside the Kansai area.
In addition to the Tottori Sand Dunes, another popular spot is the Tottori Sand Dunes Conan Airport, where you can find characters from the beloved series Detective Conan.

In this post, we’ll introduce a day trip plan to explore both the Tottori Sand Dunes and Tottori Sand Dunes Conan Airport!

I went to meet the ‘Detective Conan’ characters,
loved even by traveling cats!
I’ll report on the experience!

●Here’s a day trip plan to Sakaiminato City in Tottori Prefecture, the hometown of Shigeru Mizuki, the author of Japan’s iconic yokai manga GeGeGe no Kitaro!

2024.11.08

2024.12.09

[Day Trip Itinerary] Enjoy a One-Day Tour of Tottori from Osaka! Discover Sakaiminato and Meet GeGeGe no Kitaro and Other Yokai Characters

For those who want to explore beyond Osaka and Kyoto but still st...

From Osaka Namba to the tourist spot Tottori Sand Dunes in Tottori Prefecture!

This time, we took a bus from Osaka Namba to Tottori Prefecture! From the bus terminal at Osaka Namba, it takes about 4 hours to reach Tottori Station.

After arriving at Tottori Station, we headed out for lunch!

We visited Sandaime Amimoto Uo-sen Suisan Tottori North Exit Store located in front of the station. We enjoyed a seafood bowl made with fresh ingredients directly shipped from the Sea of Japan and Sakaiminato!

●Here’s the information for Sandaime Tsunamoto Uo-sen Suisan Tottori North Exit Store, located in front of the station.

After enjoying a delicious seafood bowl, we took the Loop Kirin Lion Bus, which operates only on weekends and holidays, to the Tottori Sand Dunes!

What are the Tottori Sand Dunes?

The Tottori Sand Dunes are one of the largest coastal sand dunes in Japan. Designated as a Special Protection Area within the San’in Kaigan National Park, the vast sandy landscape stretches 16 km east to west and 2.4 km north to south.
In 1955, a part of the Tottori Sand Dunes was designated as the only nationally designated Natural Monument of its kind. In 2007, it was also selected as one of Japan’s Top 100 Geological Sites.

First, we had to try the local soft serve, Pear Soft Serve!

After arriving at the Tottori Sand Dunes, we headed to try the Pear Soft Serve! The classic pear soft serve from Tottori can be enjoyed at various spots. It’s especially a must-try when visiting the Tottori Sand Dunes, so even the traveling cat had some before exploring the dunes!

The refreshing flavor of pear was absolutely delicious! It was sold at the Tottori Sand Dunes Conan Hall, so be sure to try it when you visit the Tottori Sand Dunes! In addition to the pear soft serve, they also offered Sand Dunes Coffee Soft Serve and 20th Century Pear Juice. Next time, I’d love to try the Sand Dunes Coffee Soft Serve!

●Here’s the information for Tottori Sand Dunes Conan Hall

Let’s explore the Tottori Sand Dunes!

After having the pear soft serve, we headed to the Tottori Sand Dunes! Since the sand can bury your feet, it’s best to avoid wearing pumps or heels. I wore my usual sneakers. Many people come barefoot or in sandals to feel the sand, but be cautious in summer, as the sand temperature can reach as high as 60°C!

The traveling cat also experienced the feel of the sand with its paws! The sand is fine and soft, and it’s said that when the wind blows, a phenomenon called ‘wind patterns’ occurs, creating intricate designs in the sand, like a crepe paper craft.

And when you think of the Tottori Sand Dunes, you can’t help but think of the small hill known as the ‘Back of the Horse.’ It’s called this because it resembles the back of a horse.
Additionally, because the sand shifts with the wind, the shape of the Back of the Horse is never the same. This means every visit to the Tottori Sand Dunes offers a different landscape, and the scene you see at that moment becomes a memorable experience.

The weather was really nice that day, so the photos turned out great!

Of course, the traveling cat was with me too!

●Lots of activities too!

There are plenty of activities at the Tottori Sand Dunes! The most famous one is riding a camel! Although I didn’t ride one this time, I remember the traveling cat did when it was younger (laughs).
Other activities include paragliding, sand dune Segway rides, and sandboarding. Unfortunately, the traveling cat didn’t have time for any activities this time, but we’re hoping to try something next time!

Next, we’re heading to the Tottori Sand Dunes Conan Airport!

We took the Loop Kirinshishi Bus back to Tottori Station and then traveled by train to Tottori Daigakumae Station! Although we couldn’t ride it this time, there’s a Detective Conan train that runs from Tottori Station to Yonago Station! The train is wrapped with characters from Detective Conan. As a fan of the original series, just capturing a photo of the Detective Conan train was incredibly exciting!!

You can check the operating schedule for the Detective Conan Train at the following URL. If you want to ride it, be sure to check it out!

We took the Super Matsukaze to Tottori Daigakumae Station, the nearest station to the Tottori Sand Dunes Conan Airport!

The nationwide popular series Detective Conan

Detective Conan, a representative and immensely popular Japanese series, is famous for the line “The truth is always one!!” It is currently serialized in Weekly Shonen Sunday and has been loved by fans for many years since its debut.
Detective Conan follows high school detective Shinichi Kudo, who is turned into a child by a mysterious drug and takes on the name Conan Edogawa. Along with his childhood friend Ran Mouri, detective Kogoro Mouri, the Detective Boys, and Professor Agasa, Conan solves one complex case after another while uncovering the true identity of the mysterious organization.

The author of this immensely popular series, Gosho Aoyama, hails from Hokuei Town in Tottori Prefecture. To take advantage of the recognition of Tottori Sand Dunes, Tottori Airport was renamed ‘Tottori Sand Dunes Conan Airport’ in 2015.
In addition to Tottori Sand Dunes Conan Airport, there are many other popular spots related to Detective Conan! These include the Gosho Aoyama Memorial Hall in Hokuei Town, a replica of the Kudo Shinichi/Conan Edogawa house in the Yonaka Shopping Street, Conan Street, and more. For fans of Detective Conan, these are must-visit spots. Since I am also a fan of Gosho Aoyama’s works, I plan to visit them the next time I go!

Highlights of Tottori Sand Dunes Conan Airport

Tottori Sand Dunes Conan Airport is filled with many exciting objects for Detective Conan fans! Of course, I took plenty of photos as well!

The main visual at Tottori Sand Dunes Conan Airport features an original illustration by Gosho Aoyama, the creator of Detective Conan. It depicts Conan dressed in a pilot’s uniform and Ran in a flight attendant outfit, and they look absolutely adorable!

There was also a large flag featuring the main visual!

A character wall featuring characters from Detective Conan.

Kaito KID looks so cool!! The traveling cat is a big fan of Kaito KID. The original work Magic Kaito is also an interesting series, so I highly recommend it!!!

Conan is introducing the tourist spots in Tottori Prefecture!

There was also a panel game of Concentration (Memory Match).

The coffee shop ‘Poaro,’ located below the Mouri Detective Agency in the series, has been recreated! The cheerful Amuro-san greets you at the entrance, and on the counter, you can find Mouri Kogoro enjoying a cup of coffee.

From the front, it looks like Mouri Kogoro is drinking coffee… Did Conan-kun put him to sleep with his tranquilizer gun?

Of course, this person is also here! FBI agent Akai-san! He was installed to commemorate the release of the movie ‘Detective Conan: The Scarlet Bullet,’ which was released in April 2021.

The phantom thief Kid, whom Traveler Cat loves, is here too!! It’s a statue that looks like he has descended upon the Tottori Sand Dunes.

From the front as well. He looks handsome.

On the rooftop’s transfer deck, there is a spot featuring a famous scene where Shinichi Kudo and Ran are hugging. There is also a bell designed to resemble Kid the Phantom Thief’s top hat, which you can ring. It’s a great spot to take a photo with your loved one. Next to it, there’s a heart-shaped mailbox where you can send letters, and they’ll be stamped with the ‘Tottori Sand Dunes Conan Airport’ postmark. Sending a letter to your loved one or even one to yourself is highly recommended!

There was also a bus wrapped with the main visual of Tottori Sand Dunes Conan Airport!

Inside Tottori Sand Dunes Conan Airport, there was a specialty store selling Detective Conan merchandise. They offer limited-edition Tottori Sand Dunes Conan Airport goods, original Detective Conan items, and perfect souvenirs like sweets♪ The store’s hours are from 9:15 AM to 5:30 PM, so if you’re planning to buy souvenirs, it’s recommended to go early.

●Details of Tottori Sand Dunes Conan Airport are available here.

※Please note that business hours may change, temporary closures may occur, or purchase limits may be imposed. Please check the store’s information before your visit.

I had a very satisfying day as I was able to visit Tottori Sand Dunes Conan Airport, which is named after my favorite, Detective Conan! Since it was a day trip, I thought I would be rushing, but I was actually able to enjoy it at a relaxed pace♪ On weekends and holidays, there are late buses from Tottori Station to Osaka Namba bus terminal, so you can enjoy sightseeing until late in the evening. If you’re planning a day trip to Tottori from Osaka, I highly recommend checking it out!

Let’s use convenient transportation tickets!

This time, I used the ‘Tottori Railway Travel Recommendation Pass’ from Osaka to Sakaiminato City, Tottori Prefecture! It’s valid for 3 days, so it’s perfect for a 2-night, 3-day trip to Tottori. Due to my schedule, I went on a day trip this time, but next time, I’d love to enjoy Tottori for 2 nights and 3 days at a more leisurely pace. If you’re planning to travel from Kansai to Tottori Prefecture, I highly recommend using this pass!

●Details of the ‘Tottori Railway Travel Recommendation Pass’ are available here.

※Please note that the usage details may change without prior notice. Be sure to check the details before use.

© Gosho Aoyama/Shogakukan

Other recommended sightseeing information can be found here!