Japan’s Sand Dunes Facing the Sea

Formed over the course of 100,000 years by strong coastal winds and the constant movement of the tides, the Tottori Sand Dunes stretch 16 kilometres from east to west and 2 kilometres from north to south and, at their tallest, reach a height of 47 metres, bordering the Sea of Japan in the eponymous Tottori Prefecture.

Camels, paragliding and sandboarding

Made popular by the successful novel Woman in the Dunes by Kobo Abe, adapted for the screen in 1964 by Hiroshi Teshigahara, this unusual haven of peace will appeal to nature lovers and thrill-seekers in equal measure. They can be traversed by riding on a camel’s back, paragliding or hurtling down the dunes on a sandboard.

If the sun is too hot or the breeze too fresh, the Sand Museum is the perfect place to go. In this unique gallery, visitors can admire huge sand sculptures created by international sculptors.

More information on the Tottori Sand Dunes can be found on the Japanese National Tourism Organization’s website.