Tottori Sand Dunes, TottoriPhoto: 江戸村のとくぞう / CC BY-SA 4.0

Detective Conan's Hometown & the Tottori Sand Dunes: 2 Days

  • 2 days
  • Tottori Sand Dunes Conan Airport (TTJ) round trip

At a glance

Fares & tickets (adult)
About ¥4,500–6,200
The Tottori Nonbiri Pass (about ¥3,000), the Sand Museum (about ¥800) and the Manga Factory (¥700), plus the airport and dunes buses (about ¥1,700 round trip) if the pass doesn't cover them. Flights are extra.
Best time to go
Spring and autumn. Summer sand gets very hot; winter is crab season on the coast.
Closing days
The Manga Factory closes on set days (September 30, October 30 and November 30 in late 2026). Trains to Yura are not frequent.
Walking (our estimate)
Moderate: roughly 5–7 km a day. Climbing the big dune on soft sand is harder than it looks.

First time in Japan? Read our first-timer's guide

Gosho Aoyama, the creator of Detective Conan, is from Hokuei in Tottori, and the prefecture wears it proudly: the airport is named after Conan, a Conan-themed train runs on the San'in Line, and a 1.4 km "Conan Road" of statues leads from the nearest station to a museum about his work. Tottori is also home to Japan's best-known sand dunes. This route flies into Conan Airport, spends the first afternoon on the dunes and the second day in Hokuei.

The route

  1. 1Tottori Sand Dunes Conan Airport · Tottori, Tottori
  2. 2Gosho Aoyama Manga Factory · Hokuei, Tottori

Day by day

Times, fares and opening hours are approximate. Check the official pages under Sources before you go (last checked September 18, 2026).

Day 1

Conan Airport → Tottori Sand Dunes

Conan at the airport, the dunes and the Sand Museum, a night in Tottori city.

  1. Morning

    Tottori Sand Dunes Conan Airport

    Flights from Tokyo Haneda land here. Look around the terminal for the Conan decorations and the goods shop before heading into town.

    Spot guide: Tottori Sand Dunes Conan Airport
  2. Late morning

    Airport → Tottori Station

    The Hinomaru bus timed to flights takes about 20 min to Tottori Station (about ¥480). There is no direct bus to the dunes; change at Tottori Station and leave luggage at your hotel or in a locker.

  3. Midday

    Tottori Station → Sand Dunes

    Hinomaru's Sand Dunes line bus leaves the north exit bus terminal and takes about 20 min (about ¥380, IC cards accepted). On weekends and holidays the Loop Kirin Shishi sightseeing bus also runs (about ¥400 a ride, ¥700 for a day pass).

  4. Afternoon

    Tottori Sand Dunes and the Sand Museum

    Walk up the big dune for the view over the Sea of Japan. The Sand Museum next to the dunes shows giant sand sculptures; the 2026 exhibition, "Travel the World in Sand: Spain", runs until January 3, 2027. Open 9:00–18:00, about ¥800 for adults.

  5. Evening

    Back to Tottori city

    Bus back to Tottori Station. For dinner, try the local seafood, and crab in winter.

Day 2

Tottori → Hokuei (Yura) → Conan Airport

The San'in Line to Yura, Conan Road on foot, the Manga Factory, then back to the airport.

  1. Morning

    Tottori → Yura

    JR San'in Line west to Yura Station, about 1 hr by local train, or take a limited express to Kurayoshi and change to a local. Trains are not frequent, so check the timetable. If you are lucky you will ride the Detective Conan Train, which runs between Tottori and Yonago on a monthly schedule published by Tottori Prefecture.

  2. Late morning

    Conan Road

    The 1.4 km road from Yura Station to the museum, about 20 min on foot, is lined with Conan statues and stone monuments showing manga covers. Conan Bridge nearby has Conan reliefs on its railings. Look down too: there are Conan manhole covers.

  3. Midday

    Gosho Aoyama Manga Factory

    Original artwork and hands-on trick exhibits. Open 9:30–17:30 (last entry 17:00). Adults ¥700; ¥100 off with a passport or a JR-WEST RAIL PASS. It closes on set days (in late 2026: September 30, October 30 and November 30), so check the calendar.

    Spot guide: Gosho Aoyama Manga Factory
  4. Afternoon

    Back to Tottori and the airport

    Walk back to Yura, train to Tottori (about 1 hr), then the airport bus (about 20 min). Allow at least 2 hr 30 min from the museum to your flight.

Where to stay

Tottori Sand Dunes, Tottori

Stay in

Tottori

Night 1. Stay near Tottori Station for the dunes bus, the airport bus and the morning train to Yura.

Prices change by season. Compare live rates.

See hotels in Tottori
Kurayoshi / Misasa Onsen

Stay in

Kurayoshi / Misasa Onsen

Closer to Hokuei. Misasa's hot springs make a good second night if you have more time.

Prices change by season. Compare live rates.

See hotels in Kurayoshi

Getting around

Tottori Nonbiri Pass (JR West, tabiwa)

About ¥3,000 (adult, 2 days)

Two consecutive days of JR local trains (unreserved) across Tottori Prefecture plus designated buses, with discount coupons. Sold in JR West's tabiwa by WESTER app. Check which buses are included for your trip.

Airport bus

Hinomaru buses run between the airport and Tottori Station to meet flights (about 20 min, about ¥480). The timetable changes by season.

Rental car (optional)

Handy for adding more Conan statues around Hokuei or the hot springs at Misasa. Drivers need an International Driving Permit or an official translation of their license, depending on the country.

Visiting with respect

  • Conan Road runs through a residential town. Keep to the sidewalk, keep your voice down and don't photograph residents or their homes.
  • Don't climb on the statues or monuments.
  • At the Sand Dunes, don't write large messages in the sand: Tottori Prefecture has rules against graffiti on the dunes. Take all your trash home.
  • The Manga Factory asks visitors to follow its photo rules inside. Check the signs in each room.

FAQ

Can I do Hokuei as a day trip from Tottori city?

Yes, that is what day 2 of this route does. Trains are not frequent, so plan your return train before you set off.

Is there a Conan-themed train?

Yes. JR West runs a Detective Conan Train on the San'in Line between Tottori and Yonago. Tottori Prefecture publishes the monthly schedule.

Can I fly into Yonago instead?

Yes. Yonago Kitaro Airport is to the west. Reverse the route: Hokuei first, then Tottori and the dunes, and fly out of Conan Airport.

When is the Manga Factory closed?

It is open most days but has set closing days, usually around the end of the month. The official site lists them.

Is a JR-WEST RAIL PASS worth it here?

Only if Tottori is part of a longer trip in western Japan. For these two days the Tottori Nonbiri Pass is far cheaper. A JR-WEST RAIL PASS does get ¥100 off at the Manga Factory.

Sources10 official pages, checked September 18, 2026

Photo credits