Japan private tour news about Kyoto's Edo theme park reopening & Tottori Prefecture travel attractions

Tottori Prefecture's 50 meter high sand dune in a lanscape of sand dunes!

Before I get into this blog post about Tottori Prefecture (think amazing sand dunes!), I would like to announce that Toei Uzumasa Kyoto Village (Toei Uzumasa Eigamura in Japanese) will reopen in March 2026!

Toei, headquartered in Tokyo, is one of Japan’s largest film and television studios known for its superb samurai stories and sagas. Most of Toei's samurai productions have been filmed at their Uzumasa Kyoto studio since the 1950s including works by giant genius Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998; who inspired Lucas's Star Wars series).

About 50 years ago (1975), Toei realized that its samurai film sets were also perfect as a theme park, a samurai theme park. To bring the park firmly into the 21st century, Toei has scheduled major renovations from 2024 to 2028. The first phase of the renovation process will open to the public in March 2026.

Future Toei Uzumasa Kyoto Village visitors will be able to wear period kimono and stroll through Edo-period Kyoto, where they can experience a range of shows and activities, including a ninja adventure, dramatic traditional theater performances (Noh and kyogen), and lessons in tea ceremony and flower arrangement. Toei has focused on the 20-30s demographic for the March 2026 reopening. And the theme park will now be open until 21:00. The new Uzumasa Kyoto Village will also feature actual street stalls selling meals, snacks, and beverages. Learn more!

The rest of this post covers:

Tottori Prefecture's serene & almost-unknown travel destinations

Japan private travel content by Your Japan Private Tours' (established in 1990) founder Japan travel expert Ian Martin Ropke. I have been planning, designing, and making custom Japan private tours on all five Japanese islands since the early 1990s. Your Japan Private Tours specializes in bespoke travel for private clients (I do not work with agents) including exclusive excursions, personalized experiences, and unique adventures. I am 100% client-centric and total individual attention. Consider my Japan travel services for your next trip. And thank you for reading my content. Learn more!

Tottori Prefecture's serene & almost-unknown travel destinations

Tottori Prefecture is located along the Sea of Japan coast on the north side of Honshu Island, a few hours by train northwest of Osaka and Kyoto. The capital of the prefecture is Tottori City (population ~200,000).Tottori City has been the regional power center since the era of warring states (1467-1600).

The Tottori Sand Dunes: Tottori's famous sand dunes are located just east of Tottori City and cover an area that is 16 km long and 2 km wide. The highest dunes can reach heights of 50 meters. The entire dune area is part of the Sanin Kaigan National Park. These amazing sand dunes were formed over thousands of years from sand washed out to sea by the Sendaigawa River. Today, tidal movements and coastal winds continue to shape and shift the dunes season by season. The dunes, as you can imagine, are a major tourist attraction for families. A small area offers camel and horse cart rides, paragliding and sandboarding. The local Sand Museum displays amazing sand sculptures by artists from around the world.

Mount Daisen: Mount Daisen, a volcanic mountain, is the highest peak in the region (1729 meters). It is part of the Daisen-Oki National Park. The mountain has been dormant for thousands of years and is perfectly safe to climb and explore. Mount Daisen has long been a spiritual center for Buddhist and Shinto mountain worship. Daisenji Temple, at the mountain's base, is spread out over a large forested slope. Further up the mountain, lies Ogamiyama Shrine (Shinto). Currently, the highest hikers can go is Misen Peak (1709 meters) via a steep trail that takes roughly 3 hours to transverse. The first section of the trail leads through a lush beech tree forest. The upper sections of the trail feature wooden boardwalks and stunning views inland and over the Japan Sea. The upper parts of the mountain are overed in snow from late November to late April and are considered to be a top Western Japan skiing and snowboarding destination.

Yonago Waterbird Sanctuary: The Yonago Waterbird Sanctuary, a 28-hectare wetland reserve, is home to roughly 40% of Japan's wild bird species (seasonal). This sanctuary attracts bird watchers from all over the world (I have had two private tour clients who were passionate bird watchers, and both went to Yonago!). The sanctuary is home to a wide variety of birds, including swans, ducks, herons, and some rare species. Most of the park cannot be accessed by visitors. The sanctuary's main observation hall, surrounded on three sides by glass, offers sweeping views of the park. Telescopes are set up along the windows, providing excellent views of Mount Daisen, and the islands scattered across the sanctuary's Nakaumi inland sea.

Tottori's Uradome coastal paradise: The Uradome Coast is a scenic stretch of shoreline in Tottori Prefecture known for its clear waters, rocky islands, and sandy beaches. It is part of the San'in Kaigan Geopark. The coastal area of Uradome is a popular destination for sea kayaking, boat tours, and swimming. The Uradome Coast Island Hopping Cruise (provided by the San’in-Matsushima Yuran company) takes visitors to islands, caves, tunnels, and cliffs between March and November. Tottori Blue's snorkeling & SUP tours are great for exploring the caves and coves on the Uradome coast. Snorkeling: July to October. SUP: January to December. For more info, visit Tottori Blue's homepage: https://tottoriblue.jimdofree.com/ .

Tottori Prefecture's amazing craft traditions

Tottori Prefecture is home to deep and ancient craft traditions. The prefecture was also a major beneficiary of the Mingei folkcraft movement (which gained momentum in the 1920s). The Mingei movement promoted the beauty of everyday items ordinary people use at a time when factory production rapidly evolved. Tottori's leading Mingei figure, Doctor Shoya Yoshida, visited countless Tottori’s craft studios that were on the verge of closing down and he helped them develop new Mingei items that suited Japan's rapidly westernized lifestyles in the early 20th century.

Inshu washi paper: Tottori's Inshu washi handmade paper tradition has a history of nearly 1,300 years! The most popular Inshu washi type is known as gasenshi, which is a textured drawing paper ideal for calligraphy and ink painting. Tottori's washi paper production ranges from simple, functional paper to interior and art conservation paper. At the Aoya Washi Studio visitors can learn about the inshu washi paper-making process and participate in workshops to create their own washi paper.

Textiles: Tottori has a rich textile culture known for its unique materials and techniques. Hakushu Cotton is a high-quality cotton locally grown on Yumigahama’s sandy soils. And Yumihama Gasuri or hamagasuri, made from pre-colored threads, almost went extinct but was saved by Shoya Yoshida and the Mingei Movement. Indigo dyeing is also actively practiced in Tottori Prefecture, especially in the mountain community of Chizu.

Wood, bamboo, and rattan crafts: Three quarters of Tottori Prefecture is covered in forest and has long been a center for woodworking, furniture making and bamboo crafts (baskets and umbrellas). The prefecture also has its own rattan production centers with a history of more than 200 years.

Metal crafts: Tottori is also well known for its tatara iron and steel smelting blacksmiths, who make knives and agricultural tools.

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