Tottori's Hidden Historic Quarter
While Tottori City's sand dunes and Sakaiminato's manga street draw most of the tourism attention, the inland city of Kurayoshi (倉吉市) quietly offers one of the most atmospheric historic districts in the entire San'in region. Known for its beautifully preserved Shirakabe Dōzōmachi (白壁土蔵群) — a cluster of white-walled earthen storehouses lining the Tamagawa River — Kurayoshi is the kind of place that rewards slow exploration.
It makes an ideal day trip from Tottori City or can serve as a base for exploring central Tottori Prefecture.
The Shirakabe Dōzōmachi District
The historic district is compact enough to walk in an hour, but rich enough to justify spending much of a day. The Tamagawa River flows through the center, its banks lined with weeping willows that trail into the water — an almost impossibly picturesque scene that changes dramatically with the seasons.
The storehouses date primarily from the Edo and Meiji periods (roughly the 17th through early 20th centuries), when Kurayoshi thrived as a merchant town on trade routes through the region. Their characteristic white plaster walls and dark-tiled roofs have been carefully preserved, and many now house shops, cafés, craft studios, and small museums.
What to Explore in the District
- Akagawara (赤瓦): A row of storehouses with distinctive red-tile roofs housing shops, galleries, and restaurants. Several sell local crafts and Tottori specialties.
- Uchifuse Area: The narrower lanes off the main riverfront, with quiet residential streets and older buildings often overlooked by visitors.
- Kurayoshi Museum: A small local history museum with exhibits on the town's merchant past and regional folk culture.
- Local craft shops: Look for Tottori-made ceramics, textiles, and woodwork — the district has a number of genuine artisan studios.
Mitoku-san and Misasa Onsen
A day trip to Kurayoshi is easily combined with two other excellent nearby attractions:
Mitoku-san Sanbutsu-ji Temple (三徳山三佛寺)
About 20 km from Kurayoshi, Mt. Mitoku is home to one of Japan's most dramatic religious sites: Nageire-do (投入堂), a small wooden temple hall seemingly built into a cliff face — a feat of ancient engineering that remains unexplained. Reaching it requires a designated guided hike and renting straw sandals, but the experience of scrambling through forest and up the mountain to reach this astonishing structure is unforgettable. It's widely considered one of Japan's most spectacular and unusual temples.
Misasa Onsen (三朝温泉)
On the road between Kurayoshi and Mt. Mitoku lies Misasa Onsen, a charming small hot spring town straddling the Misasa River. The onsen here are known for containing radon, which local tradition holds has therapeutic properties. The town is small and atmospheric, with ryokan, foot baths along the river, and a relaxed, traditional onsen-town feel. The riverside footbath (ashiyu) is free and open to visitors — a perfect stop between sightseeing.
How to Get to Kurayoshi
| From | Method | Approx. Time |
|---|---|---|
| Tottori City | JR San'in Line (local train) | ~45–55 minutes |
| Yonago | JR San'in Line | ~60–75 minutes |
| Tottori City | Car (Route 9) | ~40 minutes |
The Shirakabe District is a short walk or taxi ride from Kurayoshi Station. Buses run infrequently between Kurayoshi and Misasa Onsen/Mitoku — a car makes combining all three destinations much easier.
Best Time to Visit
- Spring: Cherry blossoms line the Tamagawa riverbanks — one of the most beautiful seasonal scenes in Tottori
- Summer: Lush green willows, river light, and outdoor café seating in the district
- Autumn: Foliage on Mt. Mitoku is spectacular; the district has a warm, golden-hour quality in October
- Winter: Snow on the white walls creates a quiet, starkly beautiful atmosphere
Practical Tips
- The Shirakabe District is small — combine it with Misasa Onsen or Mt. Mitoku for a full day
- Most shops in the district open around 9–10am and close by 5–6pm
- Kurayoshi has good lunch options in the historic district itself — look for local soba and set menus
- The area is well-suited to slow, unhurried exploration; resist the temptation to rush
Kurayoshi may not have the name recognition of Tottori's sand dunes or Kyoto's temples, but that is precisely part of its appeal. It is a place that rewards curiosity, patience, and a willingness to wander — exactly the spirit that makes exploring Tottori so rewarding.