After a stop at Osaka to get our “home” for the next month, we drove towards Tottori. I have been wanting to go there for 2 years. It is home to the largest sand dunes of Japan, spanning 16 kilometers of coast of the Sea of Japan and up to two kilometers wide and 50 meters high. They are part of the Sanin Kaigan National Park.

I was always curious to see them as I would never have guessed such scenery was available here. Especially when you see pictures with camels!! It is one of the attraction offered to tourists. Luckily, as we arrived late afternoon, and went back early morning, we avoided the crowds and the circus that might come with it.

It was magical! Very large, maybe larger than the dune of Pyla in France. And with only handful of people. At some point we felt like being only the two of us lost in the desert. Beautiful and unique spot. Highly recommended!

We spend the evening in an izakaya randomly found in Tottori city. Once again, as almost every single time in Japan, food was amazing and welcome very warm. With our broken Japanese, communication is always limited but with smiles and hand signs, we got our way with the very nice cook.

I thought Tottori was only about sand dunes. Silly me! The city has a lot to offer, and especially a very nice park on the ancient castle ruins, where locals were enjoying sakuras. Beautiful surprise of our second day in Tottori province! We even made new friends with a couple of elderlys. Sat on a bench under the full bloomed cherry trees, overlooking the city, I listened, smiled and laughed with the very chatty lady, pretending I understood everything (while I got probably max 10% of it). She was so sweet! But I got busted by her husband at the end… it will be still a good memory!

More surprise was to come when an hour drive away from the beach, we were climbing trees’ roots and abseiling with chains to get to Sanbutsuji temple, and Nageire-do, its hall hanging on a cliff. The 2 hour return hike was challenging to say the least! Your shoes are checked before getting up there, and you can be denied access if you do not wear appropriate footwear. I thought it was excessive until we got to the hike. Not a walk in the park for sure but very rewarding! Amazing views on the way, and unbelievable construction. You really wonder how monks managed to build it, which add to the wow factor.

A well-deserved bowl of ramen later, we headed to Misasa onsen, to “enjoy” a 45 degrees bath in a public bath. It was really great to wash ourselves but neither of us stayed long in the water… You end up being cooked and red like a lobster, which usually amuses the locals a lot.

Onsens and public baths are really unique and special in Japan. Coming from Europe, the idea of being naked in a public facility is not appealing at all. But you realise soon that it is a ritual commonly appreciated by Japanese, and for some in more remote areas, it is their daily life, and quite often a time to gather amongst friends. Beauty time for ladies!

Washed and refreshed, we were ready for Mount Daisen. But this is a story for another day!

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