HISTORY
The Tottori Sand Dunes—A Collaboration of Water, Wind, and Waves
The Tottori sand dunes were shaped over tens of thousands of years as granite gravel and sand flowed to the sea from mountains in the south, carried by the Sendai River. Over time a sandbar formed offshore. Waves and coastal currents polished and pushed the smallest granules back to land, eventually filling a bay. Fluctuating sea levels, too, played their part in the dunes’ early formation, at times shifting whole beds of seafloor sediment onto this newly formed coastal terrace. Wind carried the sand farther inland, sculpting it into ever-shifting shapes. Volcanic eruptions added ash and pumice to the mix. Rising to heights of 47 meters and undulating with depressions that house a surprising amount of flora and fauna, the Tottori sand dunes today are one of the most striking and inspiring sights among the diverse coastal landforms that characterize the San’in Kaigan UNESCO Global Geopark.
Preserving the Scenic and Biological Integrity of the Tottori Sand Dunes
The Tottori sand dunes are a kind of living coastal museum, and many people are involved in their protection and conservation today. From ministry officials to national and geopark employees to civilian volunteers, they are meeting a number of environmental challenges: they help keep invasive plant species in check, they staunch shoreline erosion with sand replenishment, and they work to protect endangered or threatened flora and fauna. The sand dunes need to be effectively managed as a tourist destination as well, which involves efforts to control littering and defacement by graffiti. Rangers patrol the dunes daily, providing guidance and assistance to visitors. The Visitor Center plays an important part in educational outreach, with exhibits and services designed to build awareness of and garner support. Local citizens volunteer regularly to remove invasive vegetation and pick up litter so the pristine beauty of the dunes is maintained for all who visit.
Visit the Tottori sand dunes online at Visitor center’s HP and facebook.
Find out more about San’in Kaigan National Park at https://www.env.go.jp/park/sanin/index.html and San’in Kaigan UNESCO Global Geopark at https://sanin-geo.jp/know/en/.
Tottori Sand Dunes Visitor Center
2164-971 Fukube-cho Yuyama, Tottori 689-0105
San’in Kaigan National Park
Kinki Regional Environment Office OMM Building 8F 1-7-31 Otemae, Chuo-ku,Osaka-shi, Osaka 540-6591
San’in Kaigan UNESCO Global Geopark Secretariat
7-11 Saiwai-cho, Toyooka, Hyogo 668-0025
geopark@pref.hyogo.lg.jp
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Common-Sense Things to Note
Drone photography of the Tottori sand dunes is allowed with prior notification at the Visitor Center. Fireworks, golf practice, swimming, drawing in the sand, collecting it, littering, and the use of megaphones, banners, etc. for public demonstration are prohibited. Be sure to stay well hydrated, keep dogs on leash, and clean up after them
