Geoparks

The Geopark areas of Shimane and Tottori prefectures are a living museum of geography, geology, and stunning scenery—and you can bathe, snorkel, cruise, dive, and trek through it all. Within these specially managed landscapes lie the Sea of Japan’s stunning Uradome coast, the bucket-list Tottori Sand Dunes, the entire Shimane Peninsula, the spectacular Oki Islands, secluded white-sand beaches, the country’s largest estuary, and some 50 coastal fishing villages, all waiting to be explored. There are also two revered shrines deeply tied to Japan’s creation myths. The whole family can learn about nature, history, culture, and environmental protection while having plenty of outdoor fun, and the cliffs, capes, sea caves, dunes and clear-blue waters promise one photogenic moment after another. Book a minshuku guesthouse for a characteristically warm welcome and lovingly prepared feasts, or stay in a contemporary boutique hotel for upscale island gastronomy—either way you will enjoy the best seafood hauled into port each day.

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