Rediscover Japanese culture and
powerful natural phenomena in San'in
Stretched along the coast adjacent to the Sea of Japan,
San'in is famed as the place where many Japanese myths and legends originate.
Yet, this remote region also has much to offer modern visitors,
from wild natural sites to tranquil shrines and impressive monuments.
Nature
Immerse yourself in the serenity of nature in San'in
Although some sites, like Mount Daisen, the mythical home of Japan's ancient fire god, are created by elemental forces, other natural sites in San'in were developed by human hands. Visit the Tottori Hanakairo-Flower Park to witness a dizzying array of flora, or spend an afternoon marveling at the expert attention to detail in the 300-year-old Hori family's curated gardens in Shimane.
Culture
Discover unique arts and craft traditions in San'in
From pottery to quilting, San'in has a rich art tradition. See the pottery production process first-hand at the Shussai-gama pottery. Discover thousands of pieces by renowned photographer Shoji Ueda at the Shoji Ueda Museum of Photography. And learn the art of quilting at the Izumo Quilt Museum of Art, the only dedicated quilting museum in Japan.
Activity
Try something new in San'in
Did you know there were dunes in Japan? The Tottori Sand Dunes are a well-known Japanese natural phenomenon, and here visitors can join in a uniquely desert-based activity: sandboarding. Away from the dunes, the villa of HÏSOM in Shimane gives you a chance to stay in a rural idyll surrounded by nature. While below the waves, the abundant marine life of the Oki Islands is a huge draw for scuba divers.
San'in in the News
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The road less travelled: Exploring the San’in region
BBC
The people of the San’in region have fought to preserve their historic buildings, traditional crafts, and rural way of life. If you are willing to travel a little further and delve a little deeper, the San’in region will reward you with rich, memorable experiences.
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Discover Japan: Where Art Meets Nature
CNN
The San’in region, made up of Tottori and Shimane prefectures, is still an unexplored wilderness for many visitors to Japan. San’in’s dynamic volcanic mountain ranges and deeply woven folktales have earned parts of the region both UNESCO geopark and Japan national park statuses.
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See a New Side of Japan with These Epic Outdoor Adventures
Travel + Leisure
Back on dry land, a different landscape unfolds in Tottori Prefecture, on the southwest coast of Japan’s main Honshu island. Here, Mt. Daisen towers nearly 1,709 meters above the Sea of Japan. The birthplace of countless tales of Japanese mythology, its forested slopes are crisscrossed with ancient pilgrim routes connecting sacred temples, shrines, and waterfalls.
San'in
Stretched along the coast adjacent to the Sea of Japan, San'in is famed as the place where many Japanese myths and legends originate. Yet, this remote region also has much to offer modern visitors, from wild natural sites to tranquil shrines and impressive monuments.
Hokkaido
Tohoku
Greater Tokyo
Central Japan
Kansai
San'in
Setouchi
Shikoku
Kyushu
Okinawa
