If You Go, This Is the Place! 8 Popular Experience Spots in Tottori That Everyone Will Envy

Tottori is famous for the Tottori Sand Dunes, but that’s not all! In Tottori, there are many spots where you can enjoy experiences while interacting with the locals and truly appreciate the charms of Shimane. In this article, we have gathered 8 experience spots that everyone can enjoy when they visit. For those traveling with children, you’ll be able to see their brightest smiles. Don’t forget to bring your camera!

1. Pear Picking House "Mikaen"

Located in Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture, "Mikaen" is an experiential house where you can enjoy pear picking. There is also a "rain shelter house" so that you can pick pears even on rainy or windy days without any problems. The signature "Niseiki Pear" is a representative variety of Tottori Prefecture. In addition, Mikaen offers 15 types of pears, making it a very delightful tourist spot for pear lovers.

The procedure for pear picking is as follows: armed with a knife for peeling and a container for discarding the peel, you first choose a delicious-looking pear. Pears can be detached by lifting them from underneath the branch without breaking the branch. And don’t worry if you pick too many pears to eat on the spot.

For a fee, you can take them home for around 1,000 yen (for 5 pears). Prices for take-home pears may vary by season and variety, so please check. Enjoy the juicy burst of pear flavor filling your mouth!

2. A Place to Experience Simulated Milking, Handmade Crafts, and Nature Up Close "Daisen Makiba Milk no Sato"

At "Daisen Makiba Milk no Sato" in Heki-cho, Nishihaku-gun, Tottori Prefecture, you can experience milking a cow. In fact, the experience uses a cow model so that even first-timers can easily and safely participate in a "simulated milking experience."

Next, you can challenge yourself with popular handmade experiences such as making "butter," "ice cream," and "milk pudding" for about 500 yen (reservations required).

In addition to the handmade dairy product experiences, you can also try making "sausages," which are very popular with children. The participation fee for that is 1,000 yen. Whatever you haven’t been able to try in your daily life, you can make it happen at Daisen Makiba Milk no Sato.

After you have fun with the handmade experiences, you can relax and play surrounded by the magnificent greenery within the facility.
(Prices are as of December 2016.)

3. For a Full Day of Play, This Is the Place "Mori no Kuni"

A must-see experience spot in Tottori is "Mori no Kuni." Here, you can choose from various programs such as "nature experiences," "craft-making experiences," "food experiences," "farming/harvesting experiences," and "children’s nature camp" among many other categories. Inside and outside the park, you can ride a magnificent cycling road on a bicycle, or in the autumn, explore the satoyama (village mountain) roads by bicycle.

You can also challenge yourself to tree climbing with a safety harness, climbing as high as the trees, together with your children. In the craft-making experiences, you can try making handcrafts and leather crafts. For the harvesting experience, you can collect the bounties of the highlands with local farmers.

In summer, there is a summer camp; in winter, a ski camp; and seasonal sports and activities are offered as a package with accommodation. It’s so full of activities that one day just isn’t enough. Enjoy it fully with your family!

4. Paper Pulping Experience and Making Your Own Original Lampshade at "Aoya Washi Kobo"

Located in Aoya-cho, Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture, "Aoya Washi Kobo" has a washi (Japanese paper) exhibition room, display of works, and a multipurpose hall, as well as a creative experience workshop related to washi prototyping and product development.

The menu includes a "paper pulping experience" and "making a beautiful lampshade." For the paper pulping experience, you can choose from A3 size, A4 size, or postcard size, according to your preference. The A4 size is also a suitable size for children to try. The largest A3 size experience takes about 60 minutes. For the beautiful lampshade making, you can create your one and only original lampshade using the washi paper you pulped yourself. (The experience fee varies depending on the size of the washi paper.)

Experience workshops using washi are quite rare, so when you visit Tottori, be sure to pick this up as one of your experience spots.

5. For Making Memories with Your Children! "Tottori Sand Dunes Kodomo no Kuni"

"Tottori Sand Dunes Kodomo no Kuni" in Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture, is a place where children can enjoy themselves with full smiles. It is a spot where families come to experience activities that cannot be done indoors. Established to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Meiji era, Tottori Sand Dunes Kodomo no Kuni offers athletics, rides, experiential workshops, and even a campground.

There are workshops such as the "Sand Workshop" and the "Woodwork Workshop." In the Sand Workshop, you can paint with paints and colored sand on clay, create sculptures, or try your hand at pottery—activities that are exciting just to watch. In the Woodwork Workshop, you can challenge yourself with woodworking, as well as crafts using glass, paper, and various materials.

In addition, there is a multipurpose hall for indoor play on rainy days and an "All-Season Children’s Plaza" where you can play without worry year-round. When you visit here, you’ll capture countless happy memories of your children that will be a perfect souvenir.

6. "Daisen Tom Sawyer" – So Many Experience Programs That You’ll Be Overwhelmed with Laughter

When you’re in Korea, you want to eat delicious barbecue, right? If you’re looking for some juicy and delicious barbecue in Busan, you simply cannot miss Yangkopchang!

"Daisen Tom Sawyer," a tourist spot in Yonago City, Tottori Prefecture, is full of animals and offers many fun experiences such as milking, feeding, horseback riding, and more.
The facility includes areas such as "Capybara Square," "Wanwan Land," "Me-me Land," "Alpaca Square," and "Pony Riding Experience," offering a wide variety of activities that both children and adults can truly enjoy! There are many types of animals, including kangaroos, horses, small animals, and even tortoises. You can experience feeding the animals and riding horses.

One unique feature is that you can take a walk with an alpaca, which is said to be the fairy of the Andes. You can even wear an alpaca hat and take photos together.

Which experience would you like to try first?

7. Try Freshly Made and Boiled Soba! "Shikano Soba Dojo"

When it comes to experiential activities at tourist spots, "hand-made soba" is a classic. At "Shikano Soba Dojo" in Shikano-cho, Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture, you can make your own soba and cook it on the spot! Moreover, the experience is available for individuals, so unlike limited group sessions, you can create your own "soba-making" experience at your own pace. Enjoying freshly made and boiled soba is a very satisfying experience.

Using soba flour from Shikano-cho, the experience lasts about 120 minutes. The "soba making" is taught by friendly local mothers, so beginners receive careful instruction and enjoy making delicious soba in a supportive environment. How about trying soba making as a memento of your trip?

8. For Fruit Picking in Hachito-cho, Where the Fruit is Fresh! "Hattou Fruit Kankouen"

In Tottori Prefecture, renowned as a town famous for its delicious fruits, "Hattou Fruit Kankouen" in Hachito-cho, Hachito-gun, is a facility where you can pick fresh fruits such as "grapes," "apples," "pears," and "chestnuts" according to the season. There are several varieties available, and you can enjoy fruit picking from the end of summer through the fruitful autumn. The fruits grown in Hachito-cho are all known for being sweet and juicy.

Pears have a long history in Japan, having been cherished since the Yayoi period. Although autumn is often associated with persimmons as a seasonal symbol, pears are also a healthy fruit available in many varieties. Moreover, astringent persimmons can be dried to make dried persimmons, making them a versatile fruit. The fact that you can pick various fruits in one facility is one of the attractions.

◎ Summary

For those who love food, there are many delightful spots related to eating. From pear picking to enjoying freshly picked apples, grapes, and chestnuts on the spot, it’s all an absolute delight. There are also experiences that let you make sweets using dairy products that children will love, as well as soba-making experiences.

This abundance shows that Tottori is full of fresh and delicious foods. There are even unique experiences like a "washi paper pulping" experience and creating a one-of-a-kind original lampshade from that washi, along with Tottori’s unique experiences such as simulated milking and nature encounters.

We hope this introduction to Tottori’s experiential spots has made you feel, “I love Tottori!” and showcased the rich charms of the region.

There are many more delicious foods in Busan that we couldn’t cover here. When you travel to Busan, be sure to use this article as your guide and enjoy the amazing gourmet treats waiting for you!

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If You Go, This Is the Place! 8 Popular Experience Spots in Tottori That Everyone Will Envy