Tottori Sand Dunes host Meet the Kirinjishi on 10 October
Published on 09/27/2026 at 10:32 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Tottori Sand Dunes will host Meet the Kirinjishi, a traditional lion-dance programme, on 10 October, 24 October, 14 November and 28 November 2026. The performances take place at the Tottori Sand Dunes Visitor Centre in Tottori, Japan, beside the coastal landscape known locally in Latin transliteration as Tottori Sakyu.
Meet the Kirinjishi brings four dates to the dunes
The programme is organised by the Kirin no Machi Japan Heritage Promotion Council. The official listing names the San'in Kaigan National Park Tottori Sand Dunes Visitor Centre as the venue and sets two performances on each date, at 11am and 1.30pm.
The programme presents Kirinjishi, a lion dance handed down in the Kirin area of eastern Tottori Prefecture. Its placement at the visitor centre connects a regional performing tradition with one of Tottori's principal natural attractions. The event listing states that viewing is free and gives the venue address as 2164-971 Yuyama, Fukube-cho, Tottori City. The official event listing confirms the four dates, venue and performance schedule.
How the lion dance meets Tottori Sand Dunes
Tottori Sand Dunes form one of Japan's largest expanses of coastal sand dunes beside the Sea of Japan. Part of the area is designated as a national natural monument, while the Umanose, or Horse's Back, rises 47 metres above the surrounding sand.
The visitor centre sits within the dune area rather than at a separate city venue. That makes the October and November performances a defined cultural stop during a visit to the landscape, while the main dune walk remains a separate outdoor experience. The city tourism authority describes the sand wall, wind-shaped patterns and national designation in its guide to the dunes.
The nearby Sand Museum provides a separate indoor attraction. Its official 2026 schedule runs from 24 April 2026 to 3 January 2027, so it is operating during all four listed Kirinjishi dates.
Visiting Tottori Sand Dunes: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Meet the Kirinjishi is scheduled for 10 October, 24 October, 14 November and 28 November 2026 at the Tottori Sand Dunes Visitor Centre, with shows at 11am and 1.30pm.
- Viewing is free, and the event listing identifies the visitor centre as the venue. No change to access at the wider dunes is announced for these dates.
- From Tottori Station Bus Terminal, the city tourism authority lists a bus to Sakyu-kaikan, followed by a short walk. On weekends and public holidays, the Loop Kirinjishi Bus also serves Sakyu-kaikan.
- The dunes have no shade, and the Umanose sand wall reaches 47 metres. Shoes are advised because the sand can become hot and walking barefoot may cause burns.
- The official language is Japanese and the national currency is the yen.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Tottori Sand Dunes
When does Meet the Kirinjishi take place at Tottori Sand Dunes?
The programme is scheduled for 10 October, 24 October, 14 November and 28 November 2026, with two performances on each date.
Where is Tottori Sand Dunes and how do you get there?
The dunes are in Fukube-cho, Tottori City, Japan. Buses from Tottori Station serve Sakyu-kaikan, and the visitor centre is a short walk from that stop.
What is Meet the Kirinjishi?
It is a free lion-dance programme at the Tottori Sand Dunes Visitor Centre, presented at 11am and 1.30pm on each of the four 2026 dates.
