Tottori Sand Dunes hosts Kirin Jishi on 10 October
Published on 10/04/2026 at 07:41 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Tottori Sand Dunes (Tottori Sakyu) will host Meet the KIRINJISHI! at its visitor centre in Tottori, Japan, beginning on 10 October 2026. The programme brings the Kirin Jishi lion dance to one of the country’s largest coastal dune landscapes beside the Sea of Japan.
Kirin Jishi begins at Tottori Sand Dunes on 10 October
The performance series is scheduled for 10 October and 24 October 2026, followed by 14 November and 28 November 2026. Each date has two performances, at 11am and 1.30pm, at the San’in Kaigan National Park Tottori Sand Dunes Visitor Center.
The organiser is the Kirin no Machi Japan Heritage Promotion Council. The programme presents the Kirin Jishi dance associated with the Kirin area, giving visitors a fixed cultural event within the wider dune landscape. The official event listing names the dates, venue, organiser and two daily performances.
How the lion dance connects with Tottori’s coastal dunes
The visitor centre stands at 2164-971 Yuyama in Fukube-cho, Tottori City. It is positioned beside the main sightseeing area, where the dance programme offers a cultural focus before or after a walk across the sand.
The dunes extend along the Sea of Japan and form one of Japan’s largest expanses of coastal sand dunes. Part of the landscape has national natural monument status. The prominent Umanose, or Horse’s Back, is a sand wall rising 47 metres, while wind creates changing wave-like patterns across the surface.
The dunes belong to the wider San’in Kaigan National Park, whose coastline includes cliffs, caves, reefs and extensive sand landscapes. The national park’s official park information describes the dunes as a landscape formed by wave erosion and sand carried from river mouths. That geological setting makes the October performances more than a separate indoor programme: they place a regional tradition at a landmark shaped by the same coast.
Visiting Tottori Sand Dunes: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Meet the KIRINJISHI! takes place on 10 October and 24 October 2026, with additional performances on 14 November and 28 November 2026. The venue is the Tottori Sand Dunes Visitor Center.
- The visitor centre programme is scheduled twice on each date, at 11am and 1.30pm. The event listing states that admission to the performance is free.
- From Tottori Station, a local bus serves the Sakyu-kaikan stop, followed by a short walk. On weekends and public holidays, the Loop Kirinjishi Bus also serves the dune area.
- The sand has no shade, and the main dune area includes steep slopes. Shoes are advised because hot sand can burn bare feet, while hats and water are recommended when conditions are warm.
- Japan’s official language is Japanese and its 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 performances are scheduled for 10 October and 24 October 2026, followed by 14 November and 28 November 2026. Each date has shows at 11am and 1.30pm.
Where is Tottori Sand Dunes and how do you get there?
The dunes are in Tottori City beside the Sea of Japan. Local buses from Tottori Station stop at Sakyu-kaikan, and the Loop Kirinjishi Bus runs on weekends and public holidays.
What is Tottori Sand Dunes?
It is a large coastal dune landscape in Japan, with part of the area designated a national natural monument. Its best-known sand feature is Umanose, or Horse’s Back.
