🏜 Tottori / Shimane · 2 days
San’in Coast: Tottori Sand Dunes to Izumo Taisha
Japan’s uncrowded northern coast: Tottori Sand Dunes, Hawai onsen, Mt Daisen views, Matsue castle town and Izumo Taisha — 8 michi-no-eki along the San’in coast.
The San’in coast is the Japan most visitors never see: the country’s only large sand dunes at Tottori, a hot-spring town literally named Hawai, the sacred bulk of Mt Daisen above the shoreline, and at the western end Izumo Taisha — the oldest shrine in Japan, where the gods of the whole country are said to gather each October.
Traffic is thin, the coast road hugs the sea for long stretches, and the michi-no-eki are genuinely local — squid and crab straight off the boats at Akasaki and Kon-no-ura, pears everywhere in autumn (Tottori’s 20th Century pear is the prefecture’s pride). It’s the easiest place in Japan to feel like the only tourist on the road.
The stops, in driving order
- 1 Michi-no-Eki Shinwa No Sato Shiro Usagi 道の駅 神話の里 白うさぎ · Tottori
Michi-no-Eki Shinwa No Sato Shiro Usagi (道の駅 神話の里 白うさぎ) is a government-designated roadside station in 鳥取市, Tottori, Japan, registered in 2005 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a local-products shop, EV charging, free Wi-Fi and a tourist-information desk. There is free parking for about 119 cars and 13 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 8:00–19:00（12/3–2月末までは8:30–18:00）、レストランは11:00–17:00（土日祝は11:00–22：00）. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Chugoku road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Seiryuu Chaya Kawahara, Kinanse Iwami and Hawai.
- 2 Michi-no-Eki Hawai 道の駅 はわい · Tottori
Michi-no-Eki Hawai (道の駅 はわい) is a government-designated roadside station in 東伯郡湯梨浜町, Tottori, Japan, registered in 2003 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a local-products shop, free Wi-Fi, an observation deck and a park. There is free parking for about 56 cars and 17 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–18:00〔施設により異なる〕. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Chugoku road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Enchou Sono, Houjou Kouen and Daiei.
- 3 Michi-no-Eki Houjou Kouen 道の駅 北条公園 · Tottori
Michi-no-Eki Houjou Kouen (道の駅 北条公園) is a government-designated roadside station in 東伯郡北栄町, Tottori, Japan, registered in 1993 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, a campground and free Wi-Fi. There is free parking for about 254 cars and 36 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 物販 9：00–17：00 レストラン 10：00–17：00（LO.16：00）. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Chugoku road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Daiei, Hawai and Enchou Sono.
- 4 Michi-no-Eki Daiei 道の駅 大栄 · Tottori
Michi-no-Eki Daiei (道の駅 大栄) is a government-designated roadside station in 東伯郡北栄町, Tottori, Japan, registered in 1993 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, a campground and free Wi-Fi. There is free parking for about 131 cars and 17 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–17:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Chugoku road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Houjou Kouen, Pooto Akasaki and Kon No Ura.
- 5 Michi-no-Eki Pooto Akasaki 道の駅 ポート赤碕 · Tottori
Michi-no-Eki Pooto Akasaki (道の駅 ポート赤碕) is a government-designated roadside station in 東伯郡琴浦町, Tottori, Japan, registered in 1993 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, EV charging and free Wi-Fi. There is free parking for about 118 cars and 24 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–18:00〔施設により異なる〕. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Chugoku road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Kon No Ura, Daiei and Houjou Kouen.
- 6 Michi-no-Eki Kon No Ura 道の駅 琴の浦 · Tottori
Michi-no-Eki Kon No Ura (道の駅 琴の浦) is a government-designated roadside station in 東伯郡琴浦町, Tottori, Japan, registered in 2016 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, EV charging and free Wi-Fi. There is free parking for about 111 cars and 35 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00 –18:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Chugoku road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Pooto Akasaki, Daiei and Ooyama Megumi No Sato.
- 7 Michi-no-Eki Yu No Kawa 道の駅 湯の川 · Shimane
Michi-no-Eki Yu No Kawa (道の駅 湯の川) is a government-designated roadside station in 出雲市, Shimane, Japan, registered in 1998 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a hot-spring (onsen) bath, a restaurant, a local-products shop, a baby room and an accessible restroom. There is free parking for about 101 cars and 9 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–19:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Chugoku road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Sakurano Sato Kisuki, Aki Shika Nagisa Kouen and Taisha Go Heri Hiroba.
- 8 Michi-no-Eki Taisha Go Heri Hiroba 道の駅 大社ご縁広場 · Shimane
Michi-no-Eki Taisha Go Heri Hiroba (道の駅 大社ご縁広場) is a government-designated roadside station in 出雲市, Shimane, Japan, registered in 1993 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find EV charging, free Wi-Fi, a tourist-information desk, a museum or gallery and a park. There is free parking for about 184 cars and 4 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–17:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Chugoku road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Kirara Taki, Yu No Kawa and Sakurano Sato Kisuki.
Make this route yours — load all 8 stops into the planner, reorder or remove stops, then open the finished trip in Google Maps.
Customize this route →Route tips
- Do the dunes at sunrise or after 4 pm — midday summer sand is brutally hot and the light is flat.
- November–March is crab season on this coast; michi-no-eki fish counters sell boiled matsuba crab at half city prices.
- Michi-no-Eki Yu-no-kawa has one of "Japan’s three beauty-bath onsen" attached — a rare hot spring at a roadside station.
- Time Izumo Taisha for late afternoon, then stay for the sunset at nearby Inasa Beach.
Before you drive
- Can you drive in Japan? License rules by country
- Renting a car in Japan: the complete guide
- Can you sleep overnight at a michi-no-eki?