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The Tottori Sand Dunes are the largest sand dunes in Japan and Tottori's most famous tourist attraction. Located just outside the city center, they span roughly 16 kilometers of coast along of the Sea of Japan and are up to two kilometers wide and 50 meters high. They are part of the Sanin Kaigan National Park.A short walk away from the dunes stands The Sand Museum, a unique museum that displays large sand sculptures by artists from around the world. Previously the sand exhibitions were held outdoors and in temporary structures, but in 2012 the sand museum moved into its own permanent building.
Exhibitions change annually and last from mid April to early January of the following year. Every exhibition has its theme, typically a country or region. In 2013, the theme of the exhibition is South East Asia on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of exchanges between Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The exhibition lasts from April 20, 2013 to January 5, 2014.
The sand dunes were created over thousands of years, as sand from the nearby Sendaigawa River was washed out to sea and eventually redeposited along the coast by the ocean's currents. Today, the constant movement of the tides and the coastal winds continuously shape the sand dunes and provide an ever changing landscape.
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