Things to Do in Kotoura (琴浦町), Tottori: Sights, Train Access & Travel Guide

Last reviewed: October 27, 2026 · Prices are approximate and for orientation only.

Overview & City Profile

Kotoura (琴浦町) in Tottori Prefecture (Chugoku, Japan) is anchored by local sights including Mount Senjō and Mount Senjō Sakura Festival, Daisen Waterfall, Sainoo temple ruins, Special National Historic Site and served by Yabase Station (八橋駅) (6.4 km) via the regional hub at Tottori Station & Yonago Station (JR Super Hakuto Limited Express). Set at 270 m elevation (35.4529°N, 133.6401°E), Kotoura offers travelers a base for sampling regional Matsuba-gani (winter snow crab) & Beni-zuwaigani, Nijisseiki (20th Century) Asian pears, Tottori beef-bone ramen (gyukotsu ramen) cuisine and exploring neighboring Daisen (大山町) (10.2 km), Hokuei (北栄町) (12.1 km), Kurayoshi (倉吉市) (16.1 km), Kōfu (江府町) (20.6 km).

Kotoura is located in central Tottori Prefecture, bordered by the Sea of Japan to the north while the southern part of the city rises to the Chūgoku Mountains. Mount Senjō, to the southwest of the town, is within the Mount Daisen range. Kotoura has been settled since ancient times. A Yayoi period (300 BC–250 AD) dōtaku was unearthed in Yabase district, one of only 400 in Japan, and a bronze sword was unearthed in Tagoshi district, and both items suggest a prosperous settlement in Kotoura in this period. The economy of Kotoura is based agriculture and food processing, including sake and soy sauce brewing. Within Tottori Prefecture, Kotoura (琴浦町) serves as a town (町) in Tottori Prefecture (municipal incorporation: 1889-04-01) and pairs naturally with wider prefectural highlights such as Sweeping Tottori Sand Dunes & Sand Museum, sacred Mount Daisen ('Fuji of Hoki'), Kurayoshi white-walled storehouses, radium-rich Misasa Onsen, and Sakaiminato's Mizuki Shigeru Road.

What to See & Do in Kotoura (琴浦町): Landmarks & Sights

Visitors exploring Kotoura (琴浦町) from Yabase Station (八橋駅) (6.4 km) at 270 m elevation (35.4529°N, 133.6401°E) can visit these nearby shrines, temples, parks, and geographic landmarks (with straight-line distances from central Kotoura):

• Mount Senjō and Mount Senjō Sakura Festival — local sightseeing landmark near Kotoura (琴浦町).
• Daisen Waterfall — local sightseeing landmark near Kotoura (琴浦町).
• Sainoo temple ruins, Special National Historic Site — local sightseeing landmark near Kotoura (琴浦町).
• Yabase Castle ruins — local sightseeing landmark near Kotoura (琴浦町).
• Kawamoto Family Residence — local sightseeing landmark near Kotoura (琴浦町).
• Primary Rail Gateway for Kotoura: Yabase Station (八橋駅) (6.4 km) (connecting to Tottori Station & Yonago Station (JR Super Hakuto Limited Express)).

Closest Neighboring Municipalities to Kotoura

When planning a regional rail or driving loop around Kotoura (琴浦町) and Yabase Station (八橋駅) (6.4 km), consider pairing your stop with the 5 closest neighboring municipalities across Tottori Prefecture and Chugoku:

• Daisen (大山町) — 10.2 km from Kotoura (Tottori Prefecture)
• Hokuei (北栄町) — 12.1 km from Kotoura (Tottori Prefecture)
• Kurayoshi (倉吉市) — 16.1 km from Kotoura (Tottori Prefecture)
• Kōfu (江府町) — 20.6 km from Kotoura (Tottori Prefecture)
• Hōki (伯耆町) — 22.3 km from Kotoura (Tottori Prefecture)

Getting to Kotoura & Getting Around

Train & hub access to Kotoura (琴浦町) via Yabase Station (八橋駅) (6.4 km): 2h 30m direct from Osaka/Kyoto/Kobe to Tottori on the JR Super Hakuto Limited Express, or 2h 15m from Okayama to Yonago on the JR Yakumo. From Tottori Station & Yonago Station (JR Super Hakuto Limited Express), transfer to local JR or private rail lines serving Yabase Station (八橋駅) (6.4 km) to reach central Kotoura (35.4529°N, 133.6401°E).

• Local rail & IC cards at Yabase Station (八橋駅) (6.4 km): JR regional trains and private commuter lines link Tottori with Kotoura (琴浦町) and neighboring Daisen, Hokuei, Kurayoshi. Nationwide IC cards (Suica, PASMO, ICOCA) work at major urban gates; for rural branch stations or local buses around Kotoura, carry ¥1,000 bills and ¥100 coins for the onboard fare box.
• Luggage & station coin lockers: Travelers exploring Kotoura and continuing toward Daisen can store bags at major transfer stations or check suitcase dimensions in our Luggage & Locker Checker and ship large bags ahead via Takkyubin.
• Driving & car rental around Kotoura: While Yabase Station (八橋駅) (6.4 km) anchors public transit for Kotoura, picking up a rental car at Tottori Station & Yonago Station (JR Super Hakuto Limited Express) makes it easy to link Mount Senjō and Mount Senjō Sakura Festival and Daisen Waterfall with nearby Daisen (大山町) (10.2 km), Hokuei (北栄町) (12.1 km), Kurayoshi (倉吉市) (16.1 km), Kōfu (江府町) (20.6 km). See our Renting a Car in Japan Guide.

What to Eat in Kotoura (琴浦町) & Tottori

Dining near Yabase Station (八橋駅) (6.4 km) and across Kotoura (琴浦町) highlights the regional food culture of Tottori Prefecture and Chugoku. Look for these local specialties at station restaurants, family-run shokudo, and markets in Kotoura:

• Local specialty & terroir of Kotoura (琴浦町): traditional soy sauce brewing (shōyu) and river-port commerce alongside sweet cherry (sakuranbo) orchards and highland fruit farming.
• Matsuba-gani (winter snow crab) & Beni-zuwaigani — regional specialty enjoyed across Kotoura (琴浦町) and Tottori Prefecture.
• Nijisseiki (20th Century) Asian pears — regional specialty enjoyed across Kotoura (琴浦町) and Tottori Prefecture.
• Tottori beef-bone ramen (gyukotsu ramen) — regional specialty enjoyed across Kotoura (琴浦町) and Tottori Prefecture.
• Tottori spice curry — regional specialty enjoyed across Kotoura (琴浦町) and Tottori Prefecture.

If you are dining in Kotoura (琴浦町) with food allergies or dietary restrictions, use our Japanese Phrasebook & Allergy Show-Cards at restaurants around Yabase Station (八橋駅) (6.4 km).

Where to Stay in Kotoura (琴浦町)

Visitors staying overnight in Kotoura (琴浦町) can look for business hotels, traditional ryokan, or family-run minshuku near Yabase Station (八橋駅) (6.4 km), or base at major rail hubs in Tottori (Tottori Station & Yonago Station (JR Super Hakuto Limited Express)) or neighboring Daisen, Hokuei, Kurayoshi for quick train access into Kotoura. Compare hotel tiers and ryokan etiquette in our Japan Accommodation Guide.

Best Time to Visit Kotoura & Seasonal Highlights

Seasonal guide for Kotoura (琴浦町, 270 m elevation at 35.4529°N, 133.6401°E): April–October for coastal sand dunes, Mount Daisen hikes, and Uradome Coast kayaking; November–March for winter crab feasts and Misasa Onsen.

Wider sightseeing across Tottori Prefecture that pairs well with visiting Mount Senjō and Mount Senjō Sakura Festival in Kotoura (琴浦町) includes: Sweeping Tottori Sand Dunes & Sand Museum, sacred Mount Daisen ('Fuji of Hoki'), Kurayoshi white-walled storehouses, radium-rich Misasa Onsen, and Sakaiminato's Mizuki Shigeru Road.

Practical Travel Tips for Kotoura (琴浦町)

• Tourist information (観光案内所) for Kotoura: Stop by the Kankō Annaijo desk at Tottori Station & Yonago Station (JR Super Hakuto Limited Express) or Yabase Station (八橋駅) (6.4 km) for local bus schedules to Mount Senjō and Mount Senjō Sakura Festival and walking maps of Kotoura (琴浦町).
• Cash & ATMs in Kotoura: Convenience stores and major hotels around Yabase Station (八橋駅) (6.4 km) accept international cards, while smaller eateries and shrines near Mount Senjō and Mount Senjō Sakura Festival often prefer yen cash; 7-Eleven (Seven Bank) and Japan Post ATMs in Kotoura accept foreign debit cards.
• Local dining hours in Kotoura: Around Yabase Station (八橋駅) (6.4 km) and neighboring Daisen, Hokuei, Kurayoshi, lunch service typically runs 11:30 AM–2:00 PM and dinner spots open around 5:30 PM with last orders between 8:00 PM and 9:00 PM.