Travel Diary Tottori | Japan 2024

Here it is – finally! My travel diary about my family visit to Tottori from June 21st to July 2nd, 2024 (apologies for the wait, summer is always a hectic time for me). I do not usually visit Japan in July because of the heat (and yes, it was hot, but manageable). This time, I decided to stay in Tottori the entire week, skipping Tokyo, since I will be traveling back again in autumn.

Let’s dive right in!

Arrival & Family Visit

I arrived in Tokyo Narita on June 22 and, as usual, had to transfer to Haneda Airport for my flight to Tottori. I booked an early flight to Tottori than usual, so I was a bit anxious when my luggage took about 30 minutes to appear. Thankfully, everything went smoothly from there. I took the limousine bus (¥3,600) from Narita Terminal 1 to Haneda Terminal 2 (you can purchase tickets at the orange counter – just go straight ahead after exiting baggage claim). The bus stop is typically number 12.

Upon arriving in Tottori, my aunt picked me up. This visit was all about family, and I truly enjoyed every moment. I visited my grandpa’s grave and spent time with my grandma. We went shopping and I had my favorite pancakes at Oenosato Natural Farm (Cocogarden). I even tried their afternoon tea during a matcha-themed event – it was delicious! Other highlights included visiting the Onsen (hot sprig bath), Aeon Mall, a hairdresser’s appointment and Don Quijote. To my delight, LOFT has recently opened in the Maruyu Department Store in front of Tottori Station – yay!

The Limousine bus is super convenient if you need to switch the airport!

We had this wondeful matcha-themed Afternoon Tea!

Got a Mintia keychain from a Gacha Machine lol

You can buy Conan goods at Tottori Station (Souvenir Shop)

Sandshrew and Alolan Sandshrew have been chosen to respresent Tottori as ambassadors

Exploring Conan Town

During my trip to Tottori, I made a day trip to Conan Town in Yura, Hokuei. This charming town is dedicated to the famous Detective Conan, and I took my time exploring the numerous statues, revisiting the Conan Museum and soaking in the nostalgic atmosphere. It had been two years since my last visit and it was just as enjoyable as I remembered.

There will be a separate post coming soon, where I will give you more detailed insights about the town and its attractions – stay tuned! (the previous blog post about Conan Station here → Oct 2022)

Mega Don Quijote Yonago, Koi-Yamagata Station, Mitaki-En

My cousin was incredibly thoughtful and took me to the newly opened Mega Don Quijote in Yonago. This Don Quijote was truly next level, with its enormous size and a vast supermarket-style section. The store features an impressive variety of products, from household items to gourmet foods, and even has a dedicated section for unique and quirky finds. It is not just a shopping experience; it is an adventure in itself!

On another day, she also kindly drove me to Koi-Yamagata Station, a charming, pink, love-themed station I had seen on Instagram. We spent quite a while there and had a great time taking pictures together. To my surprise, I encountered the Super Hakuto Train in its Detective Conan version, which operates in Tottori. I had wanted to book a ride for my Conan-themed trip, but unfortunately, it was not running on the days I was there. Nonetheless, I was thrilled to see it at Koi-Yamagata Station, as I had not spotted it anywhere else in Tottori.

Later, we tried to visit Mitaki-en, a charming café and restaurant nestled in the woods with a Ghibli-like ambiance. Known for its lush surroundings and serene atmosphere, it was a place I had been eager to see. Unfortunately, we had not checked the opening times and found it closed (Tuesday & Wenesday). Despite this, we took some great photos from the outside and I am definitely planning to return. To make up for the disappointment, we enjoyed a matcha parfait in Wakasa at Uruwashi Japanese Tea. Though a bit pricey, the experience was well worth it, offering a delightful treat in a lovely setting.