Fly into Yonago Airport, spend your first night at a hot-spring town by the sea, and your second at a resort at the foot of Mt. Daisen. This three-day route follows the stories of the region in sequence: mythology in Izumo, yōkai in Sakaiminato, mountain worship at Daisen, and ogre legends in Hōki Town. The final day slows down and stays close to Hōki.
Before you travel The opening hours and closure information in this article were checked against official sources on the “last checked” date shown at the end. Details can change. Please use the official links on each spot page to confirm the latest information before setting out.
Route overview
Stay one night at Kaike Onsen, a convenient base between the coast and the mountains, then move to Hōki Town for the second night. See the locations on the map.
- Day 1 — Izumo and Yasugi, then overnight at Kaike Onsen
- Day 2 — Sakaiminato and Mt. Daisen, then overnight at Mercure Tottori Daisen Resort & Spa in Hōki Town
- Day 3 — A relaxed circuit around Hōki Town before returning to the airport
Day 1 — A day of mythology in Izumo
Drive west from Yonago Airport for about 1 hour 20 minutes to Izumo Taisha (official website). After your visit, continue to Inasa Beach, only a short distance away on foot. Izumo soba makes a natural lunch stop.
On the return journey, stop halfway in Yasugi at the Adachi Museum of Art (official website). It is famous for its Japanese garden. At the time of checking, it was open every day, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. between April and September.
Spend the night at Kaike Onsen (official website). Its saline hot spring rises beside the sea, and an evening walk through the resort area may reward you with a sunset over the Sea of Japan.
Day 2 — Yōkai and mountain worship, from coast to peak
In the morning, drive about 20 minutes from Kaike to Mizuki Shigeru Road. The area is easiest to explore before it gets busy later in the day. When last checked, the Mizuki Shigeru Museum was open year-round from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (official website). Stay in Sakaiminato for a seafood lunch.
Continue into the mountains for Daisenji Temple and Ōgamiyama Shrine Okunomiya, reached by a natural-stone approach said to be the longest of its kind in Japan. If the season and daylight allow, drive on to Kagikake Pass on the Daisen Loop Road for a dramatic view of the mountain’s southern wall. The road is normally closed for winter from around late November to early April. For the year checked, it reopened on April 7.
Your second night is at Mercure Tottori Daisen Resort & Spa (official website). The geothermal spa and all-inclusive format make it an easy choice when you want a quiet evening without searching for dinner.
Day 3 — Hōki Town, with every drive around 15 minutes
Although it is the final day, it is the least tiring. The main stops are clustered within roughly a 15-minute drive of one another.
- If you are up early, visit Fukuoka Reservoir. On a windless morning, Mt. Daisen may appear reflected in the water.
- Visit the Shoji Ueda Museum of Photography (official website). Windows inside frame Mt. Daisen like a photograph. When checked, the museum was closed on Tuesdays and normally closed for winter from mid-December through the end of February.
- Follow the ogre legend through Mt. Kizumiyama, Onikko Land, and Sasafuku Shrine. The legend is explored in the site’s history series.
- Stop for lunch at Daisen G Beer and Bierhof Gambarius (official website), a brewery restaurant whose craft beer has received international awards. When checked, it was closed on Mondays, or the following day when Monday was a public holiday. In January and February it operated only on weekends and public holidays.
- Finish at Tottori Hanakairō Flower Park (official website) or with soft-serve ice cream at Daisen Makiba Milk Village (official website). Milk Village completed its first major renovation in 28 years in April 2026.
Allow about 40–50 minutes to drive back to the airport. There should still be time to travel without rushing for an evening flight.
Important notes on weekdays and seasons
- Wednesday through Sunday is the best window for Day 3. Based on the information checked, the Shoji Ueda Museum, Milk Village, and—in July and August—the flower park close on Tuesdays, while Gambarius closes on Mondays. A Monday or Tuesday visit removes several of the day’s main stops.
- This exact route does not work in winter, from December to March. The road to Kagikake Pass closes and the Shoji Ueda Museum enters its winter closure. A practical winter alternative is to spend more time at the Adachi Museum, Mizuki Shigeru Road, or the Mercure spa.
Ways to adapt the route
- For hikers — Replace Day 3 with a full ascent of Mt. Daisen via the Natsuyama trail, taking roughly five to six hours round trip. The trailhead is about 20 minutes by car from the Mercure.
- For deeper history — Add Nibu-shuku, a former post town on the Izumo Kaidō, and the remains of Ōdera Temple.
- For another night — Combine this route with the three-hot-spring itinerary and continue toward Misasa or Tamatsukuri.
Last checked
Official websites and operator announcements were checked on July 2, 2026. Opening hours, closure dates, and road conditions may change. Please confirm the latest information on each official website before travelling.
