On Nov. 21 first Godiva chocolate store opened in Tottori, located at JR Tottori station. Totorri was the only prefecture in Japan without Godiva store. Now Godiva has stores at all 47 prefectures in Japan.

On somehow related note, for whatever reasons Totorri is the only prefecture in Japan without Starbucks. Starbucks has a plan to open first store in Totorri next year. By end of next year there will be Starbucks at all 47 prefectures in Japan.

What is it with Totorri…?

Prefecture with the lowest per capita income in Japan (Actually, perhaps Okinawa is less wealthy by some measures? But maybe more concentrated). Inconveniently located for supply chains.

It's not always the last to get anything, though. Okinawa was the last prefecture without a railway. I think one of the prefectures in Shikoku might have been the last without a seven eleven.

Must be because of "nashi".

Even if Okinawa has the lowest per-capita income, it has a huge tourism base, and tourists are much more likely to want expensive chocolate and coffee. So, it would stand to reason that there would be Starbucks and Godiva in Okinawa even if none of the locals shopped there. As for Tottori, ...

Ah, but the other prefectures don't have "the dunes."

I went through Tottori-ken on the train this past summer, and it has no major cities (Yonago looks downright rundown and depressing). It has lovely, pastoral scenery and a beautiful coastline, but not much else to recommend it, no major historical sites, unlike neighboring Shimane-ken, which has the historically interesting city of Matsue and the famous Izumo Taisha shrine.

I was in Matsuyama in 2012, and when I asked the hotel desk for the location of the nearest 7/11 (to use their ATM), she told me that there were no 7/11s on Shikoku. This may have changed in the past two years.

It looks like most of Shikoku is covered now, with the exception of Kochi-ken: http://www.sej.co.jp/shop/index.html

Supposedly Mizuho and Japan Post are the only banks present in every prefecture. Mizuho because they have the franchise for the Takarakuji lottery and this requires them to have a branch servicing every prefectural government.

Hi,

I'm trying to get from Yasugi/Yonago to Kinosaionen in the morning and google maps is giving me these two suggestions:

0942 Yasugi - 1057 Tottori San-In Line-Limited ExpressSuper Matsukaze 6 Limited ExpressTottori
1hr59min change
1256 Tottori - 1411 Kinosakionsen Hamakaze Hamakaze 4 Limited ExpressOsaka

(1204 Yasugi - 1214 Yonago San-In Line Local Yonago
9min change)
1223 Yonago - 1328 Tottori San-In Line-Limited Express Super Matsukaze 8Limited ExpressTottori
5min change
1333 Tottori - 1528 Kinosakionsen San-In Line Loca lToyo-Oka

Second options allows a leisurely breakfast at the Yasugi ryokan and/or a second visit to the Adachi gardens in the quieter morning hours, but the 5min connection at Tottori I'm worried about as the next train is 2 hours later.
First option I get to Kinosakionsen an hour earlier (maybe a touch too early for the 3pm check-in, but ok), and will have a 2 hours connection.

So both option either has a possible chance or a guaranteed 2 hours at Tottori.
Looking for recommendations on what to do? Apart from the dunes..
Abe TottoriDo's crab bento looks nice....

Thank you!

https://www.jalan.net/kankou/cit_312010000/

• Sand sculpture museum
• Fish market
• Glassworks
• Onsen
• Castle ruins
• Various sand activities (boarding, Bactrian camel rides etc.)
• Mingei (arts and crafts) museum

I personally wouldn't be too bothered by the 5 minute connection. The station is fairly easy to navigate, and delays are uncommon. That said, I think it mostly boils down to whether or not you want to stroll around Tottori and where you want to get lunch. Breakfast at the ryokan wouldn't be overly rushed if you start early. Not having to drag your belongings onto a local train is also nice.