Tottori Prefecture
A prefecture in Japan's Chūgoku region, known for its sand dunes, agricultural production, mountain landscapes, and coastal heritage.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Tottori Prefecture is a local government jurisdiction on the Sea of Japan side of western Honshu, forming part of Japan's Chūgoku region. It borders Shimane Prefecture to the west, Hiroshima and Okayama prefectures to the south, and Hyōgo Prefecture to the east. The prefectural capital and largest city is Tottori; other principal urban centers include Yonago, Kurayoshi, and Sakaiminato. With an area of approximately 3,507 square kilometres and a population of about 538,525 in 2023, Tottori is Japan's least populous prefecture. The prefecture combines a narrow but varied coastal plain with the Chūgoku Mountains and substantial rural areas. Its best-known natural landmark is the Tottori Sand Dunes, Japan's largest extensive dune system and a major tourism destination. Mount Daisen, rising to 1,729 metres, is the highest mountain in the Chūgoku Mountains and anchors a wider landscape of forests, highlands, and protected areas. The Uradome Coast, Lake Koyama, Nakaumi, and several hot-spring districts further contribute to the region's visitor economy. Approximately 14 percent of the prefecture's land was designated as national, quasi-national, or prefectural natural park land according to the cited reference material. Tottori's economy has a strong agricultural and primary-production base. Important products include nashi pears, rice, watermelons, Japanese scallions, and nagaimo yams. Produce is shipped to larger Japanese markets, while fisheries and port-related activity are particularly associated with Sakaiminato. The prefecture also supports tourism based on geological scenery, historic temples, cultural sites, hot springs, food, and associations with manga. Sakaiminato's Kitarō Road celebrates the work of manga artist Shigeru Mizuki and the GeGeGe no Kitarō character. Tottori University and Tottori University of Environmental Studies are among its principal higher-education institutions. The region has a long recorded history. The area corresponds broadly to the historic provinces of Hōki and Inaba, which were established as provincial units during the Taika-reform period in the seventh century. Archaeological evidence includes Jōmon remains, the Mukibanda Yayoi settlement near Mount Daisen, described in the reference material as Japan's largest known Yayoi-period settlement, and numerous Kofun-period burial mounds. During the Genpei War, temples including Daisen-ji and Sanbutsu-ji served as bases for forces opposed to the Taira clan. In the Edo period, the Ikeda clan governed the territory from Tottori Castle under the Tokugawa shogunate. The modern prefectural boundaries took shape during the Meiji period and were established in 1888. Tottori was severely affected by the 1943 Tottori earthquake, a magnitude 7.2 event that destroyed much of Tottori City and heavily damaged surrounding communities. Postwar land reform helped expand agricultural production. Today, Tottori remains a distinct regional government with responsibility for public administration, infrastructure, education, environmental protection, economic development, and cultural promotion. Its identity is closely connected to low population density, rural landscapes, distinctive agricultural goods, the Sea of Japan coast, and nationally recognizable natural and cultural attractions.
History
Human settlement in the area now known as Tottori Prefecture extends back to Japan's prehistoric periods. Jōmon-period archaeological remains demonstrate early habitation, while the Mukibanda site in the foothills of Mount Daisen and near Yonago and Daisen is identified in the reference material as the country's largest known Yayoi-period settlement. Numerous Kofun-period burial mounds are distributed across the region, indicating the area's integration into wider political and cultural networks during the third to sixth centuries. The name Tottori is traditionally associated with bird catching. Its two kanji can be read as references to birds and obtaining or capturing them, and an early appearance of the name is linked to a story recorded in the Nihon Shoki. In the seventh century, the Taika reforms organized the territory into the provinces of Hōki and Inaba. These provinces remained important administrative and political units for many centuries, although their local rulers and landholding arrangements changed repeatedly. During the late-Heian Genpei War of 1180–1185, Tottori became a base for anti-Taira forces. Daisen-ji and Sanbutsu-ji were among the religious institutions associated with regional political and military activity. In the Kamakura period, shōen estates supported the Imperial court and major temples. During the Sengoku era, competing military houses, particularly the Yamana clan, contested control of the area. Following the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, the region was brought under the stable authority of the Tokugawa order. The Tokugawa shogunate assigned the Ikeda clan to govern the Tottori domain. Tottori Castle became the political center of the domain, and the Ikeda administration retained authority through the Edo period from 1603 to 1868. Agricultural land, forestry, fisheries, and other regional resources supported the domain and contributed to the economic structure of early-modern Japan. The Sea of Japan coast also gave the area connections with maritime commerce. The Meiji Restoration dismantled the domain system and reorganized Japan into modern prefectures. Hōki and Inaba ceased to function as the principal administrative framework, and the boundaries of modern Tottori Prefecture were established in 1888. During the early twentieth century, the prefecture's Sea of Japan ports participated in trade and transport involving Japan's colonial territories, including Korea, Taiwan, and Manchuria. Tottori suffered a major natural disaster during the Second World War. The 1943 Tottori earthquake, reported as magnitude 7.2, destroyed approximately 80 percent of Tottori City according to the cited reference material and caused extensive damage throughout the surrounding area. Reconstruction and postwar land reform reshaped the built environment and agricultural economy. Land reform increased the role of smaller agricultural producers and contributed to higher agricultural output. In the postwar decades, Tottori developed as a predominantly rural prefecture while maintaining regional centers in Tottori, Yonago, Kurayoshi, and Sakaiminato. Transport links expanded through railways, highways, airports, and port facilities. Sakaiminato developed as an important fishing, ferry, and container port. The prefecture also increasingly promoted its natural and cultural assets, including the Tottori Sand Dunes, Mount Daisen, the Uradome Coast, Sanbutsu-ji, Misasa Onsen, and heritage residences such as the Ishitani Residence. Contemporary Tottori is characterized by very low population density, an aging and rural demographic profile, agriculture, fisheries, local manufacturing and services, and tourism. It remains Japan's least populous prefecture, but its national profile is strengthened by distinctive landscapes and products. Environmental protection, regional transport, agricultural branding, cultural heritage, and visitor attraction are central to the prefectural government's continuing role.
- 2023
Population remains Japan's lowest among prefectures
[1]The prefecture's population was reported at approximately 538,525, making Tottori the least populous prefecture in Japan.
- 1968
Prefectural symbol adopted
[1]Tottori adopted a prefectural symbol combining the first Japanese mora of its name with the image of a flying bird, representing peace, liberty, and advancement.
- 1943
Tottori earthquake
[1]A magnitude 7.2 earthquake caused catastrophic damage in and around Tottori City, destroying much of the urban area and prompting extensive reconstruction.
- 1888
Modern prefectural boundaries established
[1]The boundaries of Tottori Prefecture were established during the Meiji period, creating the modern administrative entity.
- 1868
Meiji administrative reorganization begins
[1]The Meiji Restoration replaced the domain-based order and began the administrative process that created modern prefectural government.
- 1603
Ikeda administration during the Edo period
[1]The Ikeda clan governed the Tottori domain throughout the Edo period, with the territory's resources supporting the domain and the wider shogunate system.
- 1600
Post-Sekigahara political consolidation
[1]After the Battle of Sekigahara, the region entered the stable political order of the Tokugawa shogunate, which later installed the Ikeda clan at Tottori Castle.
Early recorded association with the name Tottori
[1]The Nihon Shoki records a story involving a swan and the title Tottori no Miyakko, providing an early textual association with the name later used for the region.
Creation of the Hōki and Inaba provinces
[1]The Taika reforms organized the territory corresponding broadly to present-day Tottori into the historic provinces of Hōki and Inaba.
Products and positioning
A rural and nature-oriented Japanese prefecture distinguished by Japan's largest sand-dune system, Mount Daisen, agricultural production, coastal culture, historic religious sites, and manga-related tourism.
Agricultural produce
Nashi pears
Nashi pears are one of Tottori's signature agricultural products. The prefecture's agricultural sector supplies the fruit to major Japanese urban markets and uses it as part of the region's broader food identity and rural economic base.
Agricultural produce
Rice
Rice is a major crop in Tottori, supported by cultivated plains and regional farming communities. It forms part of the prefecture's core agricultural output alongside fruit, vegetables, and specialty root crops.
Agricultural produce
Japanese scallions
Japanese scallions, often marketed as negi, are among the vegetables associated with Tottori's agricultural economy. They are produced for domestic distribution and contribute to the prefecture's regional food branding.
Agricultural produce
Watermelons
Watermelons are a recognized Tottori farm product and part of the prefecture's diversified agricultural portfolio. They are grown alongside rice, pears, scallions, and nagaimo yams.
Agricultural produce
Nagaimo yams
Nagaimo yams are a specialty root crop produced in Tottori. Their inclusion among the prefecture's noted products reflects the importance of distinctive, shippable agricultural goods to the regional economy.
Fisheries
Seafood
The Sea of Japan coast supports fisheries and seafood-related activity, particularly around Sakaiminato. The port serves as a major maritime node for the prefecture and supports both domestic and international logistics.
Sources2 sources
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