Tottori, Tottori
Encyclopedia
is the capital city
of Tottori Prefecture
in the Chūgoku region of Japan
.
As of 2006, the city has an estimated population
of 200,974 and a density
of 262.48 persons per km². The total area is 765.66 km².
Within Japan the city is best known for its sand dunes
which are a popular tourist attraction, drawing visitors from outside of the prefecture. The sand dunes are also important as a centre for research into arid agriculture, hosting Tottori University
's Arid Land Research Center.
, once the property of the Ikeda clan
daimyō
who ruled the Tottori Domain
during the Edo period
. It is open to the public, and is the site of the Castle Festival in autumn each year. In the vicinity are temples, museums, and public parks. The city also hosts the prefecturally famous Shan-shan festival
in the Summer, which features teams of people dressing up and dancing with large umbrellas; the name 'Shan-shan' is said to come from the sound made by the small bells and pieces of metal attached to the umbrellas, which are very large. An exceptionally big example of a Shan-shan umbrella graces the main foyer of Tottori Station.
At the beginning of every summer, Tottori is host to one of the biggest beach parties in the country, the San In Beach Party. The event lasts an entire weekend and some top names on the national DJ circuit are invited to perform.
of September 10 1943, which killed over 1000 people.
The organization AFS (AFS Intercultural Programs
) for exchange students is relatively developed in Tottori as it is run by a group of very devoted ladies. Therefore the exchange students who come to Tottori get to experience a peaceful countryside life and enjoy traditional Japanese customs through the many events organized by AFS in Tottori.
Redistricting ("gappei") of the city's borders in November 2004 increased its size to include a number of surrounding areas.
On November 1, 2004 the municipalities of Fukube
and Kokufu
(from Iwami District
), Aoya
, Ketaka
and Shikano
(from Ketaka District
) and Kawahara
, Mochigase
and Saji
(from Yazu District
) merged into the city of Tottori. Ketaka District
was dissolved as a result of this merger.
, a national public university, is located next to Koyama Pond on the west end of the city. The privately funded Tottori University of Environmental Studies
is located in the south-eastern part of Tottori city, near the town of Yazu. These two universities are not to be confused with the 2-year junior college in the prefecture, Tottori College
, which is located in the central city of Kurayoshi.
offers regularly scheduled local and express train service on the JR
rail line. Travel time from Osaka is approximately 2 hours 30 minutes. Tottori City's local and inter-city Bus Terminal is also conveniently located next to Tottori Station. On the west end of the city, Tottori Airport
provides daily scheduled flights to Tokyo's Haneda Airport.
(Hokkaidō
) since October 4, 1963 Himeji, Japan
(Hyōgo
) since March 8, 1972 Iwakuni, Japan
(Yamaguchi
) since October 13, 1995 Hanau
, Germany
(Hesse
) Chongju
, South Korea
(Chungcheongbuk-do
)
Cities of Japan
||A is a local administrative unit in Japan. Cities are ranked on the same level as and , with the difference that they are not a component of...
of Tottori Prefecture
Tottori Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region. The capital is the city of Tottori. It is the least populous prefecture in Japan.- History :Before the Meiji Restoration, Tottori encompassed the old provinces of Hōki and Inaba...
in the Chūgoku region of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
As of 2006, the city has an estimated population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of 200,974 and a density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
of 262.48 persons per km². The total area is 765.66 km².
Within Japan the city is best known for its sand dunes
Tottori Sand Dunes
The are unique sand dunes located near Tottori City in Tottori Prefecture, Honshū, Japan. They are the only large dune system in Japan....
which are a popular tourist attraction, drawing visitors from outside of the prefecture. The sand dunes are also important as a centre for research into arid agriculture, hosting Tottori University
Tottori University
, abbreviated to , is a national university in Japan. The main campus is located in Koyama-cho-Minami, Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture. Another campus is in Yonago, Tottori.- History :...
's Arid Land Research Center.
Outline
The city's main street (Wakasa, or "young cherry blossom" street) runs north from the station and terminates at the foot of the Kyushouzan ("eternal pine") mountain. Around this mountain lies the oldest part of the city. Its centre is the now ruined Tottori CastleTottori Castle
' was the central castle of the Tottori han in feudal Japan. It was a yamashiro, or 'mountain-castle', built into the mountain itself, using natural obstacles and defenses to a greater extent than man-made walls...
, once the property of the Ikeda clan
Ikeda clan
The was a Japanese clan that claimed descent from the Seiwa Genji. In the Edo period, several of the clan's branches were daimyo families, most notably of the Tottori Domain, and Okayama Domain. Takamasa Ikeda, present head of the Okayama Ikeda house is a husband of Atsuko Ikeda, fourth daughter...
daimyō
Daimyo
is a generic term referring to the powerful territorial lords in pre-modern Japan who ruled most of the country from their vast, hereditary land holdings...
who ruled the Tottori Domain
Tottori Domain
The ' was a Japanese domain of the Edo period, located in Inaba and Hōki Provinces . It was ruled by different branches of the Ikeda clan.-List of lords:*Ikeda clan, 1600-1617 #Nagayoshi#Nagayuki...
during the Edo period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
. It is open to the public, and is the site of the Castle Festival in autumn each year. In the vicinity are temples, museums, and public parks. The city also hosts the prefecturally famous Shan-shan festival
Shan-shan festival
The Bon-odori, a Japanese dance which is part of the Obon Festival, is widely enjoyed by the people in Tottori during the summer. There are various bon-dances throughout Japan, and the dances in Tottori can be categorized as Kasa-odori and te-odori .-Tottori City's Shan Shan Festival :The...
in the Summer, which features teams of people dressing up and dancing with large umbrellas; the name 'Shan-shan' is said to come from the sound made by the small bells and pieces of metal attached to the umbrellas, which are very large. An exceptionally big example of a Shan-shan umbrella graces the main foyer of Tottori Station.
At the beginning of every summer, Tottori is host to one of the biggest beach parties in the country, the San In Beach Party. The event lasts an entire weekend and some top names on the national DJ circuit are invited to perform.
History
Tottori was incorporated as a city on October 1, 1889. Most of the downtown area was destroyed by the Tottori earthquake1943 Tottori earthquake
The was an earthquake which occurred in Tottori prefecture, Japan at 17:36 local time on September 10, 1943. Although the earthquake occurred during World War II, information about the disaster was surprisingly uncensored, and relief volunteers and supplies came from many parts of the Japanese...
of September 10 1943, which killed over 1000 people.
The organization AFS (AFS Intercultural Programs
AFS Intercultural Programs
AFS Intercultural Programs was established in 1915 by A. Piatt Andrew, a onetime economics professor at Harvard University and former U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Treasury...
) for exchange students is relatively developed in Tottori as it is run by a group of very devoted ladies. Therefore the exchange students who come to Tottori get to experience a peaceful countryside life and enjoy traditional Japanese customs through the many events organized by AFS in Tottori.
Redistricting ("gappei") of the city's borders in November 2004 increased its size to include a number of surrounding areas.
On November 1, 2004 the municipalities of Fukube
Fukube, Tottori
was a village located in Iwami District, Tottori, Japan.On November 1, 2004 Fukube, along with the town of Kokufu, from Iwami District, the towns of Aoya, Ketaka and Shikano, all from Ketaka District, the towns of Kawahara and Mochigase, and the village of Saji, all from Yazu District, was merged...
and Kokufu
Kokufu, Tottori
was a town located in Iwami District, Tottori, Japan.On November 1, 2004 Kokufu, along with the village of Fukube, from Iwami District, the towns of Aoya, Ketaka and Shikano, all from Ketaka District, the towns of Kawahara and Mochigase, and the village of Saji, all from Yazu District, was merged...
(from Iwami District
Iwami District, Tottori
Iwami is a district located in Tottori, Japan.As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 25,607 and a density of 102.13 persons per km². The total area is 250.72 km².-Merger:...
), Aoya
Aoya, Tottori
was a town located in Ketaka District, Tottori, Japan.On November 1, 2004 Aoya, along with the town of Kokufu, the village of Fukube, both from Iwami District, the towns of Ketaka and Shikano, all from Ketaka District, the towns of Kawahara and Mochigase, and the village of Saji, all from Yazu...
, Ketaka
Ketaka, Tottori
was a town located in Ketaka District, Tottori, Japan.On November 1, 2004 Ketaka, along with the town of Kokufu, the village of Fukube, both from Iwami District, the towns of Aoya and Shikano, all from Ketaka District, the towns of Kawahara and Mochigase, and the village of Saji, all from Yazu...
and Shikano
Shikano, Tottori
was a town located in Ketaka District, Tottori, Japan.On November 1, 2004 Shikano, along with the town of Kokufu, the village of Fukube, both from Iwami District, the towns of Aoya and Ketaka, all from Ketaka District, the towns of Kawahara and Mochigase, and the village of Saji, all from Yazu...
(from Ketaka District
Ketaka District, Tottori
Ketaka was a district located in Tottori Prefecture, Japan.As of 2003, the district had an estimated population of 22,283 and a density of 143.75 persons per km². The total area was 155.01 km².-Former towns and villages:* Aoya* Ketaka...
) and Kawahara
Kawahara, Tottori
was a town located in Yazu District, Tottori, Japan.On November 1, 2004 Kawahara, along with the town of Kokufu, the village of Fukube, both from Iwami District, the towns of Aoya, Ketaka and Shikano, all from Ketaka District, the town of Mochigase, and the village of Saji, all from Yazu District,...
, Mochigase
Mochigase, Tottori
was a town located in Yazu District, Tottori, Japan.On November 1, 2004 Mochigase, along with the town of Kokufu, the village of Fukube, both from Iwami District, the towns of Aoya, Ketaka and Shikano, all from Ketaka District, the town of Kawahara, and the village of Saji, all from Yazu District,...
and Saji
Saji, Tottori
is a village located in Yazu District, Tottori, Japan.On November 1, 2004 Saji, along with the town of Kokufu, the village of Fukube, both from Iwami District, the towns of Aoya, Ketaka and Shikano, all from Ketaka District, and the towns of Kawahara and Mochigase, all from Yazu District, was...
(from Yazu District
Yazu District, Tottori
Yazu is a district located in Tottori Prefecture, Japan.As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 48,540 and a density of 55.43 persons per km²...
) merged into the city of Tottori. Ketaka District
Ketaka District, Tottori
Ketaka was a district located in Tottori Prefecture, Japan.As of 2003, the district had an estimated population of 22,283 and a density of 143.75 persons per km². The total area was 155.01 km².-Former towns and villages:* Aoya* Ketaka...
was dissolved as a result of this merger.
Education
Tottori City has two universities. The main campus of Tottori UniversityTottori University
, abbreviated to , is a national university in Japan. The main campus is located in Koyama-cho-Minami, Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture. Another campus is in Yonago, Tottori.- History :...
, a national public university, is located next to Koyama Pond on the west end of the city. The privately funded Tottori University of Environmental Studies
Tottori University of Environmental Studies
is a private university in Tottori, Tottori Prefecture, Japan. It was publicly established, but is privately run.-History:*April, 2001 - Opening*2005 - Establishment of Ecoinformatics Graduate Research Department, featuring a masters program in Ecoinformatics...
is located in the south-eastern part of Tottori city, near the town of Yazu. These two universities are not to be confused with the 2-year junior college in the prefecture, Tottori College
Tottori College
is a private junior college in Kurayoshi, Tottori, Japan. Founded in 1971 as a junior women's college, it became coeducational in 2001. The nickname of the school is Toritan.- External links :*...
, which is located in the central city of Kurayoshi.
Transportation
In the city's downtown shopping district, Tottori StationTottori Station
Tottori Station is a JR West railway station located in the city of Tottori, in the Chūgoku region on Honshū island, Tottori Prefecture, Japan....
offers regularly scheduled local and express train service on the JR
West Japan Railway Company
, also referred to as , is one of the Japan Railways Group companies and operates in western Honshū. It has its headquarters in Kita-ku, Osaka.-History:...
rail line. Travel time from Osaka is approximately 2 hours 30 minutes. Tottori City's local and inter-city Bus Terminal is also conveniently located next to Tottori Station. On the west end of the city, Tottori Airport
Tottori Airport
Tottori Airport is an airport serving Tottori, a city in the Tottori Prefecture of Japan....
provides daily scheduled flights to Tokyo's Haneda Airport.
Twin towns
Kushiro, JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
(Hokkaidō
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
) since October 4, 1963 Himeji, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
(Hyōgo
Hyogo Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region on Honshū island. The capital is Kobe.The prefecture's name was previously alternately spelled as Hiogo.- History :...
) since March 8, 1972 Iwakuni, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
(Yamaguchi
Yamaguchi, Yamaguchi
is the capital city of Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan.As of February 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 198,971 and a population density of 194.44 persons per km²...
) since October 13, 1995 Hanau
Hanau
Hanau is a town in the Main-Kinzig-Kreis, in Hesse, Germany. It is located 25 km east of Frankfurt am Main. Its station is a major railway junction.- Geography :...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
(Hesse
Hesse
Hesse or Hessia is both a cultural region of Germany and the name of an individual German state.* The cultural region of Hesse includes both the State of Hesse and the area known as Rhenish Hesse in the neighbouring Rhineland-Palatinate state...
) Chongju
Chongju
Chongju is a si, or city, in southern North Pyongan province, North Korea. Prior to 1994, it was designated as a kun or county. The terrain is mostly level, but mountainous in the north. To the south lies the Chongju Plain, where the hills do not rise above 200 metres...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
(Chungcheongbuk-do
Chungcheongbuk-do
Chungcheongbuk-do is a province in the centre of South Korea. It was formed in 1896 from the northeastern half of the former Chungcheong province...
)
External links
- Official website in Japanese
- Tourism report from the city of Tottori in English
- http://www.kankyo-u.ac.jp/ Tottori University of Environmental Studies Official Homepage (private university)
- http://www.cygnus.ac.jp/ Tottori College (private junior college)
- San In Beach Party website
- http://www.alrc.tottori-u.ac.jp/english/e_index.html The Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University
- http://www.tottori-u.ac.jp/ Tottori University Official Homepage (national university)