We took the train into Tottori-shi early in the morning and went to the tourist support center at the station. The lady there was super helpful and nice. We decided to hire a tourist taxi, which is a huge bargain at Y1000 for 3 hours of time. Normally they only take 5 people, but since Yana is small, they managed to get a taxi which would fit her as well! Since the bus is Y370 per person each way, it was a pretty big discount. Also, since we used it we got some discounts and free gifts!
The first place we went was the sand dunes, because it is the most tiring and we didn't want the sand to be too hot. I've already been once before of course, but this time we went down to the water. The water was really refreshing, but it meant an extra walk back up the largest dune and a Yana coated in wet sand. The only way we got her clean(ish) was to completely rinse her in the place to wash feet, so she ended up totally soaking wet.
We also each got a free pear jelly at the gift shop, which our taxi driver helped us with!
Next we went to the Sand Museum, which I didn't get to see last time. It was really neat and the sculptures are very impressive. We got another free gift here - our choice of a Sand Museum post card.
We drove back into the city and had the driver drop us off at Aeon for lunch. We went there because there is a McDonald's and I really wanted to try the new purple sweet potato milkshake. Unfortunately it was kind of gross and overly sweet. It was also convenient, though, as I used the opportunity to buy Yana a dry pair of shorts.
Then we walked back to the station and hired another taxi, since our 3 hours had been used up. The next taxi driver was really nice and talkative.
Firstly we went to Yoshioka hot springs to try out the foot bath. It was about a 20 minute drive from the city center, and not really in Tottori-shi at all. It was free, though! Its literally just a bench on a street corner. The water is scorching hot, and I could only keep my feet in for a minute at a time. It felt really lovely after trekking up and down the sand dunes, though.
Next we drove a little ways to Hakuto Shrine, a famous place from a famous Tottori legend about a white rabbit. It was a bit of a boring shrine, to be honest, although the rabbit sculptures leading up to the shrine were pretty cute. Oh, and we got another free gift here! A keychain with the white rabbit on it.
Lastly we had the taxi driver take us to Genchuji, a tomb/temple. Its a special place because the rice paper doors inside are painted with some pretty interesting portraits. Unfortunately we arrived about 15 minutes after closing, but our taxi driver went in and it ended up that we got a personal tour! I felt really bad, but the old man giving the tour was very obliging. He gave detailed descriptions of all the paintings and the garden, but I barely understood any of it and everyone else was lost. At the end he sent us home with packages of shrimp crisps. It wasn't quite what I had thought it was, but still a neat experience.
After that we went back to the station and caught the train home to Chizu. We went to a local ramen restaurant for dinner, and actually its the first time I've been out to eat in Chizu. It was pretty tasty, but its difficult ordering from a menu all in Japanese. I just got shoyu (soy sauce) ramen because I knew what it was. I also ordered what translated as "unpeeled potatoes" and "chicken steak", which ended up being fried potato wedges and fried chicken wings. Yana was happy with the potatoes, anyway.
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