Uradome Coast

The Uradome Coast is one of the most beautiful stretches of shoreline on the Sea of Japan, a five-kilometre run of sculpted white granite cliffs, hidden coves, sea caves, natural arches and pine-topped islets set against water so clear and green it is often compared to a tropical sea. Lying just east of the Tottori Sand Dunes and forming part of the San'in Kaigan National Park and UNESCO-recognised Global Geopark, it is a place where the raw geological drama of the coast meets some of the cleanest, most inviting swimming water in all of Japan.

The coast's spectacular scenery is the product of long erosion, as the relentless waves and wind of the Sea of Japan carved the granite headlands into a labyrinth of cliffs, caves and pinnacles. Between the rocky promontories lie a series of sheltered coves with beaches of pale sand, the most famous being Uradome Beach, where in summer the shallow, transparent water and gentle setting make it a superb and popular spot for swimming, snorkelling and simply admiring the extraordinary clarity — on calm days you can see straight down to the seabed and the fish moving among the rocks.

The best way to appreciate the coast is from the water. Sightseeing pleasure boats run cruises along the shore in the warmer months, weaving between the islets and nosing into the sea caves and beneath the arches so passengers can marvel at the formations and the luminous colour of the sea from below the cliffs. More active visitors can join guided sea-kayaking and snorkelling tours that explore the coves and grottoes up close, gliding through water that ranges from emerald to deep blue. For those who prefer to stay on land, a coastal walking trail — the "Uradome Coast Nature Trail" — follows the cliff tops between viewpoints, offering sweeping panoramas of the headlands, the scattered rocks offshore and the endless horizon of the sea.

Each season shows the coast in a different light. Summer is the time for swimming and boat trips, when the water is warmest and clearest and the beaches liveliest; spring and autumn bring quieter walks along the cliffs under softer light; and even in the wilder months the crash of the waves against the white rocks has a bracing beauty. Interpretive signs as part of the geopark explain the fascinating geology and the forces that shaped this coast.

Easily combined with the nearby sand dunes to form a full day exploring Tottori's remarkable coastline, the Uradome Coast rewards a visit of an hour or two for the viewpoints and beach, or longer if you take to the water. Facilities including parking, restrooms and seasonal boat services make it accessible, while the walking trail adds a moderate hiking option.

For travellers who think of Tottori only in terms of its famous dunes, the Uradome Coast is a revelation — proof that this quiet prefecture holds some of the most stunning and pristine coastal scenery in Japan, where white cliffs, hidden caves and impossibly clear turquoise coves await along the shore of the Sea of Japan.