Used as the location for Teshigahara Hiroshi's classic 1964 film Woman in the Dunes , the Tottori sand dunes are on the coast about 5km from the city. There's a viewing point on a hillside overlooking the dunes, along with parking and the usual array of tourist schlock. You can even get a 'Lawrence of Arabia' photo of yourself accompanied by a camel. There are maps at the Sand Pal Tottori Information Centre .
The dunes stretch for over 10km along the coast and, at some points, can be about 2km wide. Buses to the dunes also stop at the Sakyū-Sentā (砂丘センター; Dunes Centre), on the hillside, where you can take a cable car down to the sand.
