San'in Sea of Japan Railway Traverse
From Kyoto to Shin-Yamaguchi, travel along the Sea of Japan to visit hot springs, sand dunes, Izumo, Iwami Ginzan, and Little Kyoto
Head west along the San'in Main Line, from Kinosaki Onsen to the Tottori Sand Dunes, Misasa, Matsue, Izumo, and Iwami Ginzan, before heading inland to Tsuwano and Hagi. Limited express trains are infrequent, so you will make one major move each day and stay at four hot spring towns or historic districts. Ideal for travelers who have already seen Sanyo and Kansai and want to slow down. Oki Islands and Mount Daisen are omitted.
The Sand Museum is closed for exhibition changes from approximately early January to late April each year.
Day by day
Day 1 · Kyoto to Kinosaki Onsen
Kinosaki Onsen & Amanohashidate（Otani River Willow Street、Kinosaki Seven Public Baths）
Take the Limited Express Kinosaki from Kyoto for about 2.5 hours, walk around the hot spring town; most accommodations provide passes for the public baths.
Stay: Kinosaki Onsen Town
Day 2 · Amarube Viaduct to Tottori Sand Dunes
Kinosaki Onsen & Amanohashidate（Amarube Bridge (Sora no Eki)） → Tottori（Tottori Sand Dunes、The Sand Museum）
Take a local train on the San'in Main Line to Amarube, then via Hamasaka to Tottori (approx. 2.5 hours), followed by a 20-minute bus ride to the sand dunes.
Local trains are infrequent, so check schedules in advance. Keep warm at the sand dunes if it is windy.
Stay: Around Tottori Station
Day 3 · Kurayoshi Shirakabe Dozo Group and Misasa Onsen
Kurayoshi & Misasa Onsen（Kurayoshi Shirakabe Dozo Storehouses、Tottori Prefectural Museum of Art、Misasa Onsen）
Take a limited express train from Tottori for about 30 minutes to Kurayoshi, take a bus to the historic district, and in the evening take a 25-minute bus to Misasa.
Stay: Misasa Onsen
Day 4 · Adachi Museum of Art to Lake Shinji
Izumo & Matsue（Adachi Museum of Art、Lake Shinji Sunset）
Take a bus back to Kurayoshi, a limited express train to Yonago or Yasugi, a shuttle bus to the museum, and then a JR train for about 25 minutes to Matsue.
The shuttle bus is not convenient for large luggage; store it at the station beforehand.
Stay: Matsue Shinjiko Onsen
Day 5 · A Day in Matsue Castle Town
Izumo & Matsue（Matsue Castle、Horikawa Pleasure Boat、Shiomi Nawate & Lafcadio Hearn Residence、Gessho-ji Temple）
Take the Lake Line sightseeing bus for about 10 minutes to Matsue Castle, walk around the city center, and take a Horikawa Pleasure Boat around the moat.
Stay: Matsue Shinjiko Onsen
Day 6 · Izumo Taisha to Yunotsu Onsen
Izumo & Matsue（Izumo Taisha、Shinmon-dori Street、Inasa Beach）
Take the Ichibata Railway for about 1 hour to Izumotaisha-mae, return to Izumoshi, and then take a JR train for about 1.5 hours to Yunotsu.
Stay: Yunotsu Onsen
Day 7 · Iwami Ginzan to Tsuwano
Izumo & Matsue（Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine）
Take a reserved shared taxi or bus to Omori (approx. 40 minutes), an afternoon bus to Odashi, and a limited express train for about 2 hours to Tsuwano.
Shared taxis from Yunotsu must be reserved the night before. There are only a few limited express trains per day.
Stay: Tonomachi-dori Area, Tsuwano
Day 8 · Tsuwano Historic District to Hagi
Hagi & Tsuwano（Tsuwano Tonomachi Street、Taikodani Inari Shrine、Hagi Castle Ruins & Shizuki Park）
Explore Tsuwano on foot in the morning, then take a Bocho Bus for about 1 hour and 40 minutes to Hagi (about 5 departures daily).
Buses from Tsuwano to Hagi are infrequent, so decide on your departure time in advance.
Stay: Horiuchi Castle Town
Day 9 · Hagi Castle Town to Shin-Yamaguchi
Hagi & Tsuwano（Hagi Castle Town (Kikuya Yokocho)、Hagi Museum、Shoin Shrine & Shoka Sonjuku）
Explore the castle town on foot or by bicycle in the morning, and take the Super Hagi Bus in the afternoon for just over an hour to Shin-Yamaguchi Station.