Tottori Prefecture (鳥取県,Tottori-ken) is aprefecture ofJapan located in theChūgoku region ofHonshu.^[2] Tottori Prefecture is theleast populous prefecture of Japan at 538,525 (2023) and has a geographic area of 3,507.13 square kilometres (1,354.11 sq mi). Tottori Prefecture bordersShimane Prefecture to the west,Hiroshima Prefecture to the southwest,Okayama Prefecture to the south, andHyōgo Prefecture to the east.

Tottori Prefecture 鳥取県
Prefecture
Japanese transcription(s)
• Japanese	鳥取県
• Rōmaji	Tottori-ken
Tottori Sand Dunes nearTottori City, a popular tourist attraction in Tottori Prefecture
Flag Symbol
Anthem:Wakiagaru chikara
Coordinates:35°26′56″N133°45′58″E / 35.449°N 133.766°E /35.449; 133.766
Country	Japan
Region	Chūgoku (San'in)
Island	Honshu
Capital	Tottori
Subdivisions	Districts: 5,Municipalities: 19
Government
• Governor	Shinji Hirai
Area
• Total	3,507.13 km2 (1,354.11 sq mi)
• Rank	41st
Population  (July 1, 2023)
• Total	538,525
• Rank	47th
• Density	154/km2 (400/sq mi)
• Dialects	Inshū・Kurayoshi・West Hōki
GDP [1]
• Total	JP¥ 1,893 billion US$ 17.4 billion (2019)
ISO 3166 code	JP-31
Website	www.pref.tottori.lg.jp
Symbols of Japan
Bird	Mandarin duck (Aix galericulata)
Flower	Nijisseikinashi pearblossom (Pyrus pyrifolia)
Tree	Daisenkyaraboku (Taxus cuspidata)

Tottori is the capital and largest city of Tottori Prefecture, with other major cities includingYonago,Kurayoshi, andSakaiminato.^[3] Tottori Prefecture is home to theTottori Sand Dunes, the largestsand dunes system in Japan, andMount Daisen, the highest peak in theChūgoku Mountains.

The word "Tottori" in Japanese is formed from twokanji characters. The first,鳥, means "bird" and the second,取 means "to get". Early residents in the area made their living catching the region's plentiful waterfowl. The name first appears in theNihon shoki in the 23rd year of theEmperor Suinin (213 AD) when Yukuha Tana, an elder from the Izumo, visits the emperor. The imperial Prince Homatsu-wake was unable to speak, despite being 30 years of age.

"Yukuha Tana presented the swan to the emperor. Homatsu-wake no Mikoto played with this swan and at last learned to speak. Therefore, Yukaha Tana was liberally rewarded, and was granted the title of Tottori no Miyakko." (Aston, translation)^[4]

Tottori Prefecture was settled very early in the prehistoric period of Japan, as evidenced by remains from theJōmon period (14,000 – 300 BC).^[5] The prefecture has the remains of the largest knownYayoi period (300 BC – 250 AD) settlement in Japan, theMukibanda Yayoi remains, located in the lowfoothills ofMount Daisen^[6] in the cities ofDaisen andYonago.^[7] Numerouskofun tumuli from theKofun period (250 – 538) are located across the prefecture.^[8] In 645, under theTaika reforms, the area in present-day Tottori Prefecture became two provinces,Hōki andInaba.^[9]

During theGenpei War (1180–1185) between theTaira andMinamoto clans in the late-Heian period, Tottori became a base for anti-Taira forces, specifically at two temples,Daisen-ji andSanbutsu-ji. By the beginning of theKamakura period (1185–1333)shōen estates were established to directly support the Imperial court and various temples. Successive clans controlled the region during theSengoku period (15th to 17th century), most notably theYamana clan, but after theBattle of Sekigahara in 1600 the region was pacified. TheTokugawa shogunate installed theIkeda clan atTottori Castle. The clan retained control of the area until throughout theEdo period (1603–1868) and the resources of the area financially and materially supported the shogunate.^[10]

The two provinces remained in place until theMeiji Restoration in 1868, and the boundaries of Tottori Prefecture were established in 1888.^[5] After the occupation of Korea and Taiwan in the 20th century, and the establishment of theManchukuo puppet state in 1932, Tottori's harbors on the Japan Sea served as an active transit point for goods between Japan and the colonial areas. Before the end ofWorld War II the prefecture was hit by a massive magnitude 7.2 earthquake, the1943 Tottori earthquake, which destroyed 80% of the city of Tottori, and greatly damaged the surrounding area. In the postwar periodland reform was carried out in the prefecture, resulting in a great increase of agricultural production.^[10]

Tottori is home to theTottori Sand Dunes, Japan's only large dune system. As of 1 April 2012, 14% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated asNatural Parks, namely theDaisen-Oki andSanin Kaigan National Parks;Hiba-Dōgo-Taishaku andHyōnosen-Ushiroyama-Nagisan Quasi-National Parks; andMisasa-Tōgōko,Nishi Inaba, andOkuhino Prefectural Natural Parks.^[11]

Mount Misumi is located within the former area ofMochigase that was merged into the city of Tottori in 2004.

Four cities are located in Tottori Prefecture:

These are the towns and villages in eachdistrict:

Per Japanese census data,^[12][13] Tottori is the least populated prefecture in Japan.

Tottori Prefecture is heavily agricultural and its products are shipped to the major cities of Japan. Some of the famous products are thenashi pear,nagaimo yam,Japanese scallion,negi, andwatermelon. The prefecture is also a major producer ofrice.

Historically, the region had extensive linguistic diversity. While the standard Tokyo dialect of the Japanese language is now used in Tottori Prefecture, several other dialects are also used. Many of them are grouped withWestern Japanese, and include theChugoku andUmpaku dialects.^[14]

The sports teams listed below are based in Tottori.

• Football (soccer)
  • Gainare Tottori (Yonago)

• Tottori University
• Tottori University of Environmental Studies

• Tottori College
• Tottori College of Nursing

• Jinpūkaku, a lateMeiji period residence
• Tottori Sand Dunes

• Daisen, the highest of theChūgoku Mountains, 1,729 m (5,673 ft)

• Mukibanda Yayoi remains, the largest site ofYayoi period settlement in Japan

• Nakaumi, abrackish lake located between Tottori Prefecture andShimane Prefecture, fifth largest lake in Japan

• Misasa Onsen
• Sanbutsu-ji, aHeian period temple designated aNational Treasure of Japan

• Kitarō Road, a street in Sakaiminato dedicated toShigeru Mizuki'sGeGeGe no Kitaro manga character
• Lake Koyama

• Uradome Coast, a scenicria coastalinlet

• TheIshitani Residence, anEdo period family residence designated aNational Treasure of Japan

• Tottori Hanakairo-Flower Park, the largest flower park in Japan

• JR West
  • Sanin Line
  • Hakubi Line
  • Inbi Line
  • Sakai Line
• Wakasa Railway
• Chizu Express

• 　Tottori Expressway
• 　Yonago Expressway
• 　Sanin Expressway
• 　Shidosaka Pass Road
• 　Tottori-Toyooka-Miyazu Road

• Route 9
• Route 29 (Tottori-Shiso-Himeji)
• Route 53 (Tottori-Tsuyama-Okayama)
• Route 178
• Route 179
• Route 180
• Route 181 (Yonago-Niimi-Okayama)
• Route 183
• Route 313
• Route 373
• Route 431
• Route 482

• Sakaiminato Port – ferry route toOki Island, and international container hub

• Tottori Airport
• Yonago Airport

The symbol is derived from the firstmora in Japanese for "と" combined with the picture of a flying bird, and symbolizes peace, liberty, and the advancement of the Tottori Prefecture. It was enacted in 1968 to celebrate the 100th year from the first year of theMeiji Era.

• Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005).Japan encyclopedia. Cambridge:Harvard University Press.ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5;OCLC 58053128

• Official website