Who would have thought there was a desert in Japan? Well, it’s not actually a desert, but a 30-kilometers-wide sandy area can be a desert if we want it to be.
This fantastic place is located near Tottori on the Yonshu island in Japan.
The sand dunes in Tottori were created by transporting the deposited sand to the Yugoku Mountains, through the Sendai River and into the Japanese Sea. The highest dune is 90 meters above sea level.
Although technically not a desert, in the hot summer days the sand temperature can rise up to 50 degrees Celsius.
The dunes have existed for more than 100,000 years, but their area is constantly shrinking due to the government’s afforestation program, which was created after World War II. In addition, there are concrete barriers erected to protect the coast from tsunamis, which prevents the sea currents from bringing new quantities of sand to the shore.
This mini-wilderness attracts more than 2 million visitors each year, mainly from Japan or East Asia, so if you are ever in the area don’t miss this amazing wonder of nature!