It seems hard to believe it is part of Japan! Anyone who has visited Japan for any length of time knows that once you get beyond the cities there is beautiful verdant scenery no matter how far you go. Almost anywhere in Japan you can expect to see forested mountains, flowers, and idyllic green vistas. But not here! The Tottori sand dunes, in one of Japan's least visited prefectures, offer an entirely different landscape. It is more than just a palette cleanser, it is also beautiful in its own right! Clambering up the dunes can be arduous in in summer, and the dunes that don't seem so vast or sweeping when you set out can feel very tiring on the way back, so be sure to pace yourself and bring some water. Besides the natural beauty, the sand is also sculpted by an international team in the adjacent Sand Museum! The Sand sculptures inside are enormous in scale, and have a different theme every year. I especially liked the French exhibition. Seeing France depicted through the medium of sand in rural Japan is an experience as unexpected as it is delightful. I didn't try it myself, but for those wanting something more exotic, there are also camels to ride!