Within Japan the city is best known for the Tottori Sand Dunes which are a popular tourist attraction, drawing visitors from outside the prefecture.

Following the Meiji restoration, Tottori was incorporated as a city on October 1, 1889, with the implementation of the modern municipalities system.

In the 1950s, and again in 2004, redistricting ("gappei") of the city's borders increased its size to include a number of surrounding areas.

Tottori gained special city status on October 1, 2005, with in increased local autonomy.

Tottori has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 32 members.

In terms of national politics, the city is part of Tottori 1st district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

JR West - Inbi Line JR West - San'in Main Line The city's main street (Wakasa, or "young cherry blossom" street) runs north from the station and terminates at the foot of the Kyushouzan ("eternal pine") mountain.

The city also hosts the prefecturally famous Shan-shan festival in the summer, which features teams of people dressing up and dancing with large umbrellas; the name 'Shan-shan' is said to come from the sound made by the small bells and pieces of metal attached to the umbrellas, which are very large.

The event lasts an entire weekend and some top names on the national DJ circuit are invited to perform.

While the initial part of the collection is art focussed the main body of the museums is devoted to a large number of swords, yumi, other weapons and samurai armour.

There is also a wide range of historical artifacts, many found in archaelogical digs in the Tottori area.

It was established in 1978 in order to display and make available the collection, which numbers over 30,000 items, including over 200 sets of armour.

[7] The museum is dedicated to the high profile Detective Conan manga, which is a mange story originating from Tottori.