In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Japan
Daisen
大山町
Daisen is a day trip from Yonago or a one-night stop for hikers and skiers. Skip unless you want to climb the highest peak in western Japan or ski in winter.
Daisen is a small town at the foot of Mount Daisen (1,729 m), the tallest peak in western Japan. The mountain offers hiking in summer and skiing in winter, plus a few temples and a nature museum. Most visitors come from Yonago (30 min by bus) or as a side trip from the San'in coast. One night is enough if you want to hike or ski; otherwise, a day trip works.
- Country
- Japan
- Local name
- 大山町
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Oct–Nov
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (hot and humid), Jan–Feb (snow on trails)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- JPY
- Money
- Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget ¥6,000–9,000 excl. bed · Mid ¥10,000–16,000 excl. bed · High ¥17,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Data-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 119 · Japan Visitor Hotline (24 h, English) 050-3816-2787
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 100 V · 50 Hz east (Tokyo), 60 Hz west (Osaka) · Most sockets are two flat pins without earth; European and UK plugs need an adapter. Phone and laptop chargers handle 100 V.
- Tipping
- Restaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.; Taxis: No tip; pay the meter.; Ryokan: Optional: ¥1,000–3,000 in an envelope for the room attendant; never loose cash.; Private guide: Not expected; a small gift or a thank-you meal is more usual.; Hotel porter: No tip.
- Water
- Safe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.
- Toilets
- Free, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet. Rural and old stations may have squat toilets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | ¥300–500 |
| Noodle soup (ramen or soba) | ¥700–1,200 |
| Beer: can at a konbini / draught at a restaurant | ¥250–350 / ¥500–700 |
| 5 km (3.1 mi) taxi3.1 mi (5 km) taxi | ¥2,000–2,500 |
| Bus Yonago–Daisen one way | ¥600 (check) |
| Ski lift ticket (Daisen White Resort) | ¥4,000–5,000 (check) |
| Museum entry (Daisen Museum of Nature and History) | ¥500 (check) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- YGJ · Yonago Airport (Miho-Yonago)
- Limited domestic flights; most visitors fly into Okayama or Tottori and take a train to Yonago.
Typical fares
- Yonago → Daisen, bus
- about ¥600, about 30 min (check)
- Taxi Yonago Station → Daisen
- ¥4,000–5,000
- Train Yonago → Tottori (JR San-in Line)
- about ¥1,500, about 1 h 20 min (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Local buses from Yonago Station to Daisen (about 30 min, ¥600). In ski season, direct buses from Okayama. A car gives flexibility; rental cars available in Yonago.
See and do
Known for
- Mount Daisen
- Daisen-ji temple
- Ōgamiyama Shrine
- Daisen White Resort
- Hiking and skiing
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Yonago | Bus from Daisen to Yonago Station, about 30 min | About 30 min |
| Sakaiminato | Bus to Yonago, then train to Sakaiminato, about 1 h total | About 1 h |
| Kurayoshi | Train from Yonago to Kurayoshi, about 30 min | About 1 h 15 min |
| Misasa | Train from Yonago to Misasa, about 40 min | About 1 h 30 min |
| Iwami | Train from Yonago to Iwami, about 1 h | About 2 h |
Sleep
- Near Daisen-ji / ski resort
- Closest to the mountain; a few lodges and minshuku. Best for hikers and skiers.
- Yonago
- More hotels and restaurants; 30 min by bus to the mountain. Better for day-trippers.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | すみませんsumimasen |
| Thank you | ありがとうございますarigatō gozaimasu |
| This one, please | これをくださいkore o kudasai |
| How much is it? | いくらですか？ikura desu ka |
| Can I pay by card? | カードで払えますか？kādo de haraemasu ka |
| Where is the toilet? | トイレはどこですか？toire wa doko desu ka |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: A small bow; a handshake if the other person offers; avoid: Hugs, back slaps, loud greetings
- Names: Family name plus -san; avoid: First names unless invited; adding -san to your own name
- Paying: Put money in the tray at the register; avoid: Tipping, or leaving loose cash for staff
- Trains: Queue at the floor marks, phone on silent, ask before reclining on the Shinkansen; avoid: Phone calls, eating on crowded commuter trains, blocking doors with bags
- Escalators: Stand on the side locals use — left in Tokyo, right in Osaka; stations now ask people to stand still on both; avoid: Stopping at the top or bottom
- Shoes: Off at the step-up entrance; toilet slippers only inside the toilet; avoid: Stepping on tatami in shoes or slippers
- Shrines: Rinse hands at the basin; bow twice, clap twice, bow once; avoid: Walking down the centre of the approach, which is for the deity
- Gifts: Offer and receive with both hands; bring a small omiyage for hosts; avoid: Sets of four; cash outside an envelope
Scams and watch-outs
- Last bus from Daisen back to Yonago departs around 17:00; check the schedule.
- Mount Daisen trails can be icy or snow-covered outside summer; proper gear needed.
- Daisen White Resort is small; check snow conditions before going.
Daisen is a quiet rural town with low crime. The main risks are mountain hiking without proper gear, icy trails in winter, and the last bus leaving early.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Daisen yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Mount Daisen
- Daisen-ji temple
- Ōgamiyama Shrine
- Daisen White Resort
- Hiking and skiing
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Daisen Tourist Bureau: tourismdaisen.com/en/
- Daisen White Resort: www.daisen-resort.jp/
- Wikivoyage: Daisen (Tottori), revision 5310039 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5310039
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Daisen大山町
ここまでお願いします
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police110
- Fire and ambulance119
- Japan Visitor Hotline (24 h, English)050-3816-2787
The US has a consulate in Osaka; most other countries have embassies in Tokyo.
Cash is king in Daisen; ATMs at the post office and some konbini in Yonago.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/daisen-tottori). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.