Japan's Tottori Sand Dunes will be illuminated by approximately 450,000 LEDs starting December 14. The event, inspired by the spotlight on Tottori's cuisine at the Osaka-Kansai Expo, features motifs of local specialties like crab, rakkyo shallots, and pears to give visitors a sense of traveling through the prefecture. Admission is free, with lights on from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The Tottori Sand Dunes, one of Japan's premier sand dune areas, will host a special illumination event this year. Running from December 14 to 28, the display will use about 450,000 light-emitting diodes to light up the dunes. Motifs inspired by local specialties—such as crab, rakkyo shallots, and pears—draw from the attention given to Tottori's cuisine at the Osaka-Kansai Expo, aiming to let visitors feel like they are journeying through the prefecture.
An official from the city's tourism and geopark promotion division said, “We hope visitors will enjoy the cozy atmosphere in this extraordinary world of light.” The lighting ceremony is scheduled near the Tottori Sand Dunes parking area on December 14 at 5:40 p.m. The event is free, with illuminations visible from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
This initiative seeks to boost tourism in Tottori, turning the dunes into a winter spectacle that highlights the region's appeal nationwide. The vast dunes bathed in light promise a unique experience, likely attracting families and travelers alike.