Tottori Sand Dunes
鳥取の砂丘
Tottori, Tottori Prefecture
Located on the north side of Tottori city, the Tottori Sand Dunes are over 100,000 years old and are a natural asset to Japan.
During the day, the area is a popular tourist destination, and visitors can enjoy Japanese pear ice cream, ride a camel, or scoot down the dunes on bicycles.
At night, the dunes have a desolate vibe in which people have claimed to be followed by dark shadows or stalked by unseen entities.
The sand dunes were investigated in 2011 after four human bones were discovered almost two kilometres from the main tourist site. It was announced the remains had belonged to someone who had been lost in a marine incident or a suspected cholera victim based on an estimated burial date of late Edo to early Meiji period.
This incident may have sparked rumours of sighting grasping hands emerging from the sand at night, with sources describing the limbs as feeling around as if 'searching for a victim to pull into the earth.'
|
A short drive south of the sand dunes, the ruins of the hotels 'Natural Holiday' (静山荘 ) and 'Sand Dunes View' (砂丘観光ホテル ) stand.
While the two locations are said to be heavy in spiritual activity, the Natural Holiday Hotel has a reputation for being the most frightening ghost spot in Tottori prefecture. Reported to have existed as a love hotel thirty years prior, the establishment closed due to a drop in customers.
Visitors have mentioned being followed by a dark figure in and around the building. It is believed the figure has a malicious motive as people have stated the figure has climbed into their car, pushed them from bicycles, or followed them home.
Groups of four who have visited the building claim to have experienced severe accidents or sickness within days.
|
Natural Holiday Hotel is said to be the most terrifying spiritual location in Tottori prefecture.
Top Image: the decrepit entrance to the hotel, ghostmap.net Lower Image: an interior room of Natural Holiday with a luxury bed 
|
The kanji of the hotel has a peculiar reading of 'shizenso', similar to 'shizensou' (自然葬) meaning 'natural burial' in which the deceased are scattered or buried in a natural location.
There has been speculation this has ties with a human corpse which was discovered in the hotel.
There has been speculation this has ties with a human corpse which was discovered in the hotel.
Currently, entrance to Natural Holiday Hotel is strictly prohibited with heavy gates to deter trespassing.
If you enjoyed reading about Tottori Sand Dunes, check out these similar posts on Hiding from Japanese Ghosts.
Located in Sakai, Fukui - Tojinbo is a set of natural cliffs which have the reputation of suicide and ghost sightings.