Tottori, Tottori

Infobox City Japan
Name= Tottori
JapaneseName= 鳥取市
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Region= Chūgoku
Prefecture= Tottori
District=
Area_km2= 765.66
PopDate= August 2006
Population= 200,974
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LatitudeDegrees= 35
LatitudeMinutes= 30
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LongtitudeDegrees= 134
LongtitudeMinutes= 14
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SymbolDescription= Tottori
Mayor= Isao Takeuchi
CityHallPostalCode=
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CityHallLink= [http://www.city.tottori.tottori.jp/ City of Tottori] nihongo|Tottori|鳥取市|Tottori-shi is the capital city of Tottori Prefecture in the Chūgoku region of Japan.

As of 2006, the city has an estimated population of 200,974 and a density of 262.48 persons per km². The total area is 765.66 km².

Within Japan the city is best known for its sand dunes which are a popular tourist attraction, drawing visitors from outside of the prefecture. The sand dunes are also important as a centre for research into arid agriculture, in collaboration with the nearby Tottori University of Environmental Studies.

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. Around this mountain lies the oldest part of the city. Its centre is the now ruined Tottori Castle, once the property of the Ikeda daimyo family. It is open to the public, and is the site of the Castle Festival in Autumn each year. In the vicinity are temples, museums, and public parks. The city also hosts the precturally 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. An exceptionally big example of a Shan-shan umbrella graces the main foyer of Tottori Station.

At the beginning of every summer, Tottori is host to one of the biggest beach parties in the country, the San In Beach Party. The event lasts an entire weekend and some top names on the national DJ circuit are invited to perform.

Tottori has two universities, the national university and environmental university and both are located in Tottori city. There is also a junior college in nearby Kurayoshi city.

The city is served by a JR rail line to Tottori Station. Travel time from Osaka is approximately 2 hours 30 minutes. Tottori Airport serves the city.

Redistricting ("gappei") of the city's borders in November 2004 increased its size to include a number of surrounding areas.

The city was founded on October 1, 1889.

The organization AFS (AFS Intercultural Programs) for exchange students is relatively developed in Tottori as it is run by a group of very devoted ladies. Therefore the exchange students who come to Tottori get to experience a peaceful countryside life and enjoy traditional Japanese customs through the many events organized by AFS in Tottori.

On November 1, 2004 the municipalities of Fukube and Kokufu (from Iwami District), Aoya, Ketaka and Shikano (from Ketaka District) and Kawahara, Mochigase and Saji (from Yazu District) merged into the city of Tottori. Ketaka District was dissolved as a result of this merger.

Twin towns

*flagicon|Japan Kushiro, Japan (Hokkaidō) since October 4th, 1963
*flagicon|Japan Himeji, Japan (Hyōgo) since March 8th, 1972
*flagicon|Japan Iwakuni, Japan (Yamaguchi) since October 13th, 1995
*flagicon|Germany Hanau, Germany (Hesse)
*flagicon|South Korea Chongju, South Korea (Chungchongbuk-Do)

External links

* [http://www.city.tottori.tottori.jp/ Official website] in Japanese
* [http://www.ordisante.com/2006/04/02/happy-small-town-life.html Tourism report from the city of Tottori] in English
* [http://www.clubdna.biz/sanin/ San In Beach Party website]