Tottori, Tottori

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**Tottori City**
**鳥取市**
Location
Country	Japan
Region	Chūgoku
Prefecture	Tottori Prefecture
Physical characteristics
Area	765.66 km²
Population (as of August 2006)
Total	200,974
Location	°′″N, °′″E
Symbols
Tottori City City Hall
Mayor	Isao Takeuchi
Official website: Tottori City

Coordinates: °′″N, °′″E

Tottori (鳥取市; -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.

The city seen from the castle ruins hill

Street in front of Tottori's train station

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 host the precturally famous Shan-shan festival in the autumn, 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.

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.

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 by the many events organized by AFS in Tottori.

[edit] Twin towns

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	Himeji, Japan (Hyoko) since March 8th, 1972
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	Hanau, Germany (Hesse)
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