Overview of San’in Kaigan Geopark

The San’in Kaigan Geopark was admitted to the Global Geopark Network in October 2010, and in 2014 it was revalidated including extended area. In 2015, it was decided that the operation of the Global Geopark was conducted by UNESCO. Then after, the on-site evaluation for the forth revalidation was conducted in 2024 and as the result, the San’in Kaigan Geopark will hold its position as a Global Geopark for another four years until 2028.

Extending widely from Kyoto Prefecture (Kyotango City) to Hyogo Prefecture (Toyooka City, Kami Town, and Shin’onsen Town) , to Tottori Prefecture (Iwami Town and Tottori City) and largely overlapping with San’ in Kaigan National Park, the San’in Kaigan Geopark lies about 120 km east-west from the eastern end of Kyotango City to the western end of Tottori City. With an area 2,458.44 km², the Geopark is a little larger than the Tokyo Metropolitan Area.

There are diverse geological features and topography formed during times from the formation of the Sea of ​​Japan to the present, and it is an area where you can experience the lives, culture and history of the creatures and people nurtured against these backgrounds.

One of the outstanding characteristics of the San’in Kaigan Geopark is that it contains many valuable geological and geomorphological heritages. They include igneous rocks and geological formations used to be a part of the Eurasian continent and ones related to the formation of the Sea of Japan, and diverse coastal terrains, such as ria coast and sand dunes formed by the sea-level change and tectonic movement of the Sea of Japan.

Since old days, people have inhabited the Geopark area, and so we can still observe the culture and history that they have developed in its diverse natural surroundings. Making the best of these advantages, the San’in Kaigan Geopark is conducting activities that will lead to the conservation of natural heritage and regional revitalization through local Geo tourism.

Tateiwa Rock (Kyotango City)

Genbudo Cave (Toyooka City)

Saruodaki Waterfalls (Kami Town)

Ueyama Highlands (Shin’onsen Town)

Sengan Matsushima Sea Cave (Iwami Town)

Tottori Sand Dunes (Tottori City)

The San’in Kaigan UNESO Global Geopark has a sister geopark relation with “Lesvos UNESCO Global Geopark”
The San'in Kaigan UNESCO Global Geopark and Lesvos UNESCO Global Geopark entered into a sister affiliation in February 2011. We are cooperating in exchanging information on the protection and utilization of resources, introducing and promoting the geoparks, etc.

Roadside station overlooking Tateiwa Rock. It exhibits such as the singing sand of Kyotango and photographs of the highlights. It is a facility to collect information before visiting geological heritage.

Exhibits information about the origin of Genbudo Cave and basalt.

Introducing the charm of Kami Town and the culture of people who have lived while receiving blessings of the Sea of ​​Japan.

Exhibits various rocks of the San’in Kaigan Geopark and providing experience learning opportunities to visitors of all ages.

This is an exhibition facility about the nature of the San'in Kaigan Geopark.

It is a nature experience facility providing visitors with opportunities to experience the nature of Uradome Kaigan Coast such as sea kayaking and snorkeling experiences.

Exhibits the phenomena created by sand and wind, such as the formation of coastal dunes and wind patterns on sand.

Introducing special exhibitions on history and culture, and the attractions of singing sand, Inshu Japanese paper, and Ama (women diver) fishing.