Tottori, city in central Japan on western Honshu Island, in northeastern Tottori Prefecture where the Sendai River empties into the Sea of Japan (East Sea). Tottori is the capital of Tottori Prefecture. The city is also distinguished as the leading urban center of the scenic San'in Coast region and the San'in Coast National Park. It is the major city of a productive rice-growing area known as the Tottori Plain. Tottori's industries include food processing and the manufacturing of electrical appliances and machinery. Tourism is also an important part of the city's economy. Visitors are attracted to the spectacular Tottori Sand Dunes and beaches just outside the city. There are also many hot springs in the area and ancient tomb mounds (kofun) in the Tottori Plain. The ruins of the 16th-century Tottori Castle still stand on a prominent hill near the center of the city. Other attractions include the Tottori Folk Art Museum (founded in 1949) and Jinpukaku, a historic Western-style residence erected in 1907 for Japan's crown prince. Tottori was founded in 1545 as a castle town (administrative headquarters) for the Ikeda clan. It suffered a major earthquake in 1943 and a fire in 1952. Population (1999) 146,681.
