Hakuto Coast in Tottori Prefecture, where appeared in the story of Japanese mythology “Hare of Inaba” is the birthplace of the first love story of Japan!

Hakuto Coast in Tottori Prefecture, where has beautiful white sands, is the shore where the Japanese myth “Hare of Inaba” was set. Hakuto Coast is part of the Tottori Sand Dunes, also selected as one of the “100 best beach of Japan”. In the offshore of Hakuto Coast, there is Oki Island where white hare has inhabited. The shore reefs continue from Oki Island to Hakuto Coast is compared to group of sharks that the hare have stepped and crossed to the coast in the mythology.

In the mythology “Hare of Inaba” is as follows, Okuninushi and his eighty brothers, called Yasogami visited Princess Yakami-hime in Inaba (Current Tottori Prefecture) from Izumo (Current Shimane Prefecture) in order to propose her.

At the same time, the white hare shed on Oki Island by the flood wanted to go back to Inaba. White hare tried to arrange the sharks from Oki Island in a line and cross the sea. However, last shark found out that the hare tricked them and the white hare was peeled its fur off by sharks.

Then eighty brothers of Okuninushi appeared there and told the hare that the wound will be cured if the hare wash it with seawater, get drenched in sunlight and expose to wind. The white hare did so accordingly, but the wound get hurt more and the its skin swelled red.

Then Okuninushi appeared and asked the reason why the white hare was crying, and told the white hare that if it washed wound with water and rest on the head of cattails, then it will be cured. When the white hare did so according to the teaching, it returned to original white hare.

After that Okuninushi received a prediction to get married with Princess Yakami-hime from the white hare.

On the west end of the Hakuto Coast, about 150m off the coast of Cape Keta, there is “Oki Island” that is said the white hare was inhabited in the story of “Hare of Inaba”. The shore reefs are lined from Cape Keta to Oki Island and in the story of “Hare of Inaba”, they are compared to the back of sharks. There is a monument of the poetry of the myth on the coast.

Hakuto Coast is known as “Sanctuary of lovers” from the legend that the white hare mediated between Okuninushi and Princess Yakami. “A bell of love” is set up in Cape Keta Observation Square (nickname is “The hill of Hakuto”). When the weather is fine, you can see Tottori sand dunes in the east and Mount Daisen in the west.

A rock called Koishima is buried in the sand on the sandy beach where Oki Island can be seen nearby. Koishima is said to be the place where Okuninushi proposed to Princess Yakami. In 1859, a stone lantern was built in Koishima by local young people.

On Hakuto Coast, Hakuto Shrine, a shrine dedicated to the white hare is enshrined. The surrounding primeval forests are designated as a national monument.

Access to Hakuto Shrine

From Tokyo

It takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Haneda Airport to Tottori Airport. It takes about 20 minutes from Tottori Airport to Tottori Station by airport shuttle bus. From Tottori Eki-mae Bus Stop to Hakuto Jinja-mae Bus Stop, it takes about 40 minutes by local bus (Hakuto Kaigan Line).

From Osaka

It takes about 50 minutes from JR Shin-Osaka Station to JR Okayama Station by Sanyo Shinkansen. Transfer to the limited express Super Inaba at JR Okayama Station to JR Tottori Station in about 1 hour and 50 minutes. Alternatively, it takes about 30 minutes by Sanyo Shinkansen from JR Shin-Osaka Station to JR Himeji Station. Transfer to the limited express Super Hakuto at JR Himeji Station to JR Tottori Station in about 1 hour and 40 minutes.

From Fukuoka

About 1 hour and 40 minutes from JR Hakata Station to JR Okayama Station. Transfer to the limited express Super Inaba at JR Okayama Station to JR Tottori Station in about 1 hour and 50 minutes.