Tottori’s Forgotten Role in Ancient Japanese History

Rethinking the Jōmon-Yayoi Cultural Shift

Today, I’m visiting Tottori, a region on the San’in coast along the Sea of Japan, now facing rapid depopulation. Despite its quiet modern atmosphere, the wider San’in area—including Izumo, home to the renowned Izumo Taisha shrine—once occupied a prominent place in ancient Japan.

My journey here is rooted in an exploration of ancient Japanese history, spe…