The Sand Museum In Tottori, Japan

The Sand Museum held its first short exhibition starting in November of 2006. Several sculptors used their skills to whittle away large blocks of packed sand into designs under a theme of Italy and the Renaissance. That was followed in April of 2008 with a longer exhibit dedicated to the World Heritage sites of Asian, and then in September of 2009 with an Austrian-themed showcase.
The Sand Museum is currently in its fourth exhibition, entitled “Around the World in Sand ~Africa~.” Artists from North America, Europe, and Australia worked under the guidance of the museum’s General Producer Katsuhiko Chaen of Japan to produce ten large-scale designs. The Africa exhibit opened on April 29th, 2010, and is scheduled to remain open until January 10th, 2011.
The museum notes that “the allure of sand sculptures lies in their short life and fragile nature,” a strong statement that can be easily understood after seeing just one of the fabulous pieces of art in person.
During the current display period, the museum will be open from 9am to 8pm (last admittance at 7:30), with a general admittance of 500 yen. The sand dunes area can be easily accessed by car or on several different bus routes in about twenty minutes from Tottori Station.