Nima Sand Museum and Chugoku Mountain Sand Dunes: Sand Sacred Place with the World's Largest Hourglass

Along the coast of Nima Town, Oda City, Shimane, is a sandy beach called Kotogahama, famous for singing sand that makes a squeaking sound when walked on. The Nima Sand Museum standing here is a unique museum for experiencing the mysteries of sand. Opened in 1991 and designed by architect Shin Takamatsu, a Nima native, its striking glass pyramids are a landmark in themselves.

One of the World's Largest Hourglasses, Sunagoyomi

The Sunagoyomi (Sand Calendar) is a giant hourglass with a total length of 5.2 meters and two glass spheres each 1 meter in diameter. The sand inside amounts to about 1 ton, passing through a tiny 0.84-millimeter opening, precisely engineered to take one year (365 days) for all the sand to fall. Each year, over the turn from New Year Eve to New Year Day, the Toki no Saiten (Ceremony of Time) turns the enormous hourglass upside down to begin counting the new year.

Singing Sand at Kotogahama

Kotogahama near the Nima Sand Museum is known for making especially loud and clear sounds among Japan's singing-sand beaches. Walking on the fine, clean sand produces a squeak like the sound of a koto, which gives the beach its name. Singing sand stops sounding when the sand is soiled, so a clear sound is proof of a clean sea, carefully preserved through cleanup efforts by local residents.

Sand Art and Hands-On Experiences

The museum offers a variety of sand-themed exhibits and activities. Displays introduce sands from around the world and the science of sand, alongside delicate sand-art works. A workshop corner offers glass-craft experiences such as blown glass and sandblasting, letting visitors make their own pieces. Visitors of all ages can enjoy the deep world of sand.

Access and Basics

The nearest station is JR Nima Station on the San'in Main Line, about a 10-minute walk away. By car it is roughly 20 minutes from the JR Oda-shi Station area, with free parking. Opening hours are 9:00 to 17:00 (last entry 16:30). Admission is 800 yen for high school students and older and 400 yen for elementary and junior high students (as of 2026; confirm current details on the official site). Allow about one hour to tour the exhibits, and add extra time if joining a craft workshop.

Practical Travel Notes

To enjoy the singing sand, a dry, sunny day is best. The museum itself is indoors and largely weatherproof, so the Sunagoyomi and glass-craft workshops can be enjoyed even on rainy days. The year-end Ceremony of Time is a special experience but draws crowds, so arrive early. Nearby are the UNESCO World Heritage Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine ruins, the retro streets of the Omori district, and Yunotsu Onsen; combining them by car packs the nature, history, and hot springs of western Shimane into a single day. Budget-wise, admission is 800 yen, and even adding a glass-craft workshop keeps the day to roughly 2,000 to 3,000 yen per person.

A Word of Advice

The hourglass flipped just once a year on New Year Eve is a sight unique to Nima. After studying the science of sand indoors, step out to Kotogahama and walk barefoot to hear the singing sand for yourself. Paired with the World Heritage Iwami Ginzan, this makes a rich trip that combines sand, silver, and hot springs, the signature themes of western Shimane.

📚 Sources

This article was edited with reference to information published by the Nima Sand Museum in Nima, Oda City, and explanations of the giant sand timer Sunagoyomi, the design by architect Shin Takamatsu, and the singing-sand beach Kotogahama. The facility and local guidance were consulted for the New Year Festival of Time and the glass-craft experience. Opening hours, admission fees, and the content of the craft workshop may change, so please check the facility official information before you set out.

Visitor Checklist

• Estimated time: About one hour for the museum, with extra time if you use the craft workshop.
• Opening hours: The museum opens roughly 9:00 to 17:00 (entry until 16:30).
• Access: It is about a 10-minute walk from JR Nima Station, or about 20 minutes by car from the Oda direction, with free parking.
• Budget: Beyond admission, allow for the glass-craft experience if you use it.
• Weather: For the singing sand, a clear day with dry sand is best, while the indoor museum can be enjoyed even in rain.
• Nearby: The World Heritage Iwami Ginzan site, the Omori district, and Yunotsu Onsen are close, and combining them by car lets you enjoy western Shimane in a day.