Tottori Prefecture Along the Sannindo of the Goki-Shichido and Regional Variations

Historically known as Inaba and Houki provinces under the Tottori domain until the abolition of the han system in 1871, Tottori Prefecture now comprises 19 municipalities—4 cities, 14 towns, and 1 village—divided into three areas: Tobu (5 municipalities, ancient Inaba), Chubu (5), and Seibu (9), both formerly part of Houki. Since its population peak of 616,024 in 1985, Tottori has experienced steady decline, reaching 553,407 in 2020, making it Japan’s least populous prefecture. Projections from 2020 to 2050 show a stark regional contrast: Tobu (−45.1%) faces a sharper decline than Chubu and Seibu, with the prefectural average (−26.7%) exceeding the national rate (−17.0%). A statistically significant correlation (R² = 0.638, p = 0.000) exists between marriage power (X) and population sustaining power (Y) across the 19 municipalities (Y = −3.543 + 0.596X). Hiezu-son’s modest projected decline (−3.8%) reflects favorable geography, robust childcare support, cohesive community ties, rising social population, and a lower aging ratio. In contrast, Nichinan-cho (−57.9%), despite its demographic challenges, showcases innovation through the Nichinan Chugoku Sanchi Ringyo Academy, Japan’s first town-operated forestry school, founded in 2019 to address structural issues in the forestry sector. Wakasa-cho, facing the steepest projected decline (−61.9%), has responded with strategic initiatives: Wakasa Gakuen, established in 2012, offers integrated education from grades one through nine and leads in English instruction; and Sakuranbou Roadside Station, opened in 2008, fosters urban-rural exchange through local cuisine, cultural experiences, and volunteer-led tourism. These municipalities exemplify the varied and locally embedded responses to demographic decline within Tottori Prefecture. Their initiatives—whether rooted in education, forestry, or urban-rural exchange—reflect the distinct historical, geographic, and socio-cultural conditions of each region. By tracing these trajectories, this chapter situates Tottori not merely as Japan’s least populous prefecture, but as a microcosm of the challenges and possibilities facing peripheral regions. The cases of Hiezu-son, Nichinan-cho, and Wakasa-cho illuminate how small municipalities along the Sannindo continue to negotiate population loss through adaptive strategies that blend tradition with innovation. In doing so, they offer a lens through which to examine the uneven geography of Japan’s demographic transformation.