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Always something special in Toyama Prefecture

Always something special in Toyama Prefecture

Looking for a unique getaway in Central Japan? Toyama Prefecture (富山県 Toyama-ken) is located in the centre of Japan at equal distances from major cities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya. From Tokyo, it takes about 2 hours to Toyama by Hokuriku Shinkansen (北陸新幹線). We invite you to special experiences in Toyama unlike anywhere else!

 

Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route

(Image credit: Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route)

 

A popular tourist destination in Toyama, the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route (立山黒部アルペンルート) is a route through the Northern Alps of 3,000m altitude. With a total length of 37.2km on 6 different types of vehicles, including cable cars and highland buses, this dynamic route allows you to enjoy beautiful scenery from season to season. 

 

(Image credit: Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route & Toyama Tourism Organization)

 

Every season has plenty to offer, such as the overwhelming Snow Walls in the spring; the Kurobe Dam (黒部ダム), highest in Japan, in summer; the vividly colourful fall foliage; and the mystical first fall of winter snow. The Snow Walls that appear in spring boast nearly 20m of piled snow and a one-of-a-kind view in Japan that can only be seen along the Alpine Route. 

 

Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route (立山黒部アルペンルート)
Address: Tateyama, Nakaniikawa-gun, Toyama 930-1406
Nearest station: Tateyama Station (立山駅) on the Toyama side, Ogizawa Station (扇沢駅) on the Nagano side
Dates: 15 April–30 November (Closed from December through mid-April)
Price: ¥9,300 (One-way from Tateyama Station to Ogizawa Station)
Tel: +81-76-481-1500

 

Kurobe Gorge Railway’s Trolley Train

(Image credit: Toyama Tourism Organization & Toyama Prefectural Government)

 

Enjoy riding the trolley train through the Kurobe Gorge (黒部峡谷 Kurobe Kyōkoku), Japan’s largest V-shaped gorge. It is on a spectacular journey through the famous gorge that runs along the Kurobe River (黒部川 Kurobe-gawa) and passes through bridges and tunnels. Take in the grand natural beauty of spring’s new greenery, summer’s clear streams, or the colours of fall during the four seasons. The 20.1 km trip of 1 hour and 20 minutes includes stunning sights such as the 60m-tall Atobiki Bridge (後曳橋 Atobiki-bashi), the open-air hot springs of Kanetsuri (鐘釣温泉 Kanetsuri-onsen), and Kinshukan’s (錦繍関) famously beautiful autumn foliage. 

 

There are also limited express and express trains that connect Toyama and Unazuki Onsen—for more information, check the Toyama Chihō Railway homepage.

 

Kurobe Gorge Railway (黒部峡谷鉄道)
Address: 11 Kurobe-kyōkoku-guchi, Kurobe, Toyama, 938-0293
Nearest station: Unazuki Onsen Station (宇奈月温泉駅)
Access: From Dentetsu-Toyama Station, take the Toyama Chihō Railway Main Line for 1 hour 45 minutes on a local train. Alternatively, take the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo and alight at Kurobe-Unazuki Onsen Station (2.5 hours from Tokyo), then transfer to the Toyama Chihō Railway at Shin-Kurobe Station (25 minutes to Unazuki Onsen).
Tel: +81-76-562-1011

 

World Heritage Sites of Gokayama

(Image credit: Toyama Tourism Organization)

 

Nanto City (南砺市 Nanto-shi) in southwestern Toyama features the Gokayama Gassho-Style Villages (五箇山合掌造り集落 Gassho-zukuri shūraku), registered World Heritage sites. Its large Gassho-thatched-roof houses, the oldest of which date back to the 17th century, are a unique architectural style of the Gokayama region, which is well-known as an area with some of Japan’s heaviest snowfall. 

 

(Image credit: Toyama Prefectural Government)

 

People live within the villages even till today and carry out a lifestyle from long ago. Once you enter the village, you will be greeted to a beautiful scenery interwoven with mountains and fields, and in winter, a fantastic world of pure white snow awaits.

 

Gokayama Tourist Information Center (五箇山総合案内所)
Address: 754, Kaminashi, Nanto, Toyama 939-1914
Nearest station: Jōhana Station (城端駅)
Access: 23-minute bus ride on World Heritage Bus to Kaminashi Bus Stop
Opening hours: 9am–5pm
Tel: +81 763-66-2468

 

Toyama Cuisine: “Toyama Bay Sushi”

(Image credit: Toyama Tourism Organization)

 

Toyama is well known for its bounty of incredibly fresh and delicious seafood. Toyama Bay’s (富山湾 Toyama-wan) fishing grounds are extremely close to the ports. Its wide variety of fish makes it possible for local sushi chefs to serve 10 different types of seasonal sushi made from freshly caught seafood, any given day of the year. Especially in winter, you can taste yellowtail (ブリ buri) in its most fatty state and red snow crabs (紅ズワイガニ benizuwaigani) caught along the Toyama Bay coast, also called the Koshi no Akagani (高志の紅ガニ). A fine dining experience unique to Japan brought to you by Toyama Bay’s special characteristics, you will be amazed by the taste and quality of Toyama’s seafood!

 

Asahi Funakawa “Spring Quartet” (春の四重奏)

(Image credit: Toyama Tourism Organization)

 

Japan has countless flower gardens blooming throughout the country in every season; however, it is not easy to find a unique spot like Toyama’s Spring Quartet (春の四重奏). Come to the Funagawa (舟川) riverbank in Toyama Prefecture to witness a beautiful spring picture with the four-layered quartet: graceful cherry blossoms, a huge tulip garden, brilliant yellow nanohana flower fields, and the snow-capped mountains of the Tateyama Mountains (立山連峰 Tateyama renpō). More than 3 million stunning tulips bloom from the end of April to early May, attracting tourists to enjoy the scenery. Don’t miss this extremely interesting destination!

 

Asahi Funakawa Spring Quartet (あさひ舟川「春の四重奏」)
Address: Funagawashin, Asahi Town, Shimoniikawa District, Toyama
Nearest station: Tomari Station (泊駅)
Access: 15-minutes on the seasonal Spring Quartet Bus from Tomari Station
Opening hours (Seasonal Spring Quartet Bus available): 9am–5pm
Tel: +81 765-83-2780

 

Toyama’s nature tourism

(Image credit: Toyama Tourism Organization)

 

Toyama Prefecture is located at the very centre of Honshu (本州), the main island of Japan. It is a treasure trove of breathtaking scenery created by the dynamic nature found in the 3,000m-tall peaks of the Tateyama Mountain Range and the 1,000m-deep Toyama Bay. 

 

(Image credit: Toyama Tourism Organization)

 

Thanks to easy access and great location, there are a variety of trekking or walking paths courses with rich and diverse flora and fauna, to enjoy and feel the pleasantness every season. Apart from trekking, you can also enjoy beautiful and pristine mountain villages, traditional town landscapes, or cycling routes along Toyama Bay, feeling these sights through the wind that can only be found in Toyama. 

 

Oiwa Somen

(Image credit: Toyama Prefectural Government)

 

Near the famous temple of Nissekeji (日石寺), the restaurants and traditional Japanese inns in the atmospheric Oiwa Monzenmachi (大岩門前街) regularly serve somen (そうめん) noodles on their menus. This is the “town of somen”, unique even in Japan. Many tourists visit and try somen dishes that can only be tasted here in summer. One of the secrets of the noodles’ deliciousness is the water used to make them. The quality and temperature of the water taken from the same fountain as Oiwa no Fujimizu (大岩山日石寺の藤水) is said to be effective against eye diseases and the noodles aged 2–3 years provide a simple but deep-tasting flavour and texture. Enjoy warm nyumen (にゅうめん) noodles after summer. Be sure to visit this enchanting area regardless of seasons.

 

Oiwa Monzenmachi (大岩門前街)
Address: Oiwa, Kamiichi, Nakaniikawa-gun, Toyama 930-0463
Nearest station: Kamiichi Station (上市駅)
Access: 30 minutes by bus or 10 minutes by taxi from Kamiichi Station
Opening hours: Varies
Tel: +81-76-472-1515 (Kamiichi-machi Tourist Association)

 

Header image credit: Toyama Tourism Association / Toyama Prefectural Government

 

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