A Travel Guide to Toyama: Grand Natural Scenery and Japan’s Timeless Landscapes

The Railway Line and City Tram 1-Day Free Ticket is a great-value pass that gives you unlimited rides for one day on Toyama City trams, railway lines, and buses.
However, the sections and types of buses covered are limited, so be sure to check the official website for details.
The price is 650 yen for adults and 330 yen for children.
This ticket is recommended for those who mainly want to visit sightseeing spots in Toyama City, such as Toyama Castle and the Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art and Design.

From here, we introduce the Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass, which is worth knowing if you want to keep transportation costs down on a trip to Toyama.
The Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass is a great-value ticket that gives you unlimited rides on JR local and limited express trains, the shinkansen, and buses around Kanazawa and Toyama, as well as the area centered on the popular Gifu sightseeing spots of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama, from Osaka and Nagoya.
Not only can you use it when extending your trip from Osaka or Nagoya to Toyama, but it is also useful for accessing Hida, where many of Toyama’s popular sightseeing spots are gathered, so make the most of it.
The price is 19,800 yen for adults and 9,900 yen for children, and it is valid for 5 consecutive days.

Located in northeastern Toyama, the Kurobe and Unazuki area is known for its grand natural scenery, with rivers such as the Kurobe River flowing through it and beautiful mountains spreading out around it.
Kurobe Gorge, formed by erosion from the Kurobe River, is one of Toyama’s most popular sightseeing spots and is counted among Japan’s three great gorges.
The great natural scenery seen from the trolley train is breathtaking, and the fall foliage in autumn, when the mountains turn crimson and orange, is especially spectacular.
Unazuki Onsen, often visited together with Kurobe Gorge, is also worth checking out.
In addition to having one of the highest levels of clarity in Japan, it is also popular for its expected skin-beautifying effects.
Soaking in the hot springs while looking out over the great natural scenery of Kurobe Gorge will relax both body and mind.
The atmospheric hot spring town is dotted with footbaths, so try strolling from one to another while soaking up the ambiance.

The Tateyama area stretches across eastern Toyama and is home to the entrance to the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, where mountains rising to around 3,000 meters tower overhead.
The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route is one of Japan’s most popular mountain sightseeing routes, with a total length of Approx. 37 km.
Along the way are many spectacular spots, including Kurobe Dam, which stands 186 meters high, and Mikurigaike Pond, known for its deep blue surface and beautiful surrounding mountains.
If you visit Kurobe Dam, do not forget to try the local specialty, Kurobe Dam Curry.
Enjoy mountain climbing or trekking while visiting these scenic spots.
Another great point is that if you limit the areas and spots you visit, it is easy to explore casually.
The Snow Corridor, which can only be seen in spring, is also not to be missed.
You can have the rare experience of walking along a road flanked by giant walls of snow reaching nearly 20 meters high.

The Toyama area stretches from the central part of the prefecture to the south, facing Toyama Bay to the north and the Hida region of Gifu, surrounded by mountains, to the south.
Since it is home to Toyama Station and Toyama Airport, it serves as the gateway to Toyama.
It has an urban side, but because it is surrounded by grand nature, there are also many spots where you can enjoy beautiful scenery.
With rich food, culture, and a concentration of sightseeing spots, it is the center of sightseeing in Toyama.
Among the attractions in the Toyama area, the popular Toyama Castle is a must-visit.
Its grand and dignified appearance and the panoramic view of the city from the castle tower observation deck on the fourth floor are the highlights.
The Toyama Glass Art Museum is another popular sightseeing spot, exhibiting more than 400 pieces of contemporary glass art.
The building itself, designed by a world-famous architect, is also beautiful like a work of art.
With many glass artists and glass studios, and as a city known as one of Japan’s leading glass towns, it is one of the sightseeing spots that symbolizes Toyama’s culture.

The Takaoka and Himi area is located in northwestern Toyama and faces Toyama Bay.
It mainly consists of Takaoka City and Himi City, and both cities are full of highlights.
Takaoka City, a historic city with more than 400 years of history, offers a deep sense of historical charm through its nationally treasured temples and retro streets.
Traditional crafts from this area also remain, letting you experience culture unique to Takaoka City.
The Sanmon gate and Buddha hall of Zuiryuji Temple, a popular sightseeing spot, are designated National Treasures, while its other buildings are designated Important Cultural Properties of Japan.
Amaharashi Coast, famous as one of the area’s leading scenic spots, is another recommended place to visit.
The rocky shore, the Tateyama Mountain Range seen beyond the sea, and the beautiful sunset over the water are its highlights.
Himi City is a fishing town famous for seafood such as winter yellowtail, but it is also known as a hot spring area.
At Himi Onsen-kyo, where hot springs are dotted along the coast of Toyama Bay, you can soak in waters said to help cuts and chronic skin conditions while enjoying spectacular views of the Tateyama Mountain Range.

Located in southwestern Toyama, the Tonami and Gokayama area is a peaceful place where you can enjoy beautiful natural scenery, with rural landscapes spreading out among the mountains.
The countryside view of the scattered settlement seen from the Sankyoson Observatory / Observation Plaza is spectacular, so it is well worth a visit.
The especially beautiful sight is around May, when the rice paddies are filled with water and glow with the reflection of the setting sun.
Tonami City in this area is also one of the region’s leading hot spring destinations, and at Shogawa Onsen-kyo along the Shogawa River, you can enjoy hot springs while looking out over seasonal scenery.
The Gokayama Ainokura and Suganuma Gassho-style Villages, registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are also popular sightseeing spots.
These traditional steeply sloped thatched gassho-style houses, a building style unique to heavy snowfall areas, still remain, and there are also facilities, restaurants, and inns that convey life in Gokayama.
You can enjoy a rare experience that brings good old Japanese culture close to home.

On the first day, you will visit Kurobe Gorge, one of Toyama’s most popular spots.
Along with the beauty of the gorge, you will also encounter scenery with an impressive sense of power.
There are plenty of photo spots, so sightseeing with a camera in hand is also recommended.
Another great point is that you can soothe your tired body in a hot spring after a day of sightseeing.

On the second day, you will explore Toyama City, the center of sightseeing in the prefecture.
As you walk through retro streets and visit cultural facilities, experience another side of Toyama beyond its natural beauty.

In addition to this model course, if you are staying one more night, be sure to consider the World Heritage Site Gokayama Ainokura and Suganuma Gassho-style Villages.
Located at the southwestern tip of Toyama Prefecture, Gokayama consists of 40 small villages scattered across five valleys.
Surrounded by steep mountains, the area receives over 2 meters of snow in winter.
Many gassho-style houses still remain here, a style of architecture unique to such a heavy snowfall region, characterized by steeply sloped thatched gabled roofs. The two villages of Ainokura and Suganuma are registered as World Cultural Heritage sites.

Yellowtail is a common fish landed in many parts of Japan, but Toyama’s winter yellowtail, which comes into season in winter, stands out for its exceptional flavor.
In particular, winter yellowtail landed at Himi Fishing Port is given the brand name Himi Kanburi, and its rich fat, sweet flavor, and firm texture are the secrets to its deliciousness.
If you want to enjoy the flavor of winter yellowtail directly, sashimi or buri shabu is recommended.
With buri shabu, briefly swishing the yellowtail through hot broth tightens the flesh just enough and lets you enjoy the concentrated flavor of winter yellowtail. Eat it with ponzu or grated daikon radish.
Toyama’s local dish buri daikon is also highly recommended.
This dish is made by simmering yellowtail and daikon radish in a sweet soy sauce flavored with mirin and sugar so the taste soaks in.
The deliciousness of the winter yellowtail goes without saying, but the daikon that absorbs the rich flavor from the fish is exquisite as well.
It is usually made with soy sauce, but many restaurants also use miso, so if you have the chance, give that version a try too.

Toyama Black Ramen is a local ramen especially popular around Toyama City.
It is known for its strong soy sauce flavor, which is also why the soup is black. Another distinctive feature is the coarse-ground black pepper sprinkled on top.
The deep soy sauce flavor fills your mouth, and the slightly firm noodles have just the right bite.
The intensity varies by shop, but if you are expecting a typical soy sauce ramen, many people may find it quite salty.
That is because it was originally created with manual laborers and young people sweating through exercise in mind, so the seasoning is very strong.
This salty flavor has become addictive for many people, and it has a loyal fan base.
Aside from old-fashioned shops, more Toyama Black Ramen places now offer versions with milder saltiness, so it should be easier to enjoy.

Alongside winter yellowtail, white shrimp is another famous seafood specialty of Toyama.
White shrimp are small shrimp about 6 cm long, known for their translucent pale pink color and strong sweetness.
Because they sparkle when they catch the light, they are called the jewels of Toyama Bay.
Although white shrimp live widely in waters near Japan, Toyama Bay is the only place where enough can be caught to support a fishery.
It is truly a taste you can only enjoy in Toyama, and it comes into season around June to July.
Recommended dishes made with white shrimp include white shrimp miso ramen and white shrimp salt ramen.
White shrimp salt ramen has a moderate saltiness that brings out the shrimp’s sweetness, while the savory aroma of cooked white shrimp adds an extra accent.
White shrimp miso ramen, with its rich miso packed with white shrimp flavor and broth, is also exceptional.