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[11 Recommended Places to Stay in Toyama by Area] Great Bases for Enjoying Spectacular Scenery and Hot Springs
Surrounded by the Sea of Japan and the Tateyama Mountain Range, Toyama Prefecture is filled with diverse attractions, from seasonal natural beauty and delicacies from both the sea and mountains to traditional culture.
Many first-time visitors to Toyama likely plan to see as many sightseeing spots as possible.
That makes choosing the right area to stay in especially important.
If you choose the wrong area, getting around can become more of a burden and make sightseeing less convenient than expected.
So here, we introduce five areas that are ideal as bases for exploring Toyama, along with recommended accommodations.
Use this guide to help find the best hotel for your travel style.
Five Areas Ideal as Bases for Sightseeing in Toyama
One of the best things about sightseeing in Toyama is the wide variety of places to explore, from the sea and mountains to historic townscapes and remote scenic spots.
Choosing where to stay based on your travel style is the key to a comfortable trip.
If this is your first time visiting Toyama, the Toyama area is a great place to start thanks to its convenience as the prefectural capital.
It offers excellent transportation access, along with plenty of hotels, restaurants, and other facilities, making it an ideal base for visiting the main sightseeing spots.
If you want to experience Toyama more deeply, the Himi area, with its ocean views, hot springs, and great food, or the Kurobe/Unazuki area, where you can enjoy hot springs and beautiful gorges, are both good choices.
If you prefer a more active trip, the Tonami/Gokayama area and the Tateyama area, known for their cultural heritage and mountains, are especially recommended.
From here, let us introduce the charm of each area along with places to stay.
Comfortable for Both City Walks and Sightseeing! 2 Recommended Places to Stay in the Toyama Area
The Toyama area stretches from the central to southern part of the prefecture and is a classic base for traveling in Toyama, convenient for both sightseeing and business.
Major attractions such as Toyama Castle, Toyama Castle Ruins Park, Fugan Canal Kansui Park, and the Toyama Glass Art Museum are gathered in a compact area, making it easy to get around the city.
From Toyama Station, access to other parts of the prefecture is also convenient, including the Kurobe, Himi, and Tateyama areas, making this an especially recommended choice for first-time visitors to Toyama.
Here, we introduce two distinctive places to stay that offer not only convenience but also a memorable stay in itself.
1. Onyado Nono Toyama Natural Hot Spring Tsurugi no Yu
A Japanese-style premium hotel located in the center of Toyama City, Toyama Prefecture.
It is in an easy-to-access location, Approx. 8 minutes from JR Toyama Station by streetcar.
The inn's signature feature is its natural hot spring water pumped up from 1,200m underground.
The spring water is characterized by its brown color and smooth, slightly thick texture.
The large public bath, Tsurugi no Yu, includes a variety of tubs such as an open-air bath and a rock bath.
2. River Retreat Garaku
A small luxury hotel standing along the mystical Jinzu Gorge, where tranquility and moving scenery await.
Looking around, you will find abundant nature centered on Jinzu Gorge, making it easy to relax and unwind.
Inside the hotel, contemporary artworks are displayed throughout, creating a refined and dignified atmosphere.
The Place to Enjoy Spectacular Views and Great Food! 2 Recommended Places to Stay in the Himi Area
Home to one of Japan's leading fishing ports, Himi is known for its fresh seafood and spectacular views of the Tateyama Mountain Range across Toyama Bay.
You can enjoy seasonal seafood such as winter yellowtail as well as Himi beef, making it ideal for travelers visiting for the food.
Neighboring Takaoka is a historic town of traditional crafts, where you can also enjoy visiting the Great Buddha of Takaoka and touring copperware workshops.
Staying at an ocean-view inn while looking out over Toyama Bay glowing in the morning sun is a special experience.
There are also plenty of sightseeing spots and activities, including scenic walks along Amaharashi Coast and the morning market at Himi Fishing Port.
In Himi, where you can fully enjoy nature, food, and scenery, here are two especially recommended places to stay.
1. Imigre, an Inn That Makes You Want to Move In
An accommodation facility standing by the sea in Himi City, Toyama Prefecture. Centered around its restaurant, the inn is built on the concept of food and scenery.
Right in front of the inn stretches the seascape of Toyama Bay. On clear days, you can also see the Tateyama Mountain Range, with peaks over 3,000m high, rising beyond the water.
The inn takes pride in its dishes made generously with seafood caught in Toyama Bay and local ingredients.
2. Private Sauna and Himi Beef/Seafood Inn, GYU-YA VILLA
A private rental accommodation in Himi City, Toyama Prefecture. This villa lets you enjoy Toyama's nature and local flavors in a private setting.
One of its features is a Finnish-style sauna for private use. The sauna uses a wood-burning stove made by the Finnish sauna manufacturer HARVIA.
There is also a cold bath and an outdoor relaxation space, allowing you to enjoy an authentic sauna experience.
Enjoy the Kurobe Gorge Railway and Hot Springs! 2 Recommended Places to Stay in the Kurobe/Unazuki Area
If you want to enjoy gorge scenery and hot springs, the Kurobe/Unazuki area is highly recommended.
Surrounded by the magnificent nature of the Northern Alps, Unazuki Onsen is one of Toyama Prefecture's leading hot spring resorts.
It is known for its high-quality, clear, colorless waters, often called waters for beautiful skin, as well as its scenic gorge views.
Ride the Kurobe Gorge Railway deep into the valley to enjoy spectacular scenery created by steep cliffs and clear streams.
In spring, the Spring Quartet in Funakawa, Asahi Town, where cherry blossoms, tulips, and canola flowers bloom together, is also stunning.
Because you can enjoy both outdoor exploration and hot springs, this is an area that suits both active travelers and those who prefer to take it easy.
Below, we introduce accommodations known for their seasonal scenery and hospitality, so be sure to check them out.
1. Kurobe Unazuki Onsen Yamanoha (ORIX HOTELS＆RESORTS)
Unazuki Onsen is a hot spring resort surrounded by the great natural beauty of Kurobe Gorge.
The ryokan and hotels lining the Kurobe River are all blessed with spectacular views, but Kurobe Unazuki Onsen Yamanoha is especially known for the wonderful scenery from its open-air bath.
The inn's signature scenic open-air bath is designed with stepped levels in the tub so guests can enjoy different views from each level.
2. Enraku
A long-established inn that has charmed many writers and artists since it was founded in 1937.
From the tea flowers and wild plants displayed with quiet elegance to the atmosphere throughout the building, you can sense the inn's long-standing commitment to preserving things in their natural state.
All guest rooms face the gorge and are mainly available in four types, from Japanese-style rooms with spacious verandas to rooms with open-air baths and luxurious VIP suites with reception rooms and open-air baths.
If You Want to Visit a Historic Gassho-style Village! 2 Recommended Places to Stay in the Tonami/Gokayama Area
Tonami and Gokayama are mountainous areas home to the World Heritage Site Gokayama Gassho-style Villages, offering an atmospheric blend of history, culture, and nature.
The scenery changes dramatically with the seasons, from the Shogawa Gorge in spring and fresh greenery in summer to vibrant autumn foliage and snow-covered gassho-style landscapes in winter, so every season offers a different charm.
You will also find old folk house inns that preserve a traditional atmosphere and hot spring resorts surrounded by nature, making this area ideal for those who want to spend quiet time away from the crowds.
The two accommodations introduced next offer a peaceful stay where you can experience Toyama's nostalgic scenery and culture.
1. Mercure Toyama Tonami Resort & Spa
A resort hotel in Tonami City, Toyama Prefecture, rebranded and reopened in April 2024. Located on elevated ground, the hotel overlooks the Tonami Plain spreading across western Toyama Prefecture.
Another appealing feature is that you can enjoy different scenery in each season. The hotel also has a hot spring facility covering Approx. 262 square meters, complete with a large public bath, open-air bath, and sauna.
2. Gokayama Gassho no Yado Shoshichi
A 200-year-old gassho-style inn located in the Ainokura Gassho-style Village, a designated World Heritage Site.
The building is a two-story structure Approx. 11m high, with guest rooms on the first floor beneath its high ceilings.
Because it accepts only up to 10 guests per night or a maximum of two groups, you can enjoy a relaxed stay while appreciating the charm of this traditional architecture.
There is a large public bath across from the inn, where you can soothe your travel fatigue at a leisurely pace.
A Great Base for Sightseeing on the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route! 3 Recommended Places to Stay in the Tateyama Area
The Tateyama area is highly popular as the gateway to sightseeing on the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route.
Many hotels here are located at high elevations, which is part of the appeal, letting you experience grand mountain scenery up close.
From summer hiking and autumn foliage to winter snowscapes, you can enjoy the drama of nature in every season.
This area is an ideal base for travelers who want to enjoy an active trip in Toyama, whether through mountain walks or visits to spectacular viewpoints.
Here, we have carefully selected three accommodations in convenient locations for starting your Alpine Route journey, each offering a special stay in harmony with nature.
1. Hotel Tateyama
Japan's highest-altitude hotel, standing on Murodo-daira at an elevation of 2,450m.
Murodo-daira is known as a sightseeing base on the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, surrounded by mountains over 3,000m high and magnificent natural scenery.
From the sunrise in the morning and refreshing daytime views to glowing evening mountain scenery and a star-filled sky like scattered jewels, you can encounter spectacular views woven by nature throughout the day.
2. Nagomi no Yado Senjuso, Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route
An inn in an excellent location, just a 1-minute walk from Tateyama Station on the Tateyama Cable Car, the gateway to the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, one of the world's leading mountain sightseeing routes lined with peaks over 3,000m high.
Even during crowded travel seasons, one of its attractions is that you can buy your ticket in the morning and relax in your room until departure.
At the large public bath inside the inn, you can enjoy sodium bicarbonate spring water known for its smooth feel on the skin.
3. Hotel Mori no Kaze Tateyama
Located at the foot of the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, this hotel is also well regarded for its convenient access to Gokayama, the traditional gassho-style village and World Heritage Site.
Room types include the spacious and comfortable Grand Executive, Western-style rooms with brown-toned interiors, and Japanese-style rooms with the pleasant scent of tatami, giving you several options to choose from depending on the occasion.
FAQ about Accommodations in Toyama
Q
If you are traveling to Toyama, which area is best to stay in?
A
The Toyama area is recommended because it offers good access to destinations across the prefecture.
Q
If you are taking a family trip to Toyama, which area should you stay in?
A
The Toyama area, with its many sightseeing spots, and the Kurobe/Unazuki area, where you can enjoy great nature and hot springs, are both recommended.
Summary
In this article, we introduced accommodations that are convenient to use when traveling in Toyama, organized by area.
Where you stay can change the feel of your trip, so it is worth choosing a place that matches your travel plans.
The article below introduces a carefully selected list of sightseeing spots to visit in Toyama.
Reading that as well will make planning your trip much easier, so be sure to check it out.