The Toyama prefecture is large and diverse, including modern cities and remote mountain villages still practicing centuries-old traditions. Plan enough time to enjoy both parts of this intriguing region.
Toyama City has numerous museums and art galleries. Tour the Toyama Glass Art Museum to see contemporary glass made by local and international artists, including the Dale Chihuly Studio. The Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art and Design offers a range of inspiring artworks in a riverfront setting. Enjoy city views from the on-site café and climb to the top of the building for the Onomatopoeia Rooftop play area.
Toyama’s parks offer pleasant spots for relaxation. Go swimming at Iwasehama Beach. Rest on the grass or cruise along the canal at the Fugan Canal Kansui Park, whose Tenmon-kyo Bridge is an iconic symbol of the city. See beautiful cherry blossoms in the spring at Matsukawa Park and colorful seasonal displays at the Botanic Gardens of Toyama. Learn about the region’s history in the flatland Toyama Castle in the downtown district.
Travel from Toyama City to Nanto, about a 1-hour drive southwest. Stop along the way at the Inami Betsuin Zuisenji Temple, a reconstruction of a large temple built in the 1300s. Note the wooden building’s detailed carvings.
Nanto is a gateway to the prefecture’s countryside and mountains. Visit the UNESCO heritage site of the Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama. The Ainokura Gassho-zukuriVillage is just a 1-hour drive from Toyama but centuries removed from modern life because of its isolation in the Japanese Alps. Photograph the village’s unique thatch-covered farmhouses and participate in the Washi Paper Workshop to create lasting memories of your trip to this remote area.
Toyama is on the northwestern coast of Japan’s Honshu Island. Fly into Toyama Airport or travel by train from Tokyo or Nagano within 2 hours. Buses and trains provide service to most major sites within the prefecture, including Ainokura. Rent a car or bicycle to get around on your own.
