About Toyama

Located in the Hokuriku region of north-central Japan, Toyama Prefecture is bordered to the north by the Sea of Japan and lies between the popular destinations of Kanazawa and Takayama. The prefecture's stunning natural landscape includes the majestic Tateyama Mountain Range and the picturesque Toyama Bay.

Famous Sightseeing Spots

Tateyama Area

Tateyama, one of Japan's three sacred mountains, stands proudly in the Chubu Sangaku National Park.
The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route attracts over 700,000 visitors with its breathtaking snow corridors, Murodo Plateau, and the iconic Kurobe Dam.
Visitors can also enjoy hiking trails, scenic cable cars, and the majestic beauty of the Northern Japan Alps.


Tateyama Ropeway

Tateyama Ropeway

Tateyama Snow Corridor

Kurobe Dam

Midagahara

Kurobe Gorge Trolley Train

Gokayama

Located in the southwestern part of Toyama Prefecture, Gokayama is a collective name for 40 small villages. Among them, the villages of Ainokura and Suganuma are designated as UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites.
Famous for its traditional gassho-style houses, Gokayama preserves an authentic way of life that continues to this day. Visitors can explore museums housed in gassho-style buildings, enjoy local cuisine, and stay in traditional inns while immersing themselves in the rich history and culture of the area.
Until recent decades, Gokayama was considered a hidden gem due to its rugged terrain and heavy snowfall, which made access difficult. During the Edo period, the region thrived on the production of saltpeter, sericulture (silk farming), and handmade Japanese paper, all of which supported local livelihoods. Gassho-style houses functioned as both residences and workshops for these industries.
The term gassho refers to the shape of the steeply angled thatched roofs, which resemble hands pressed together in prayer. These roofs, with a pitch of 60 degrees, are designed to shed heavy snow and are constructed entirely without nails.


Gokayama Gassho Style Village summer

Gokayama Gassho Style Village Autumn

Gokayama Gassho Style Village Winter

Iwase

Located in the northern part of Toyama City, Iwase was once a bustling port town for the Kitamaebune trading ships, which connected Osaka to Hokkaido during the Edo period. Today, its tranquil streets are dotted with Edo-period warehouses, which have been repurposed into restaurants, breweries, and art studios.


Iwase Townscape

Sake Brewery

Iwase Hikiyama Matsuri(Float Festival)

Toyama Station Area

Toyama Station is the gateway to the region, offering modern conveniences and cultural attractions.
Key landmarks include Toyama Castle, the Toyama Glass Art Museum, and Fugan Unga Kansui Park, famous for its serene waterfront views and beautiful architecture.


Toyama Castle

Toyama KIRARI

Fugan Canal Kansui Park

Food

Seafood

Toyama Bay is renowned for its extraordinarily fresh seafood, thanks to its proximity to the ocean. With over 500 species of fish in the bay, iconic catches include firefly squid (hotaru-ika), shrimp (shiro-ebi), and yellowtail (buri). The unique topography of Toyama, with a vertical drop of 4,000 meters from the Tateyama Range to the ocean depths, enriches the water with oxygen and nutrients, enhancing the flavor of the seafood.


Yellowtail

Fishing Harbor

Firefly Squid Catch

Firefly Squid

Glass Shrimps

Yellowtail Auction

Sushi

Toyama Prefecture is a paradise for sushi lovers, offering an incredible variety of sushi made with some of the freshest seafood in the region. Visitors can savor local delicacies, such as yellowtail (buri), white shrimp (shiro-ebi), firefly squid (hotaru-ika), and crab (kani). These exquisite seafood specialties attract many tourists from outside the prefecture, drawn by the promise of an unforgettable culinary experience.

Sushi

Sushi（Crab）

Sushi

Industries

Pharmaceuticals Toyama has a 400-year history as Japan's "Medicine Capital." The traditional okigusuri system, a precursor to modern credit systems, involved placing medicine chests in homes, allowing families to use what they needed and pay only for what they consumed. This innovative practice shaped Toyama's reputation for high-quality pharmaceuticals.

Traditional Medicine

Traditional Pharmacy

Glass Toyama's glass industry began over 300 years ago, supporting the production of medicine bottles. Today, the city is a hub for glass artistry, boasting facilities like the Toyama Glass Art Museum and workshops where visitors can try glass-making themselves.

Toyama Glass

Toyama Glass

Toyama Station

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