- Regional Attractions -
A curated overview of the three absolutely unmissable places in Toyama.
Scenic Alpine Road: Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route
Ride a combination of cable car, trolley bus, and ropeway up to Murodo at 2,450 meters above sea level, where overwhelming alpine scenery and high-altitude flora unfold all around you.
Japan’s Deepest Gorge by Trolley: Kurobe Gorge Railway
A tiny open-air train winds its way through a steep V-shaped gorge, past dams, lakes, and crystal-clear streams — an adventure ride where you can feel the power of nature on your skin.
Gigantic Snow Walls: The Snow Corridor “Yuki-no-Otani”
From mid-April to early June, snow walls over 20 meters high line a walking route at Murodo. Walking between them feels like strolling through a gigantic open-air art gallery made entirely of snow.
The most scenic spot in Noto Peninsula Quasi-National Park and a sacred place for the view of the 3,000 m Tateyama Range rising beyond Toyama Bay.
“Mirror Water” Phenomenon Where Mountains Reflect Below the Horizon
On subzero early mornings, steam fog known as kearashi forms on the surface of the sea and acts like a giant reflector, projecting the snow-clad ridges of the Tateyama Range below the horizon line.
Sit on the legendary Yoshitsune Rock and you will see sea, mountains, and clouds stacked in three layers — like the window view of a celestial railway drifting through the sky.
When the retro JR Himi Line train passes in front of the famous Onna-iwa (Woman Rock), you only get about 14 chances a day. Set your shutter speed to around 1/800 and be ready for continuous shooting if you want to capture that perfect moment!
One of the best viewpoints along the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, reached by Japan’s longest one-span ropeway with panoramic views of Kurobe Lake and the Northern Alps.
A Sky Station Where Water Boils at Just 85°C!?
At an elevation of 2,316 meters, Daikanbo Station was carved directly into a sheer granite cliff, like a fortress floating in the sky.
The ropeway uses a one-span system with no support towers — because in this heavy-snow region, conventional towers were repeatedly swallowed by avalanches.
In just seven minutes the gondola glides 1.7 km, and through the windows you see the turquoise of Kurobe Lake and the snow-clad ridges of the Northern Alps all at once.
If you are lucky, a sea of clouds will spread beneath your feet and transform the lake into a “blue plate floating in the sky.”
On the rooftop “Cloud Terrace,” their limited Mont Blanc cake is a favorite. Because of the low air pressure, the cream is whipped lighter than at sea level — the fluffiness you feel is actually scientifically backed!
Japan’s tallest arch dam at 186 m. A spectacular spot where the dynamic sightseeing water discharge meets the cobalt blue of Kurobe Lake.
“The Last Great Pyramid of the Showa Era” Built at the Cost of 171 Lives
Some ten million workers in total challenged this difficult construction project, and 171 people lost their lives. Rock layers with different temperatures and hardness tormented engineers so much that they reportedly fell asleep hugging drill cores at night.
During peak discharge, over 15 tons of water per second gush out, sometimes wearing a double rainbow like a “seven-colored dragon.”
The density of negative ions in the spray is said to be 50 times that of central Tokyo.
The famous “Kurobe Dam Curry” recreates the dam body with roux and the lake with spinach purée. At some shops, if you finish it all, you even receive a playful “Water Discharge Shower Certificate.”
A waterside park built around an old canal basin, symbolized by Tenmon Bridge and the famous “World’s Most Beautiful Starbucks.” A relaxing urban oasis.
Enjoying the “Tiffany Calm” at the World’s Most Beautiful Starbucks
When the wind drops, the surface of the canal turns a jewel-like blue-green, a special mirror-like stillness that locals affectionately call the “Tiffany Calm.”
From the glass-decked Tenmon Bridge, the sunset silhouettes the Tateyama Range behind the city, and its reflection on the water creates a double-layered alpine panorama.
The Nakajima Lock, built in 1934, acts as an “elevator for boats.” Watching cruise boats rise or fall up to 2.5 meters in water level gets spontaneous applause from onlookers — it’s surprisingly impressive even for adults.
A mountain hamlet that represents the World Heritage Site of Gokayama. About 20 steep thatched gassho houses blend beautifully into the surrounding mountains.
Steep Roofs as “All-Weather Snow Slides”
The 60-degree thatched roofs not only shed heavy snow efficiently but also turn the loft space into a three-story workspace — a clever adaptation to life in a snowy region.
In the past, gunpowder ingredient saltpeter produced here is said to have been used in firefighting at Edo Castle, leaving behind fascinating stories of how this remote village once supported the shogunate from the shadows.
On winter nights, the 550-year-old folk song “Kokiriko-bushi” echoes softly around the village. When it does, the snow surface seems to twinkle in rhythm, creating a winter-only experience that feels like a “sound and snow illumination” for the ears as much as the eyes.
A 70 m-high observation deck that is free to enter, offering easy panoramic views of downtown Toyama and the Tateyama mountain range.
Zero Yen for the Full “Tateyama Gradient” Show
Step out of the elevator and a full wall of glass facing east frames the Tateyama Range in one breathtaking sweep. At sunrise, the sky changes color every five minutes — from deep navy to pink to gold — while the ridgeline wakes from a flat silhouette into a three-dimensional mountain panorama. It’s like watching a time-lapse in real life, all for free.
At night, the illuminations of Kansui Park shine like a belt of jewels, and the light rail draws bright lines through the cityscape, as if painting over the night view with a glowing brush. Locals jokingly call this view a “scenery tax” because it’s hard to believe such drama comes with no admission fee at all.
The main hub of the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route at 2,450 m. A compact area where highlights like the Snow Corridor, Mikurigaike Pond, and rock ptarmigans come together.
Acid Mist and Sulfur Fumes — Nature’s Own “Hell Valley Sauna”
Behind Mikurigaike Pond lies a volcanic valley known as Jigokudani (Hell Valley), where 160°C steam vents roar and the rocks are stained lemon-yellow by sulfur deposits.
Depending on the wind, hikers’ glasses can fog up in an instant — a natural steam show that has become a sort of rite of passage for mountaineers.
In June when the snow melts, male rock ptarmigans begin to show patches of their white summer plumage — the opening of their seasonal “wardrobe change show.” Spotting one is said to be a sign that the mountain gods are welcoming you.
A “transportation theme park” that crosses the Northern Alps using a chain of cable cars, buses, trolley buses, and ropeways.
Become an “Alpine Master” by Riding All Six Modes of Transport!?
Cable car, highland bus, trolley bus, ropeway, lift, and electric bus — complete all six, and SNS users have created an unofficial challenge where you’re dubbed an “Alpine Master,” sometimes even rewarded with limited pin badges.
On opening day in April, the snow walls reach up to 20 meters high; by late November, frost needles line the roadside like an “ice flower road.” Some say traveling this single route feels like watching the seasons change ten times in one go.
If you manage to capture a heart-shaped cloud over the mountains from the bus window — nicknamed the “Alpine Heart Cloud” — rumor has it your love life will take a serious turn for the better.
A compact World Heritage hamlet in Gokayama with nine gassho houses clustered together, known for its quiet and relaxed atmosphere.
“Re-Roofing Week” When There Are More Thatching Craftsmen Than Residents
Once every 20 years, Suganuma undergoes a full re-thatching. Some 300 craftsmen gather from within and outside the prefecture, and helicopters airlift huge bundles of pampas grass that flow across the rooftops like a moving carpet of straw.
In February, the “Snow Light-up Nights” see about 400 candles outlining the houses. The snowfield turns into a galaxy and the chimneys resemble constellations — photos of the scene once went viral online as if “a white spaceship had landed.”
At the gassho-style inns, guests can roast marshmallows over the sunken hearth after dinner, a delightful gap between rustic farmhouse and sweet dessert that wins over visitors’ hearts.
A post-war reconstructed keep standing at the center of Toyama Castle Park, serving as a museum that introduces the history of the Maeda clan’s Toyama domain and castle-town culture.
Night Cherry Blossoms and Mirror Moat: “Upside-Down Toyama Castle Night”
In cherry blossom season, around 400 Somei Yoshino trees bloom around the castle’s main enclosure. The reflection of the keep and fluffy pink clouds of blossoms in the moat creates an “upside-down Toyama Castle,” as if the world has been flipped vertically. Locals call this the “spring-only mirror trick,” and gather at night with picnic sheets the moment the lights come on.
Look closely at the stone walls along the moat and you can find stacking patterns dating back to the era of warlord Sassa Narimasa, who once trudged across the snowbound Tateyama mountains to surrender directly to Toyotomi Hideyoshi — the famous “snowbound march.” Toyama Castle thus carries both romantic legends and romantic scenery on its two very different shoulders.
The largest hot spring resort in the prefecture at the entrance to Kurobe Gorge, loved for its crystal-clear, mildly alkaline “beauty skin” water.
98°C Source Water Piped 7 km — The Secret of “Highland Champagne”
The hot water of Unazuki actually springs from Kurotani Onsen, 7 km deeper in the valley, and is sent straight here through a dedicated pipeline using only the difference in elevation. Because it barely touches air on the way, the water arrives as clear as when it burst from the ground, with tiny carbonation bubbles popping on your skin — hence the nickname “highland champagne.” The source temperature is an amazing 98°C.
Above the drifting steam, bright red trolley trains rumble across the ravine. Open the bathhouse window and the horn of the train becomes a natural soundtrack to your soak, turning the whole gorge into a “hot-spring theater” for all five senses.
A former construction railway for dam materials turned into a sightseeing trolley line. The open-air train runs 20 km from Unazuki to Keyakidaira in about 80 minutes.
41 Tunnels × 21 Bridges — Board the “Gorge Roller Coaster”
The open-sided cars cling to the sheer V-shaped cliffs, often with a 100 m drop straight down to emerald-green river water just beside the tracks. On the Shin-Yamabiko Bridge, the train creeps at 15 km/h along a 60 m-high steel span — step outside the handrail and it’s just sky. It’s a kind of real-life cliff-side thrill you could never get from an urban roller coaster, and even adults find their voices cracking with excitement.
At the final station Keyakidaira, a massive granite formation known as “Hitokui-iwa” (Man-eating Rock) looms near the platform. Peer into the natural hollow in the rock and you might see what looks like the “bite marks” left by the gorge’s river over countless centuries.
A sightseeing boat cruise on Komaki Dam Lake. Enjoy the gorge’s fresh greenery, autumn colors, and snowy landscapes from the surface of the water.
Reaching a “Boat-Only Hot Spring” Via the Lake Route
The 25-minute one-way cruise’s biggest highlight is Omaki Onsen, a lonely hot spring inn only accessible by boat. Step off at the pier and you’re greeted by retro lamps and a three-story wooden building — a nostalgic world where even cell phone signals scarcely reach, like stepping two hours back in time.
In autumn, the gorge becomes a blazing tapestry of reds and golds; in winter, icicle curtains turn the cliffs into a natural “icefall gallery.” On windless mornings, the lake transforms into a perfectly polished mirror, opening a portal to an upside-down world where sky and mountains swap places.
Japan’s tallest waterfall at 350 m, cascading in four stages. During the snowmelt season, the ephemeral Hannoki Falls appears beside it, creating a stunning double waterfall view.
Three Times the Drop of Niagara, and Water Particles Faster Than Sound!?
As water plunges 350 m in one go, it mixes with air and turns into ultra-fine mist. Wind speeds near the plunge pool can reach up to 20 m/s, and under certain conditions, the roar echoes off the surrounding slopes, creating a deep rumble known as the “mountain drum.”
When snowmelt swells the flow and Hannoki Falls appears alongside, the twin white ribbons are nicknamed the “twin-tail falls.” Photographers call the moment when a double rainbow arches over both cascades the “Miracle of Shomyo.”
A temple whose Sanmon Gate, Buddha Hall, and Lecture Hall are all designated National Treasures. A perfectly preserved early Edo-period Zen temple complex.
Lead Roof Tiles × Zen × Kaga Domain — Welcome to the “Heavy Metal Temple”
The lead roof tiles on the Buddha Hall and Lecture Hall were a form of military technology: in case of fire, they would melt and drop down to prevent the flames from spreading. In an emergency, the molten lead could even be reused for bullets — a very literal embodiment of the Kaga domain’s “be prepared” spirit shining right from the rooftop.
During nighttime illuminations, the three National Treasure buildings float in deep blue and gold light, while the lead tiles reflect the moon in a mysterious metallic glow. Early-morning zazen meditation (reservation required) resets your senses with crisp air and the echo of a wooden fish drum; the bowl of matcha you drink afterwards will taste surprisingly sweet.
A seaside amusement park famous for one of the largest Ferris wheels on the Sea of Japan coast, popular with families together with the adjacent Uozu Aquarium.
Riding the “Flying Ferris Wheel” in the Town of Mirages
At the 66 m summit of the giant wheel, Toyama Bay and the Tateyama Range both fill your view. Under the right conditions, a spring mirage appears over the sea, making a phantom city float on the horizon, and the wheel frames a four-layer panorama of sky, sea, mountains, and illusions — proof that the name “Mirage Land” is no exaggeration.
In summer, there is a seawater pool; in winter, a 3D maze with mission rallies. At night, the Ferris wheel pulses in full LED rainbow colors, and against a backdrop of fishing lights on the sea, it turns into a “floating kaleidoscope in the sky.”
A fairy-tale-themed park featuring the iconic “Doraemon empty lot” area related to manga artist Fujiko F. Fujio. Popular with families for its large playground equipment and rose garden.
Strike a Pose on the Pipes and the “Dimensional Wall” Disappears
The life-sized bronze statues of Doraemon and friends were cast using Takaoka’s renowned metalworking skills, with even the back of Doraemon’s bell painstakingly reproduced. On social media, many say “every photo looks like a manga panel,” and on some days cosplayers gather in numbers worthy of a Time Patrol mission.
From May to June, about 300 varieties of roses form a labyrinth of flowers, and you may feel like you’ve walked through a real-life “Anywhere Door” before poor Nobita can. On the hilltop, a large play structure called “Wakuwaku Yama (Exciting Hill)” has a spiral slide where you can scream your lungs out and feel like a member of the audience at a Gian concert.
A glass art museum housed within the “TOYAMA Kirari” building designed by architect Kengo Kuma. Soft light filtering through wooden louvers gently envelops the artworks.
Kengo Kuma × Glass × Wood — A “Three-Dimensional Maze of Light”
The swirling cedar louvers rising through the atrium create a light well whose color temperature changes over time.
By evening, warm orange light seeps into the glass floors, making it seem as if abstract paintings are appearing beneath your feet.
On the first floor, Dale Chihuly’s permanent chandelier installation, “Glass Forest,” glows with tangled glass vines, so that bathed in dappled light you feel as though you’ve walked into a real forest of glass.
Admission is only about 200 yen — it’s no wonder fans call this museum a “bug in the cost-performance matrix.”
A harbor park built around the sailing ship “Kaiwo Maru.” Enjoy the graceful “Lady of the Sea” with a backdrop of the Shinminato Bridge and Tateyama mountains.
29 White Sails Unfurl in a “Harbor Ballet”
During the full-sail events held about ten times a year, all 29 sails — over 2,760 m² of canvas — are set at once. As they billow outward with the wind, the ship moves with such elegance that it earned the nickname “Lady of the Sea.”
After sunset, the masts and rigging are lit up in warm gold, while the Shinminato Bridge glows in deep blue. Reflections in the water complete a fully three-dimensional nightscape that looks stunning from every angle.
A viewpoint overlooking the unique “scattered village” landscape of the Tonami Plain, where farmhouses and windbreak forests are dotted across the fields. Perfect for photography when rice paddies mirror the sky.
Rice Fields as a Giant Screen — The “Upside-Down Satoyama Cinema” Begins
In May at sunset, after the paddies are filled with water, the sky is reflected on the surface, and the circular windbreak forests called kainyo around each house stand out clearly in the mirror-like reflections. The entire plain becomes a double-decker panoramic movie theater of earth and sky.
In autumn, golden rice stalks form a carpet broken by lines of red spider lilies; in winter, houses appear like ink wash paintings against a vast white canvas. Some hardcore fans come eight times a year to capture each combination: four seasons × two daily scenes (morning and evening).
A bronze seated Amitabha statue about 16 m tall, created with the full metalworking prowess of Takaoka, a city famous for its copperware. Counted among Japan’s three great Buddhas.
The Buddha Smile Rumored to Be “Japan’s Most Handsome”
After two destructive fires, the third and current statue was cast with a soft double-fold eyelid and elegantly upturned mouth corners. Craftsmen polished it so lovingly that, seen up close, the cheeks show a gentle gradation — giving the bronze face a skin-like softness that visitors affectionately call “mochi skin.”
Inside the pedestal is a gallery-style corridor. Old photos of the casting process from the early Showa era and bamboo spatulas actually used for polishing reveal the intense craftsmanship behind this symbol of “Monozukuri Toyama.”
Located next to Kansui Park, this museum focuses on 20th-century art and design. The rooftop garden “Onomatopoeia Rooftop” lets you enjoy playful playground equipment and scenic views at the same time.
An “Onomatopoeia Labyrinth” on the Rooftop — Feel the “Thump,” “Float,” and “Spin”
The playground equipment conceived by graphic designer Taku Satoh has names like “Boyoyon Trampoline” and “Gururin Slide” — all based on Japanese sound-effect words. As you “spin” or “bounce” with the Tateyama Range and Kansui Park spread out below, you may realize that the boundary between art and play has melted like gummy candy.
The museum houses around 30,000 posters, one of the largest collections in Japan. Typography fans call it the “type swamp,” families call it the “playground swamp,” and photographers call it the “scenery swamp” — three different “swamps” to happily get lost in on a single visit.
Home to the spring “Tonami Tulip Fair,” where three million tulips bloom in a spectacular flower festival. The adjacent Tulip Gallery lets you enjoy tulips year-round.
Three Million Blooms — A Big Bang of Color
The fair began in 1952, rooted in the practice of transforming entire rice fields into flowerbeds across the Tonami Plain. From the observation tower, you can look down on water-filled flower beds, where clusters of color ripple across the surface like geometric waves.
Rare varieties such as the black tulip “Queen of Night” and the vanilla-scented “Pretty Princess” also make appearances. At night, the petals glow like stained glass under the illumination, and the park feels like you’ve wandered into a nighttime ball for fairies.
A unique museum dedicated entirely to the mysterious firefly squid of Toyama Bay. In spring, you can watch live bioluminescence shows up close.
A Chandelier of Blue Lights Scattered in the Dark
When the room lights dim, the squid in the tank begin to glow all at once, and countless deep-sea blue dots draw a constellation right at the water’s edge. Researchers explain that this is a flash signal used to startle predators — which means that during the show, you are the one being surprised by squid.
The bioluminescence shows are limited to March–May, and only squid caught that very day are allowed on stage — a truly premium performance. Afterwards, the on-site restaurant serves dishes like jet-black “firefly squid black-paste pasta,” letting you taste the “deep-sea universe” with your tongue as well.
A seafood market and dining complex directly connected to Himi Fishing Port, where you can savor seasonal specialties from Toyama Bay such as winter yellowtail and white shrimp.
One Cannon Blast Signals the Start of the “Himi Kanburi” Season
In winter, a boom from a small cannon announces the opening of the prized winter yellowtail season. Each time a fish over 7 kg is auctioned off, its weight and price flash up on monitors around the hall, and the lively commentary from market staff draws cheers from visitors.
Early risers are rewarded with melt-in-your-mouth “morning bucket yellowtail sashimi.” At lunchtime you can enjoy yellowtail hotpot, and in the evening a hearty yellowtail cutlet burger — a three-step progression that turns your stomach into the sea. If you want a soak, head to the nearby open-air “Souyu” hot spring, then finish with the famous white shrimp cracker soft serve.
Founded in 1913, this is the oldest aquarium on the Sea of Japan coast. Exhibits range from deep-sea creatures of Toyama Bay to displays explaining the mirage phenomenon.
World’s First Overhead Tunnel Tank Was Born Right Here
In 1981, Uozu Aquarium pioneered a huge overhead tunnel made from 6 cm-thick acrylic panels. The idea of “walking through the water” was so novel that it quickly spread around the world — making this modest aquarium the birthplace of a now-standard attraction.
In the deep-sea zone, dumbo octopuses float like aliens in outer space, and a special corner uses light and glass to recreate how mirages form. It’s a paradise for anyone fascinated by strange natural phenomena, where you can explore both the mysteries of the sea and the sky in a single day.
An Edo-period pharmacy famous for its “Hangontan” herbal pills. Experience traditional pill-making and medicinal cuisine that bring Toyama’s pharmacy culture to life.
Ninety Seconds per Pill — A Live Workshop in “Pharmacy Kingdom” Craftsmanship
Roll black herbal powder in a wooden tray, coat it with syrup for shine, and in barely 90 seconds you have your own “personal Hangontan” pill made using the same hand techniques as in the Edo period. Stamp the date on the paper wrapping and it becomes a one-of-a-kind good-luck charm.
In the in-store café, medicinal curry subtly spiced with Chinese herbs is followed by a black sesame pudding inspired by Hangontan itself. Your stomach may just demand “one more dose for its effect!” — the menu is that habit-forming.
A pebbled beach famous for the possibility of finding raw jade stones along the shoreline, born from the geological forces of the Itoigawa-Shizuoka Tectonic Line.
A “Shoreline Gacha” Where You Can Hunt Gemstones for Free, Unlimited Times
Flip over rounded pebbles along the high-tide line until you catch a glimpse of translucent green — that’s the moment you “pull” a jade prize from nature’s gacha. Some lucky visitors have found specimens weighing over a kilogram. The trick is to come early on calm mornings and quickly scan the line where heavier stones tend to settle as each wave recedes.
You can have your finds examined free of charge at local facilities, and certified jade can then be taken to town workshops to be made into accessories. Hunting, polishing, and wearing your own stone makes this a real-life “mining and crafting RPG” played out on the beach.