[Day 1] Toyama Prefecture 3 days and 2 nights super complete itinerary! |Japan Free Travel Treasure Traveling Places!

JOYJAPAN

2024.05.21

Toyama Prefecture in Japan may not be so well known among Chinese tourists. Where is Toyama Prefecture on the map of Japan and what are the best things to eat, play and see, few people should know, right?
It doesn't matter! Today, I'm going to share with you about Toyama Prefecture, which is one of the most popular destinations for sightseeing in Japan and has a lot of beautiful food! After reading this article, you'll know what to see!

Preparation: What is Toyama Prefecture?

Table of Contents

1 Preparation: What is Toyama Prefecture?
2 Day1: Arrive at Toyama Airport Terminal!

Overview of Toyama Prefecture

If you look at the map of Japan, you will see that the country is in the shape of an elongated strip. Toyama is located in the middle of this strip, facing the Korean Peninsula. The deepest part of Toyama Bay is more than 1,200 meters deep, and it is one of the three deepest bays in Japan, together with Suruga Bay and Sagami Bay on the Taiheiyo side. The blue color of the sea is even deeper in the deeper valleys of the sea, and is also called the "Blue Bottle".
A large number of red snow crabs and white shrimps live here. Although the terrain is steep, the fishing ports are not far away, and the seafood is brought to the table while it is still fresh, which is the secret of the delicious seafood in Toyama Bay. This is the secret to the delicious seafood of Toyama Bay. It is one of the few prefectures in Japan with good seafood, and it is also famous in Japan.

Gourmet Foods of Toyama Prefecture

Now that we're talking about seafood! If you like seafood, please take notes! We recommend the four major seafood products of Toyama Prefecture!

1. Gemstone of Toyama Bay: White Shrimp

The best season to eat them is from April to October. The light red color of the shrimp is crystal clear, and the Toyama White Shrimp is also known as the "Noble Lady of the Sea" and the "Jewel of Toyama Bay. They are soft and sweet when eaten raw, and equally delicious when fried.

2. The best thing about spring evenings that is more beautiful than cherry blossoms: firefly squids

The best season to eat them is from March to May. The glowing fireflies that light up the sea at night are a unique spring wonderland in Toyama. Marinated, boiled, or fried, it is a delicious dish no matter how you cook it.

3. King of Toyama Bay: Yellowtail

The best season is from December to March. The yellowtail has been refined by the stormy waves of the Sea of Japan, and has a unique flavor with the right amount of fat and leanness. Himi Amberjack, caught in Himi, is known throughout Japan as a high quality fish!

4. Queen of Toyama Bay: Red Snow Crab

The best season to eat is from September to May. "Takashi's red snow crab is one of the most famous specialties in Toyama Bay. The sweetness of the crab meat and the richness of the crab flavor make you want to eat it.

How to get to Toyama?

If you are coming to Toyama from Taiwan, Taoyuan Airport has opened direct flights and you can fly to Toyama in just over three hours! If you are coming from Japan, you can take a domestic flight from Tokyo Haneda Airport to Toyama in less than an hour. If you want to enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way, you can also take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Toyama Station in about 2 hours.

Day1: Arrive at Toyama Airport Terminal!

Although the sky was a bit drizzly, we went to Toyama Station, where the world's most beautiful Starbucks is located!

There are taxis and buses located near the 1st floor Domestic Line Exit, and "No. 1" is the place to go to Toyama Station. For tickets and number of trips, please refer to the ticket vending machines or ask at the information desk.

A cab takes about 20 minutes and costs 3 to 4,000 yen. Buses to Toyama Station cost 420 yen.

Fuyan Canal Water Park

Tomiwa Canal Park is located in the center of Toyama City, a 9-minute walk from Toyama Station. From the park, you can see the magnificent Tateyama mountain range. The park is centered around the boathouse and the nearby water, with walking paths and lawns on both sides of the river, where you can relax and enjoy the water view.
The park is always bustling with activities in all seasons. In spring there are jugglers, in summer you can watch fireworks, in fall and winter there are lights and scenery, and especially during Christmas and Valentine's Day there are special events. Visitors to the park can have a great time.

Official Website:http://www.kansui-park.jp/

World's Most Beautiful Starbucks

There are tens of thousands of Starbucks stores all over the world, but Toyama people are proud of the most beautiful one. The most beautiful Starbucks in the world is the one in the Tomiwa Canal Park! The specialty of this store is that you can look around the park through the glass windows. It's so cozy to have a cup of coffee while gazing at the water's edge. If you post a photo of the most beautiful Starbucks in the world, you'll get a lot of likes.

Fresh air and beautiful water scenery. In winter, you can enjoy snow and cherry blossoms in spring; in summer, there are dense greenery; and in fall, there are red leaves, so the four seasons are very unique. I hope to see cherry blossoms on my next visit!

Tomiwa Water Line

Since this is a canal park, you must take a leisurely boat ride on the water. The section of the canal that starts from around the park, passes through the Nakajima Gate and eventually leads to Iwase is called the "Tomiwa Water Route". There are three large passenger boats, "Kansui", "Fugan" and "Sora", as well as a smaller boat called "Momiji". For those who want to visit Iwase in Minatomachi, it is recommended to take the "A" line "Around the Water Park" → "Iwase".

After arriving at Iwase, you can take the light rail from Iwase to Toyama Station North for the return trip. It is more economical to buy a package of a boat ticket and a light rail ticket!

The official website of AquaLine:https://fugan-suijo-line.jp/

This time, I took the C route between the park and the Nakajima Gate. Although the weather was bad, it didn't affect my mood♪ If you want to have fun in the park, you should take this ride! Kids can have fun too!
The next destination is the Museum of Fine Arts, a 5-minute walk away.

Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art

The Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art is a stylish building along the Tomiwa Canal. This museum exhibits the development of art from the early 20th century to the present day from three perspectives: the world, Japan, and Toyama. Every time you visit the museum, you will discover something new. There is a free zone in the spacious exhibition hall where children can have fun.

From the rooftop of the museum, you can also see around the park and the Tateyama mountain range, so you can see the beauty of this place in all seasons. By the way, the uniforms of the museum staff are all made by Issey Miyake!

Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art

Opening hours:: Museum of Fine Arts: 9:30~18:00 Closed on Wednesdays, the day after a holiday, and during the year-end and New Year holidays.
Rooftop Garden: 8:00~22:00 Closed 12/1~3/15.

Visit Fee:: The general exhibition is 300 yen.

Address:: 3-20 Kiba-cho, Toyama-shi, Toyama, 930-0806, Japan

TEL:: 076-431-2711

Official Website:: https://tad-toyama.jp/

High-end lunches for reserved guests only

Piatto Suzuki Cinque is an Italian restaurant located in Higashi Iwase on the harbor street. The restaurant is fully booked even on weekdays during lunchtime. The chef was trained at the 1 Michelin starred restaurant in Tokyo's Azabujuban, and created this Italian restaurant that utilizes the rich ingredients of Toyama Bay.

The appearance of the restaurant gives you a sense of antiquity and the open floor-to-ceiling windows are very relaxing. Even when the restaurant is full of customers, you can still enjoy the time leisurely. The seafood in the appetizers is fresh and tasty, and the soup in the pasta is thick and flavorful, which is very satisfying! If you don't have a big appetite, please be careful with your order.

Lunch reference price: appetizer + pasta + bread + main course = 3900 yen per person
It's so affordable! If you eat in Tokyo, the price will be double... If you come to Toyama, you should make a card! You can take the Minakami Line from Kansui Park to Iwase, or take a cab if you don't have time. If you don't have time, you can take a taxi. It's a 20-minute cab ride from the Museum of Fine Arts!

Piatto Suzuki Cinque

Address:: 93 Higashi-Iwase-machi, Toyama-shi, Toyama

Business Hours:: Lunch 11:30～16:00 (Lo14:00)
Dinner 17:30～21:30(Lo20:00)

Days off:: Mondays, 2nd and 4th Sundays

Official Website:: https://p-suzuki5.com/

Iwase Walking + Sightseeing

Since the Edo period, the Iwase area has been a busy area as a port for ships traveling to and from the Sea of Japan. Back toward the riverbank, the old Hokkoku townscape is represented by the Kitamae Funkyo-Funanchaya. Many houses built in the Meiji period still remain in this area, so you can get a glimpse of the history of the area. In 2004, the president of Masuda Sakuzo renovated the area and combined the beautiful street like a movie set with modern art, and elevated it to a representative place of Toyama culture.

When you walk around here, you can meet various kinds of artworks. Behind the restaurant where you had lunch, there is a path that looks like a secret passage. You can taste the delicious sake here. When you take a sip, the flavor of sake penetrates into your throat, and you can taste a lot of this kind of flavorful sake here.

The history of Kitamaebune has been passed down through the Mori family, which is a nationally-designated important cultural property, and the Mori family's dojo group (the sake merchant Tajiri Honten, etc.).
Pottery Workshop (combining ingredients and store perfectly, constantly pursuing the advancement of pottery making - Shiyongyue)

Glassworks (Yasuda Taizo, a glassblower who captures people's hearts with his endlessly changing colors and shapes)

A rare and precious gift from Otsukaya: Triangle Causeway Grilling

This Causeway is sold out at 2pm on weekdays! If you are not lucky enough, you can't get it at all. Its flavor is different from the ordinary Causewayaki, this triangular shaped Causewayaki is thin and sticky, with medium sweetness. No wonder it sells so well! You have to try it when you come to Toyama!

Otsukaya

Business Hours:: (Tue.-Sat.) 8:30-17:30, (Sun./Holiday) 8:30-16:00

Days off:: Monday

Instagram:: @toyamaotsukaya

Other local specialties include Imae Fukusudo (triangular gongo yaki), Shichifukutei (flying doughnut), Nomura Shoten (seaweed), masuda sake brewery, and sake merchant Tajiri Honten, and so on.

Every year, Mansouquan releases a dry special edition, so buy a bottle and take it with you~.

Kimono and Sanshin Experience: Yatsuo Oyatsu

Yatsuo Oyatsu is a facility that combines dining, lodging and experience in a traditional Japanese warehouse. This time, we would like to introduce the shamisen and kimono experience here. We were greeted with a big smile from the owner. She speaks very good Chinese!
With the help of my boss's translation, I learned about the history of "Kazamatsuri" and Yatsuo. I'd like to do it again in the summer when the place is getting more popular! Kimono experience for 2 people~(3000 yen/person), Sanshin experience for 4 people~(2000 yen/person)

A unique folk culture in the Yatsuo area of Toyama Prefecture is the "Fubon Festival", which is held from September 1 to 3 every year. During this festival, tens of thousands of visitors come to see the festival, and it is a very popular event. The Sanshin experience involves playing the music of the festival on a traditional musical instrument called the Sanshin. It's a great experience!

On the second floor of the Oyatsu Warehouse, there is a kimono experience area. Choose your favorite kimono from over 200 pieces, and after you're done dressing, take a walk through the old-fashioned streets of Yatsuo. Suwa Machidori is one of the 100 most famous roads in Japan, and Kagemachi still retains the atmosphere of an old flower town.

Echonaka Yatsuoベース OYATSU

Mode of transportation:: Take the JR Takayama Main Line from Toyama Station and get off at Echino Yatsuo (about 25 minutes). Take a community bus and get off at Hikiyama Exhibition Hall.

Move:: Take the JR Takayama Main Line from Echu Yatsuo Station and get off at Toyama Station in about 25 minutes, or take the Hokuriku Shinkansen Line from Toyama Station and get off at Kurobe Unazuki Onsen Station in about 20 minutes. There is a free ferry from Kurobe-Unazuki Onsen Station to Kintaro Onsen. By car, it takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour to get from Yatsuo to Kintaro Onsen.

Trio Experience Fee:: 2,000 yen/person Time required: about 1~1.5 hours

Kimono Experience Fee:: 3,000 yen per person

Time required:: About 1.5 hours

Official Website:: https://8-base.chu.jp/

Recommended Accommodations: Kintaro Onsen, Uozu City

How can you travel to Japan without the regular program of "hot springs"? With a full schedule of sightseeing and cold weather, I let the hot springs revitalize me! Today, I stayed at Kintaro Onsen, a famous Japanese hot spring with beauty benefits. There are Chinese staffs here, they are so helpful.
One of the reasons why I chose to stay here is the food and the hot spring! Kintaro Onsen is a natural hot spring with a large amount of water boiled by geothermal heat. The water is a mixture of salt and sulfur, which is rare in Japan. The hot spring water, which is about 75 degrees Celsius, is rich in onsen ingredients, and is highly regarded for its therapeutic properties in Japan. Kintaro Onsen has become famous for the quality of its water, which is so good that people who have soaked in it say that they feel better.

The large spacious bath was a must for me! The smell of sulfur wafted through the bath, and the hot water warmed me to the core. Even my skin became smooth!
The cuisine at the Onsen Hotel is also something to look forward to. In spring, you can enjoy firefly squid and white shrimp, while in winter, you can enjoy yellowtail and snow crab, and the most flavorful ingredients vary depending on the season.
Especially, yellowtail from December to January is called the king of winter in Toyama Bay. The tightly packed yellowtail has a perfect amount of fat on it, which makes it an excellent fish. The sashimi was the best, and the staff informed me when the fish was ready in the morning! Every dish was luxurious and delicious, so I was very satisfied. The sake here is also famously good, and a little bit of sake is just the thing to get drunk.

Kintaro Onsen

Address:: 6000 Amano Shin, Suzu City, Toyama Prefecture

Phone:: +8176-524-1220

Traffic:: About 10 minutes by taxi from Kurobe-Unazuki Onsen Station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen Line. You can take a free shuttle bus from Kurobe-Unazuki Onsen Station.