Travels in Toyama
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Travels in Toyama

Helpful reports on navigating a slower side of Japan

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Destinations to Visit From The Toyama Station, 2


In this article, additional information about the bullet train from Toyama Station will be presented along with a introduction to some locations you will be able to go to on the Ainokaze Toyama Railway. Ainokaze Toyama Railway, you will go in the Niigata direction if you ride the train towards Tomari direction. You can go to Takaoka City, if you head in the Ishikawa Prefecture direction, bound for Kanazawa. In addition to the new high speed liner(Ainokaze Liner), there is also a local train.



Take the Shigaichi Junkan Route community bus from the front of Namerikawa Station and please get off Hotaruika Museum Mae, this area is known as, Wave Park Namerikawa. At Wave Park Namerikawa, you can visit the Toyama Prefecture Museum for specialty firefly squid at the Hotaruika Museum. Between late March and the end of May the firefly squid are in exhibition. In addition, you can make reservations to see the squid on a boat off of the coast, if you want to see the squid are flashing and at their most beautiful, out at sea, don't wait and make an appointment at the museum as soon as possible. You can also get off Aqua Pocket Mae, at this place you can by all kinds deep ocean water. Including, water that is filtered for drinking. It is extremely cold and delicious.



Taking the community bus from the front of JR Uozu Station, you can visit some attractions in Uozu. It runs eight times daily and will stop at Uozu Aquarium, and the Buried Forest Museum of Uozu. Uozu Aquarium is the oldest aquarium in Japan. It just went through a renovation last year, you can see many shows and the feeding of native and exotic specimens. There is also an amusement park with a gigantic ferris wheel in across the road from the aquarium. It commands a beautiful view of the Sea of ​​Japan. The amusement park is named, Mirage land.
One more place in Uozo is recommended. The Buried Forest Museum(Uozu Maibotsurin Hakubutsukan), we can see many naturally preserved cedar trees that sank into the ocean more than 2000 years ago. In addition, the museum is one of the best spots to catch a view of the city's naturally occurring and famed ocean mirage, you might be able to see this spectacular mirage from the observatory if lucky between November and March.




Ikuji has some attractions. Just get off at the Ikuji Station, it is near the Kurobe City Yoshida Science Museum and the YKK factory. Kurobe City Yoshida Science Museum has largest planetarium on the Japan Sea coast. The programs at the planetarium will change depending on the season. We can also wear special glasses for some programs in "3D" where everything appears to be three-dimensional.

YKK is a company that makes zippers and window frames. On the property of the YKK factory there the YKK Center Park, it is a spacious park that also has a museum.



When get off at Etchū-Miyazaki Station, you can also go to the Jade Beach in Asahi. It is a beautiful rock coast with all types of different stones and minerals but, it is most famous for it's gemstone jade that is sometimes found in the area. There are appraisers in the area to find whether the gemstone is jade or not and how much it is worth.

In addition, the area is also famous for delicious cod soup. You can eat it at a restaurant close to the beach. The coast is nearby Gokokuji Temple. It is a certified attraction of Toyama Prefecture for it's flowers from April to June. A lot of people will come to see the rhododendron and azalea flowers. There are many unique stone statues as well.





Well that's it. I am now finished touring and writing about Toyama Prefecture for this website. I had an amazing time. I could explore so many beautiful and wonderful places in the Toyama Prefecture while having memorable times with my two colleagues Mr. Suzuki and Mr. Yoshida. I feel so lucky, as I know I am one of very few people who are not Japanese to know Toyama so well through my extensive touring. I have been to almost every tourist destination in this prefecture! After all this and all the great places I have experienced, I know Toyama is a world class area that is safe, clean, and amazing.
I hope the new bullet train that connects Toyama and Tokyo in a quick and efficient manner will open Toyama up to the rest of the world as it is now more accessible than ever. If you ever have the chance to come to Japan, I highly recommend Toyama, the people are wonderful and I promise you will experience some really cool things. I had a great time! Thank you to all the wonderful people of Communograph and Toyama Prefecture for allowing me to have such an amazing time in my travels.

Sights for the Shin-Takaoka Bullet Train Station


Hokuriku Bullet Train opened in Toyama Prefecture on March, 14. Here is some tourism for the Shin Takaoka Bullet Train Station. In Japanese it is called Shinkansen Shin-Takaoka Eki. Also tourism for the Jōhana Line Station located with the new station.  There is also a new Jōhana Line station at the bullet train station, it will take you in the Nanto direction. Ainokaze Toyama Railway Takaoka Station is the next station if riding towards Takaoka City, you can use other lines from there. From the fourth stop at the bus terminal, you go to the traditional village of Gokayama using "The World Heritage Bus". Under the bullet train station, there is a tourism office and souvenir shop that sells traditional crafts named the "Tourism Exchange Center".



When using the Jōhana Line to go in the Tonami direction, from the Shin-Takaoka Station you can go to a variety of attractions. When you arrive at the Tonami Station, go to the bus stop, and take the bus in the Ōmaki Onsen direction, you can go to Inami-Shōgawa direction. If you get off the bus at Zuisen-ji-mae stop you can go to Yōka-machi-Dōri to see the old town of Inami. There are a number of workshops that are making sculptures, also there are souvenir shops and eateries there, you can tour the places and watch craftsmen as they carve. Go to the end of the street, the Zuisen-ji has so many wooden sculptures decorated in the area. Get off at the Komaki Sekitei stop, it is the stop before Komaki Station.  When you get off at Komaki Sekitei stop, you can ride on ShōGawakyō Yūran-Sen. You can go to Omaki hot spring by this pleasure boat. Just for a cruise and immediately coming back to see the views of the Shogawa Gorges is also available. In summer it is alive in green, in autumn red leaves are abundant,  and in winter the snowy scenery is beautiful. Past articles of Shogawa Gorges are here.



In Tonami there are two big flower events. In May there is a festival called the "Tonami Tulip Fair", during this event a park is decorated with 2.5 million tulips in the "Tonami Tulip Park". In October there is an event for seeing cosmos flowers, at Yumeno Taira, where the ski area has been decorated with 1,000,000 cosmos flowers. It called Yumeno Taira Cosmos Watching. Both have free shuttle buses, for the events from Tonami Station. Please try to go if you are in Toyama during these events. Articles for these events were posted in the past, the links are available here.



When you get off at Jōhana Station, the end point of the line, ride the community bus (Inami Jōhana Line, Inami direction) and you can go to Kibori no Sato(Village of Wood working). You can experience amazing sculptures at thier finest. There are also souvenirs and a delicious restaurant among other things. In addition, there is an Inami Sculpture Hall(Inami Chōkoku Sōgō Kaikan). Here you can find a variety of exhibition and for sale wood carvings. Other than that, there is also a historical info corner for the sculptures of Inami Town. Past articles of Kibori no Sato and Inami Sculpture Hall:



There are other community buses as well (Jōhana Eastbound Line). When you get off at Jōhana Chōsha Jōhanaza-mae stop, up the street 200m in the Jōhana station direction when you arrive at the Jōhana building named, Jōhana Oriyakata and Jōhana Hikiyama Hall. You can enjoy weaving experience in Jōhana Oriyakata, while looking at the various weaving works, you can relax in the cafe. In Jōhana Hikiyama Hall you can see the Jōhana Town displays for it's famous Toyama Prefecture festival floats. The best time to see Jōhana is during the time of the Jōhana Hikiyama Festival, but if you want to just see the floats you can see them if you go to the Jōhana Hikiyama Hall. Since the time between buses is long, it is good to explore the surrounding area until the next bus arrives. Past articles about Jōhana:

Destinations to Visit From The Toyama Station, 1


On March 14, the new Hokuriku Bullet Train will begin operation and the new Toyama Station will open. Information will be presented on how to reach popular tourist attractions from the new Toyama Station. This station is the center of public transportation in Toyama Prefecture. The newly constructed Toyama Station contains a variety of modes of transport. The Bullet Train station and Ainokaze Toyama Railway have come together. Also, running to the north and south of Toyama Station are the local trams. In addition, buses going to each side of Toyama are by the south exit in the bus terminal. The south entrance plaza is where the Toyama Chihou Railway station operates. There is also special lighting called “Floor Chandelier", it is a path traversing the north and south of Toyama Station. It has LED light from the ceiling is reflected off the glass-covered sections of the floor, it produces a variety of lighting patterns.



From Toyama Station you can head to a variety of tourist attractions. To go to Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, please ride the train from Dentetsu-Toyama Station at the south entrance plaza. Take the train on the Tateyama Line, to go to Tateyama Station. In front of Tateyama Station, there is a ticket office for the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route. You can purchase tickets at each individual station on the alpine route, but it is recommended that you buy the tickets together for your end destination for that day at Tateyama Station beforehand for convenience. In the spring, Tateyama features "Yuki-no-Ōtani"( massive snow walls). In summer, world class mountain adventures. In autumn, you can enjoy the beautiful fall foliage. During the winter, the alpine route is closed due to so much snow. If you want to enjoy the Yukinootani and climbing some snow, please go to Murodō Station. It is close to the summit and has many hiking trails, it also serves as the entrance to the Yuki-no-Ōtani walk. To see enjoy the fall foliage, is it is recommended to go to the Midagahara and Kurobe Dam. It is a great place to see the mountains painted in a variety of amazing colors in the autumn. Those were some detailed directions. You can look at these articles to see the sights of Tateyama, and for further details about the destinations.



You can ride from Tateyama Station to Shōmyō Falls on Shōmyō-daki Tanshou Bus, you can see Japan's highest waterfall at Shōmyō Falls. During the summer, mist from the waterfall is cool and pleasant, around this area you can see wonderful forests alive in fresh green colors. Also, in the autumn leaves are so beautiful, you can enjoy both the beauty of autumn the Autumn scenery and one of Japan's most powerful waterfall. In rare cases, when there is a lot of snowmelt in the spring, another 500m waterfall is seen, you can see it falling alongside the Shōmyō Falls forming a double waterfall of great height.

During the winter, a bus goes from Tateyama Station to Tateyama's foothills for skiing (it named Tateyama Sanroku Ski-jo). Raicho Valley area and Gokurakuzaka area has ski resorts in the area. A gondola lift to go to the summit of the ski area is available in the Raicho Valley area. The Shōmyō Falls and Raicho Valley I have been visited past.



If you ride JR Takayama Main Line, it will take you in the Fuchū-Yatsuo direction. Get off at Hayahoshi Station and ride the community bus of Usaka-Asahi line(鵜坂・朝日線). From Chūou-Shokubutuen-Mae stop, you can go to the Central Botanical Garden. It is the largest botanical garden in Toyama Prefecture.

Go to Yatsuo for the famed Owara festival, get off at Etchū-Yatsuo Station. Owara Kaze-no-Bon is for 3 days every year from September 1 to September 3, this festival showcases a dance tradition of Yatsuo, and is a premier event for the Toyama Prefecture with more than 200,000 spectators coming annually. Also in February there is an event called "Ecchū Yatsuo Winter Romance", you can show off traditional dance on stage and there is a guided tour. Check out these articles for information about these attractions in the Fuchū direction here.

Kurobe-Unazukionsen Station


The Hokuriku Shinkansen that easily accesses Kurobe-Unazukionsen Station will open on March 14. Here are the directions to tourism spots from the Kurobe-Unazukionsen Station. When this station opens in March, for people aboard the Hokuriku Shinkansen coming from Tokyo, here will be the first stop in Toyama Prefecture. Those who wish to tour the Unazuki area it is very convenient to get off at the Kurobe-Unazukionsen Station. Shin-Kurobe Station of Toyama Chihou Railway, Tourist Information Gallery and the bus terminal are adjacent. On the first floor of Tourist Information Gallery is the tourist office and souvenir shop, on the second floor of the building there is a new exhibition corner for Kurobe region's nature. There are large, solid, maps 7 meter square in area called Dynamap, moving a tablet over a dedicated bar code on the map using the application "Spot Viewer", will bring up useful maps, directions, info, etc. for the corresponding locations displayed on the tablet. Also, there are parks located on both sides of the new station.



Kurobe-Unazukionsen Station is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Toyama Prefecture, it is the closest station to Kurobe Gorge. When riding the train to the Shin-Kurobe Station, the Toyama Chihou railway will take you to Unazukionsen Station in the actual town of Unazuki. Take a little walk to see the Kurobe Gorge from the Unazuki Station. There is a very large, spacious, and beautiful view.

The hot springs statue near the station is decorated, it has benches in the shape of a train,  and the fountain is flowing with hot water. Kurobe Gorge Railway is closed for snow in the winter months, then resumes the operation around the end of April, this time you can go only half way until middle of May when you can go all the way to Keyakidaira Station, the end point.



In Kurobe Gorge, you will ride the "Trocco" truck train of Kurobe Gorge Railway, a smaller more rugged train. There are a lot of attractions to see just to riding in this truck train. The train stops are made by announcement while you are on the truck train, but it is in Japanese. Please count your stops while riding, so you know when to exit to be close to attractions. Though, there are signboards written with English for each stop. Kurobe Gorge Railway has nine stations. There are four stops for key tourism spots, including the station of departure.



Kurobe Gorge is alive and green in the summer time, you can enjoy the gorgeous colors in the fall as well. The view from Okukane Bridge and Kawara Observatory commands a fantastic view. In Sarutobi-kyo, you can see the fantastic scenery in the flowing river and all of the spectacular rocks and formations. In addition, there are many hot springs. There are hot springs and hot spring hotels in each region of Kurobe Gorge, please try to go see it!
Kurobe Gorge, is not the only point of interest, there are a variety of attractions near the Unazuki Station. Near the Station are many hot spring traditional hotels, Kurobegawa Denki Kinenkan, and hiking trails too. Some hiking courses include Yamabiko promenade and Tochinomori promenade, also further is Unazuki Dam. Yamabiko promenade was an old route for the truck train turned into a hiking trail, some remnants still remain. Since it is close to Unazuki Dam it is hard to miss the dam, you might stop on it incidentally. Other things you can do include a free footbath, or enjoy one of the many restaurants near the station. Kurobe Meisui Pork rather famous.



Get off at the Oritate Station, about five minutes and at the station there is a "Michi-no-Eki". This is a plaza where Unazuki Beer Factory is located, you can drink local beer in the restaurant and enjoy fresh out of the factory beer. You can also eat snacks made with beer besides the factory in front of the restaurant. "Unazuki Beer Curry Bread" is highly recommended. It is also possible to see the inner workings of the beer factory through an observation window. If interested please have a look at the previous travel reports posted,

Ainokaze Toyama Railway Takaoka Station


The Hokuriku Shinkansen opens on March 14, previously this line was known as JR Hokuriku Line it will change to Ainokaze Toyama Railway. Information will be presented for the tourist attractions located nearby the newly operating from Ainokaze Toyama Railway Takaoka Station. From Takaoka Station you can go on other routes from the new railway in the direction of Tonami-Nanto on the Jōhana Line. If you wish to go in the direction of Himi, take the Himi Line, from this line it is also possible to change to a tram to go towards Shiminato coast on the Manyōsen.  Takaoka Station has a variety of restaurants and souvenir shops, and shopping facility called Curun Takaoka. Takaoka City's character is named "Toshinaga-kun". "Toshinaga-yaki" is a specialty treat also available in this location.



There are many attractions in the surrounding area of the Takaoka Station. First, There is Zuiryuji Temple that has been certified as a national treasure, it is easily accessible by bus. Take the bus headed for "AEON Mall and Saiseikai hospital district”. If you want to go shopping there, you can see the souvenir shops at Hatcho Street. Cross the pedestrian crossing at the front of the temple to the center of "Hatcho Street". You can take the community bus and get off to see the Giant Buddha Statue of Takaoka, from there a castle park is nearby. The Kojō Kōen is very large and expansive, there are shrines and  a free Zoo in the area. Also a museum, gymnasium, and civic center can be found. Go further, and get off in front of the Takaoka Post Office, when you exit you will find the old town known as Yama-chō-suji and Toyama Bank's head office which is made of red bricks and is a rather famous building. When you get off at Yokota stop, you will arrive near the old town of Kanaya-Machi. Senbon-gōshi and Goin-sai is also quite famous.  There are quite a few attractions indeed, also  please browse these at other interesting events.



Riding the Himi Line, will take you to Amaharashi Coast. You can take a short walk to Amaharashi Coast and see Yoshitsune Rock Island if you get off at Amaharashi Station. If you decide to not get off at Amaharashi Station, Himi Line travels along the coast , you can see the ocean and coast view from the train window. When you get off at Shimao Station, you can go to Shimao Beach. There is camping available, it might be a good idea to camp in the summer time. The train to Himi known as  Himi Line goes to the home of a famous cartoonist born in Himi who wrote famous stories, there is also a "Hattori-kun Train". The train interior has been decorated with a cartoon theme. The voice of the announcer will also be the same as the famous character. It is a really enjoyable time riding in this train. The Himi direction offers other attractions as well, please take a look.



Go close to the sea at Kaiōmaru Park and Shinminato fishing port. You can take a little walk and  go to  Kaiōmaru Park if you get off at Manyōsen Kaiōmaru Station. The Kaiōmaru Park is home to the ship known as Kaiōmaru (KING OF SEA), you can tour the inside with purchase of a ticket. In addition it's possible to ride the pleasure boat called "Shinminato Kankō-sen", you can have a view of the Shinminato Bridge and the area's scenery and the expansive sea. There is also a building that has models of other famous world sailing ships and other ship art and models are on display as well. There are in addition, souvenirs and restaurants. Shinminato KittoKito Ichiba is in the opposite direction of where you will see the Kaiōmaru Park. Shinminato KittoKito Ichiba sells fresh fish that are caught in Toyama Bay in the market, also you can order dishes made with the fresh fish. If you make a reservation, you can see the fish auction happening at the Shinminato Fishing Port. It is a non typical place, you can see bidding for fish around lunch, which is unusual in Japan. By all means, please go see it.



On the Manyōsen, there is a train that has a blue theme for the cartoon character named "Doraemon", called the "Doraemon Tram" (usually this type of train is red). The character is drawn all over the interior, it is full of Doraemon memorabilia and items. If you are lucky you will get to ride on this train (It only operates until August 2015.).

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