Toyama city [富山市]

Toyama city is the prefectural capital of Toyama Prefecture.
It is located nearly in the center of the prefecture.
The population is about 400 thousand.

The central area is located on the eastern side of Jinzu River.

And there are beautiful Tateyama mountains about 35 km southeast of the city.

Toyama Castle was built in 1543, and this city had developed as a castle town since that.

On August 2, 1945, whole Toyama city was burnt down on August 2 in 1945 at the great air raids.
The scale of the destruction was next to Hiroshima and Nagasaki destroyed by atomic bombing.

Therefore, there are few historical structures in the center of the city.

Streetcar runs in the city area, so it is convenient to travel around the city.

Toyama Net

Toyama Castle (富山城)

Toyama Castle is located about 1 km south of Toyama station.

The original castle was built in 1543.
Since the middle of the 17th century, this castle had been the center to govern this area.

But it is thought that some buildings were built but the castle tower was not built.

When the great air laids was planned in 1945, the site of this castle was the center of the target.

The current castle tower was built for Toyama Municipal Folk Museum as a simulated castle in 1954.

So, this is a new modern castle, but it has designated as a nation's registered tangible cultural properties in 2004.
This castle is no longer a symbol of Toyama city.

Of course, the history of Toyama is introduced in the castle as a museum.

Now, the site of the castle is Toyama Castle Park.
In the park, you can experience wearing Samurai armor and kimono.

To this castle, about 15 minutes walk from Toyama station.
Or, by streetcar, get off at Kokusai-kaigijo-mae stop.

Matsukawa River Cruises (松川遊覧船)

Matsukawa is a river flowing on the north side of Toyama Castle Park.
It flows through the center of Toyama city and leads to Jinzu River.

The width is only some meters.
But there are about 500 cherry trees along the river, so the river is in "tunnel of cherry blossoms" in early April.

Matsukawa River Cruises are operated from April to November.
The boat cruises in 1.2-kilometer section around Toyama Castle Park for 30 minutes.

We can board the boat near Matsukawa-chaya (Matsukawa Riverside Cafe) at the northeast edge of Toyama Castle Park.

Matsukawa River Cruises

Ikedaya Yasubei Shoten (池田屋安兵衛商店)

Ikedaya Yasubei Shoten is an Oriental medicines dealer established in 1936.

A pill named "Hangontan" was developed in Toyama in the late 17th century.
It is a digestive medicine, and the lord of Toyama promoted selling the medicines across the country as the industry.

Since that, Toyama had been well known for medicine.

The traditional medicines have declined after the import of Western medicine in the late 19th century.
But, Toyama became the largest production center of various medicines in Japan.

Ikedaya still sells Hangontan and some other traditional medicines.
Additionally, the tourists can see and experience making the pills of traditional medicine in this shop.

It is located about 800 meters southeast of Toyama Castle.
By streetcar, get off at Nishimachi stop, and walk for about 200 meters to the east.

Ikedaya Yasubei Shoten

Fugan Unga Kansui Park (富岩運河環水公園)

Fugan Unga Kansui Park is located about 500 meters north of Toyama station.

It was opened in 1997.
It is about 600 meters from north to south and the width is about 200 to 250 meters.
There is a wide canal and some facilities such as art museum and open‐air theater are along the canal.

In the center of the park, there is 58-meter-long Tenmonkyo bridge (天門橋) across the canal.

There are two towers about 20 meters high on the both edges of the bridge and each tower has an observatory on the top.
And, "tin can telephone" connecting both towers is set up on the observatories.
It is a popular lover's spot.

In addition, there is a popular Starbucks cafe in this park.
It is in this modern park and is called "The most beautiful Starbucks in the world".

Fugan Suijo Line is operated from this park.
It is a boat cruising to Iwase pier near the mouth of Jinzu River.
It cruises through 7-kilometer-long Fugan Canal along Jinzu River for about an hour.

Fugan Suijo Line

Mori Residence and Shipping Agency (北前船廻船問屋 森家)

The residence is in Iwase district located about 7 km north of Toyama station.
It is about 800 meters southwest of Iwase pier of Fugan Suijo Line.

In the early 17th century, Sea of Japan route of commercial ships were opened.
Iwase port was one of the stopover points.
So there were many shipping agents around the port.

After the late 19th century, main means of transportation had changed from ship to railway and truck.
So, this port has declined.

Mori family was one of the shipping agents, and the residence built in 1878 remains.
It is luxurious and many parts of the building are made of the materials from various places in Japan.

We can see the inside of the residence.

Yatsuo town (八尾)

Yatsuo is a small town located about 15 km south-southwest of the center of Toyama city.

Owara Kaze-no-bon held from September 1 to 3 is a famous festival of this town.

Many dancers in the town dance to the folk song "Etchu-Owara-bushi".
The song is relatively slowly and is like a elegy, so the dance is quietly.
More than 200 tourists come to see the dance to this small town every year.

And Etchu-Yatsuo Hikiyama Festival is held in May 3.

Six beautiful decorated floats are drawn around the town.

This town had been a market town for various products since the 17th century, but the industries have declines and this town became quiet.

The main area of the town is along Ida River and the extent of the town is about 1 km.

A stone paved street runs in the center of the town and old houses line along the street.

At the entrance of the town, there is Monnaji temple and several small Buddhist temples are dotted in the town.

For visitors, there are Yatso Owara Museum introducing Owara Kaze-no-bon and Etchu-Yatso Kanko-Kaikan displaying the floats using in Hikiyama Festival.

To this town, by local train of JR Takayama Line, 25 minutes from Toyama to Etchu-Yatsuo.
Then, by route bus, about 10 minutes from Etchu-Yatsuo station.
(On foot, about 1.8 km from the station to the town.)

How to get here

By Hokuriku Shinkansen, about 2 hours and 10 to 40 minutes from Tokyo.

Or, from Osaka, by limited express of JR Kosei and Hokuriku Lines, to Kanazawa, about 2 hours and 45 minutes.
Then, by Hokuriku Shinkansen, about 18 to 23 minutes to Toyama.

Other Tourist Attractions in Toyama Prefecture

Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route Kurobe Gorge Takaoka city Amaharashi coast Shogawa Gorge Gokayama historic village

Return to Toyama Prefecture Return to Hokuriku Region