[Special Issue: Shinkansen] Hokuriku Shinkansen: Connecting Takasaki to Kanazawa

In recent years, Toyama Prefecture has been seeing an increase in the amount of tourists visiting. The Hokuriku Shinkansen is possibly the most convenient way to reach  Toyama Prefecture.

About the Hokuriku Shinkansen

With the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen in March 2015, you can now get there from Tokyo Station in around just two hours via the line that travels between Takasaki (Gunma Prefecture) and Kanazawa (Ishikawa Prefecture)! The names given to the four trains that run on this line are the Kagayaki (かがやき), Hakutaka (はくたか), Asama (あさま), and the Tsurugi (つるぎ).

What you can do on the Hokuriku Shinkansen?

Today, we would like to introduce some of Toyama Prefecture's delicious snacks.

Shiroebi Kikou (sembei) are high-quality rice crackers made with 100% Toyama rice. These locally-produced crackers combine a crispy texture with the delicate flavor and aroma of shiro ebi (white shrimp).

If it’s fresh sweets you’re looking for, how about these Ka-no-ko Mochi? They’re made by Toyama Fuwafukujyudo, a veteran Toyama confectioner established in the year 1960.

These beautiful pure-white mochi, made from glutinous rice grown in Toyama, have a melt-in-the-mouth flavor, with the gentle taste of honey-sweetened red kidney beans tucked away inside!

If you’re more into spicy food than sweet, I’d really recommend some of the local curry! Toyama prefecture is a heaven for curry lovers, and the area is particularly well-known for Himi Curry, made with ingredients from Himi, Toyama. What’s more, because of all the people who want to take the curries they try in Toyama back as souvenirs, there are lots of instant curries available to buy!

This picture shows Shiroebi & Hotaruika Curry, a luxury curry made using two great Toyama delicacies, shrio-ebi (broad velvet shrimp) and hotaru-ika (firefly squid.) There are lots of other curries available, too, such as Himi Beef Curry, which was voted Japan’s number one instant curry, and Kurobe Meisui Curry. It’s great fun trying and comparing different ones!

These cute little decorative kamaboko (a type of processed seafood product) are something you’d only find in Toyama, too!

With its pure air and water, Toyama is truly blessed when it comes to food. As well as what I’ve introduced here, there are many more delicious souvenirs available! Why not take a trip here and see if you can find the perfect souvenir to capture the tastes and aromas of Toyama!