【Toyama】7 Recommended Activities to Experience in Both Summer and Winter!
In Toyama Prefecture, which faces the Sea of Japan, you can enjoy delicious seafood and fresh ingredients. Along with the meals, what you would want to enjoy is the magnificent nature that spans the Alps. There are plenty of activities to fully enjoy this nature in Toyama Prefecture, and we hope you will experience them when you visit. In this article, we will introduce seven carefully selected activities that you can do in Toyama Prefecture.
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What is Toyama like?
Known as one of the gateways to the Japanese Alps, Toyama Prefecture has many tourist attractions within the prefecture. The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, known as the "Roof of Japan", connects Nagano Prefecture to Toyama Prefecture. The electric trolley bus, 360° panorama ropeway, and the changing scenery of the four seasons are the biggest attractions of this route, entertaining tourists throughout the year.
Toyama's Recommended Experience Activities: Our Top 7
Toyama Prefecture offers a wonderful environment where you can experience both the grandeur of the sea and mountains. In this article, we will introduce seven carefully selected activities in Toyama Prefecture that you can fully enjoy using all five senses. Please refer to this article when you visit and try to go there.
Experience of Crafted Kamaboko
Toyama's specialty, Kamaboko. In Toyama Prefecture, there is an activity where you can make your own unique Kamaboko in the world. It can be participated from one person and it takes about 60 minutes. You can experience it during your travel plan.
The method is simple, you complete it by squeezing seven colors of minced meat onto the white Kamaboko base and drawing your favorite pattern. After completion, you can eat the Kamaboko as it is, but you can also take it home as a souvenir. The time until completion can be spent touring the factory and tasting corner, deepening your understanding of Toyama's specialties and encountering various Kamaboko.
Official Website: https://www.umekama.co.jp/u-mei-kan/experience/
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Glass Making Experience
Toyama has a history of prosperity through "medicine peddling". The making of glass bottles for packing medicines was also popular, and now it is sold domestically and internationally under the brand "Toyama Glass".
Toyama Glass Studio offers glass-making experiences. It is possible to participate from one person, so even those traveling alone can easily try it out. The studio staff will teach you carefully, so even beginners can make glass. You can make various items such as a unique beer mug or wind chime in the world, so it might be nice to take it home as a souvenir of your trip.
They also offer free transportation for groups of 10 or more, so it can eliminate the hassle of access for groups, so please make use of it for your travel memories.
Official Website: https://toyama-garasukobo.jp/experience/
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Paragliding Experience
Toyama Prefecture offers an activity that allows you to monopolize the mountains of the Northern Alps: paragliding. This activity, which offers a panoramic view of the Northern Alps and the Toyama Plain from the sky, is a very popular experience among tourists.
You can enjoy the spectacular view with peace of mind even if it's your first time, as you will be flying in a two-seater paraglider with an instructor. The instructor handles the operation during the flight, so you can focus on the stunning view in front of you without any worries, which is a great point.
The activity, from moving to landing, takes about an hour, making it a compact and enjoyable experience. As it is an outdoor sport, there may be times when the experience is not possible due to weather conditions, so it is recommended to check the weather forecast before visiting.
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One-day sightseeing on the Kurobe Gorge Railway
Toyama Prefecture's Kurobe Gorge is a secluded area of outstanding beauty that has been selected as one of Japan's 100 hidden scenic spots. The difference in altitude between the mountain top and the valley floor is 2,000 meters, and the sight is sure to overwhelm you.
The journey from Unazuki to Keyakidaira, a total distance of about 20km, takes about 80 minutes, but you can enjoy the magnificent nature from inside the car during the journey, and a special experience awaits you. It operates from spring to late November, allowing you to enjoy the changing scenery of the four seasons.
With the Kurobe Gorge Railway's one-day unlimited ride ticket, you can fully enjoy the Kurobe Gorge. You can experience a unique thrill and happiness here that you can't find anywhere else.
👉1-Day Unlimited Pass for Sightseeing on Kurobe Gorge Railway | Toyama, Japan
Kurobe Dam Experience
Kurobe Dam, one of the largest dams in Japan, is built amidst the majestic nature of Kurobe. A breathtaking view that cannot be fully captured in photos unfolds before your eyes. The tourist discharge period is from June 26 to October 15, so it is recommended to visit during this period. The sight of 10 to 15 tons of water per second being discharged from the highest point in Japan, approximately 186m, is truly spectacular. Of course, due to weather conditions, the discharge may be cancelled, so it's not guaranteed that you'll be able to see it. If you do get to see it, consider yourself lucky.
The observation deck and the new observation square, Rainbow Terrace, offer excellent viewpoints and are perfect spots for taking photos. Please observe safety management and manners, and enjoy the spectacular view.
Official website: https://www.info-toyama.com/attractions/31038
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Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route
The Alpine Route is a mountain sightseeing route that connects Toyama and Nagano. The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route is one of the world's leading mountain sightseeing routes, with a series of mountains of about 3,000m in altitude. The route is approximately 37.2km long, with a maximum elevation difference of about 1,975m.
In spring, the "Tateyama Kurobe Snow Valley Festival" is held, where you can enjoy the view of the massive snowfall. You can see landscapes that you usually can't see in a world of silvery snow. As they hold events for each season, if you time your visit right, you might be able to rediscover a different charm of Toyama Prefecture.
From Tateyama Station in Toyama Prefecture to Ogizawa Station in Nagano Prefecture, you can enjoy the magnificent nature of Tateyama Kurobe, which spreads above the clouds, by changing trains and ropeways. This is an activity that you can't experience anywhere else, so please enjoy it when you visit Toyama.
Official website: https://www.alpen-route.com/index.php
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Traditional Japanese House Stay Experience
The traditional Japanese house stay experience allows you to enjoy an extraordinary time that you can't usually experience. Toyama City, Yatsuo Town's "Etchu-Yao Base OYATSU" is a traditional house inn renovated from a raw silk merchant's residence. The building is filled with attention to detail everywhere.
With the capacity to accommodate up to 8 people, you can travel with a group without worry. Inside the building, there is a storehouse built in the 5th year of the Meiji era, which is a rare sight during a tour of Japan.
Yatsuo is the venue for the "Owara Kaze no Bon" held every year from September 1st to 3rd. The sight of men and women wearing deep-woven hats, dancing as if swaying in the wind, is fantastic.