Toyama Prefecture - 富山県
Toyama Prefecture is located on the northwest side of the main island facing the Sea of Japan. From Tokyo it takes under one hour by air and just over two hours by train to reach.
Toyama, which literally means “rich with mountains”, is blessed with stunning views of the Northern Japan Alps on one side of the prefecture and across the Sea of Japan on the other.
Because of its location, there are many beautiful places to visit and a wide variety of things to do throughout the year. From April through to the end of May, the snow corridor of the Kurobe Alpine Route is regarded as one of the “must-see” attractions for visitors to Toyama.
Another not-to-be-missed attraction is the historic villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama, both have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites and are famous for their traditional houses with “gassho-zukuri”, thatched roofs, some of which date back more than 250 years.
For more information about Toyama prefecture, see their official tourism website.
How to get there
Air - Toyama has its own airport which is a short bus ride from the city centre. The airport operates several daily flights from/to Haneda airport in Tokyo and one daily flight to Sapporo. Click here for its English website.
Rail - Toyama is very easily reached by rail and journey time from Tokyo on the high-speed bullet train is just over two hours.
Gokayama Village is the perfect place for a glimpse of life in Japan during the Edo period.
Unazuki Onsen is the largest hot spring resort in Toyama and one of the most popular attractions for visitors to the prefecture.
Garube River Cruise is a popular way to enjoy the beautiful natural views and magnificent scenery.
Alpine Route offers stunning views over the Northern Alps. The route can be covered by various modes of transport including trolley-bus, cable car and ropeway.
Weather in Toyama
Average daily temperature (oC)