The six cities in the western region of Toyama prefecture are endowed with abundant nature and offer opportunities to experience traditional techniques.
There is also a variety of seasonal events that are held.
Please visit each city, enjoy the various charms it has to offer, and make the most of the rich history and culture.
There is also a variety of seasonal events that are held.
Please visit each city, enjoy the various charms it has to offer, and make the most of the rich history and culture.
Takaoka City
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Tourist Attractions
Zuiryuji Temple
This is a famous Soto Zen Buddhist temple, popular as the official family temple of Takaoka's founder Maeda Toshinaga, the second generation head of the Kaga Maeda family. Its main temple gate, sanctum, and lecture hall are masterpieces of early modern Buddhist architecture. The temple is designated as the only national treasure in the Toyama Prefecture, and is highly regarded for its early Edo period Zen Buddhist architecture.Address 35 Seki-honmachi, Takaoka
>Google MapsPhone
number0766-22-0179 Admission
feeAdults ¥500 (¥400)/High school and junior high students ¥200 (¥150)/Elementary school students ¥100 (¥70) *Fees in parentheses are for groups of 30 people or more. Opening
hours9:00 to 16:30 (December 10 to January 31, until 16:00) Closing
dayNone Details -
Tourist Attractions
Amaharashi Coast Quasi-National Park
There are only three places in the world where you can see mountains that are 3,000 m above sea level, one of which is the Amaharashi coast. Roadside Station Amaharashi is just across the way, complete with a cafe and observation deck, where you can enjoy a luxurious break while looking over extraordinary views.Address Ota Amarahashi, Takaoka
>Google MapsPhone number 0766-20-1547
(Takaoka Tourism Association)Details -
Tourist Attractions
Kanaya-machi (latticed houses)
The site of Takaoka Castle, built by the second generation head of the Kaga Maeda family, Maeda Toshinaga, has been inaugurated as a public park. It is a notable example of a "natural park" with minimal human intervention. The moat and earthen embankments remain as they were when the castle was built, showing the brilliant and colorful changes of each of the four seasons.Address Kanaya-machi, Takaoka
>Google MapsPhone number 0766-20-1301
(Takaoka City Tourism Section)Details -
Tourist Attractions
The Great Buddha of Takaoka
The Great Buddha of Takaoka is one of Japan’s three Great Buddhas, along with those in Nara and Kamakura. Using the best traditional copperware craftsmanship, it was made over a period of 30 years. A total of 15.85 meters tall and weighing 65 tons, its scale is stunning. The magnificent execution of this work has led it to be called Japan’s handsomest man. It remains beloved as a symbol of Takaoka, number one in Japanese copperware.Address 11-29 Otemachi, Takaoka
>Google MapsPhone
number0766-23-9156 Admission
feeAdmission Opening
hours6:00 to 18:00 (Great Buddha pedestal gallery) Closing
dayNone Details -
Tourist Attractions
Takaoka Kojo Park
The site of Takaoka Castle, built by the second generation head of the Kaga Maeda family, Maeda Toshinaga, has been inaugurated as a public park. It is a notable example of a "natural park" with minimal human intervention. The moat and earthen embankments remain as they were when the castle was built, showing the brilliant and colorful changes of each of the four seasons.Address 1-1 Kojo, Takaoka
>Google MapsAdmission
feeFree Closing
dayNone Phone number 0766-20-1563
(Takaoka Kojo Park Management Office)Details -
Events
Takaoka Mikurumayama Festival
This event is the spring festival of the Takaoka Sekino Shrine, held on May 1st of every year. It is designated as both a nationally important tangible and intangible folk cultural property, an honor held by only five events nationwide. In 2016 it was inscribed on the list of UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage.Address Yamacho-suji and Katahara-machi areas, Takaoka
>Google MapsPhone number 0766-20-1301
(Takaoka City Tourism Section)Details -
Tourist Attractions
Takaoka Mikurumayama Museum
This facility has year-round exhibits of “mikurumayama,” a Nationally Important Tangible and Intangible Folk Cultural Asset, one of only five so designated in Japan. It also introduces the industrial arts techniques of “Takaoka, town of craftsmanship” that are condensed in these festival floats and the local culture that has been protected and passed down to this day through the mikurumayama. This facility also handles plans for preservation and promotion and acts as a base for walks around the various cultural heritage sites of early-modern Takaoka.Address 47-1 Moriyama-machi, Takaoka
>Google MapsPhone
number0766-30-2497 Admission
feeGeneral (high school students and adults): ¥450
Group (20+ people): ¥360Opening
hours9:00 to 17:00 (entry until 16:30) Closing
dayTuesdays (or following day, if Tuesday is a holiday) and New Year’s holidays Details -
Hands-on Experiences
Takaoka Local Industry Center “ZIBA”
The Takaoka Local Industry Center displays and sells regional specialty products, including Takaoka copperware (designated as a national traditional craft), Inami carving, Shogawa woodturning, Etchu washi paper, and Etchu Fukuoka sedge-woven hats. In the hands-on workshops, visitors can experience the craftsmanship of metal casting and lacquerware.Address 101 Otaya-machi, Takaoka, Otaya Serio 2F
>Google MapsPhone
number0766-25-8283 Opening
hours10:00 to 18:00 Closing
dayEvery Wednesday (New Year’s holidays: 12/29 to 1/3) Details -
Tourist Attractions
Unryusan Shokoji Temple
This temple was the base of the Etchu Jodo Shinshu Buddhist uprisings of the Warring States period. Displaying the glory of the medieval fortress temples, it boasts of being the eighth ranking nationally designated cultural property in Japan. The seven wonders passed down at Shokoji are famous, including its ginkgo tree that never bears fruit, its stone that fell from heaven, and the pond that never runs dry.Address 17-1 Fushiki Furukokufu, Takaoka
>Google MapsPhone
number0766-44-0037 Admission
feeHigh school students and older ¥500 (restoration support fee) Opening
hours9:00 to 16:00 Closing
dayNone Details -
Tourist Attractions
Takaoka Manyo Historical Museum
After Asuka and Nara, there is Takaoka - the land of the Man'yoshu . As a base for people from all over Japan with a deep interest in the Man'yoshu to meet up and interact, it is the Mecca of Man'yoshu research where enthusiasts and tourists visit from all across the country.Address 1-11-11 Fushiki Ichinomiya, Takaoka
>Google MapsPhone
number0766-44-5511 Admission
feeAdults ¥300, elementary and junior high school students free
Individuals over age 65: 20% discount (¥240)
Students from special needs education schools: FreeOpening
hours9:00 to 18:00 (November to March 9:00 to 17:00) Closing
dayTuesdays (or next day, if a holiday) and New Year’s holidays Details -
Tourist Attractions
Quasi-National Park Mount Nijo
It has an elevation of 274m. In the area centered on the Manyo Line stretching about 8.4km, which gently snakes around the mountain, there are various facilities in addition to Man'yoshu monuments and statues, with seasonal scenery and observation decks for visitors to enjoy. The area is also popular as a hiking or driving course.Address Nijo, Takaoka
>Google Maps
Imizu City
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Events
Hikiyama Festival
There are three Hikiyama Festivals: Ebie (Autumnal Equinox), Shinminato (10/1), and Daimon (the day before Health and Sports Day).
Come see the magnificent Imizu Hikiyama floats, including at the nationally registered Important Intangible Folk Cultural Asset Shinminato Hikiyama festival, when 13 Hikiyama floats, the largest number in the prefecture, are paraded through the town.Address Within Imizu
>Google MapsPhone
number0766-84-4649 Details -
Hands-on Experiences
Shinminato Sightseeing Boat/Uchikawa Bridge Tour
Uchikawa, which prospered as a stopover for the cargo ships that once sailed the Japan Sea, is a rare river that connects sea to sea.
Traditional homes line the sides of the river, and on both banks, fishing boats are moored in rows, depicting a scene that somehow evokes the image of old Japan. We recommend that you take a sightseeing boat to see the bridges or go for a walk in this area.Address 2 Kaiomachi, Imizu
>Google MapsPhone
number0766-82-1830 Admission
feeAdults ¥1500, elementary school students ¥800 Opening
hours9:00 to 17:00 Closing
dayEvery Wednesday (closed the following day if Wednesday is a holiday) Details -
Hands-on Experiences
Kimono rental Okigaedokoro Uchikawa KIPPO
Why not wear an antique kimono as you stroll the streets of Uchikawa that are redolent with a heady atmosphere? Find one you like from among our collection of over 100 kimono, and we’ll dress you in just 10 minutes. It’s no problem to show up empty-handed, so even tourists wandering through can use this service!Address 3-12 Chuomachi, Imizu
>Google MapsPhone
number0766-84-7996 Admission
fee¥3000 for rental of kimono set (incl. tax and kimono dressing) Opening
hours9:00 to 16:00 Closing
dayTuesday Details -
Hands-on Experiences
Afternoon Auction (Shinminato Fishing Harbor)
At Shinminato Fishing Harbor near the fishing grounds, auctions are held in the early morning and again at 1:00 pm. The 1:00 pm auction is called the “Nadoki Auction,” where the red snow crabs being auctioned off look like a red carpet spread out across the entire surface of the floor. (Reservation required)Address 1-1100 Hachimanmachi, Imizu
>Google MapsPhone
number0766-84-1233 Admission
fee¥100 Opening
hoursReception starts at 12:30 Closing
dayWednesdays, Sundays, others -
Tourist Attractions
Kaiwomaru Park/Shinminato Bridge
The Kaiwomaru, called the “Lady of the Sea,” is open to the public just as it was on active duty. It is right next to the observation plaza and Kaiwo Bird Park. The nearby Shinminato Bridge pedestrian walkway Ainokaze Promenade offers an open-air walk at a height of 47m. It is also recognized as a “mecca for lovers.”Address 8 Kaiomachi, Imizu
>Google MapsPhone
number0766-82-5181 Admission
feeKaiwomaru boarding fee: Adults (high school and older) ¥400, children (elementary and junior high school students) ¥200
*Entry to Kaiwomaru Park is freeOpening
hoursKaiwomaru Park9:00 to 17:00 Closing
dayWednesdays (closed Thursday if Wednesday is a holiday) Details -
Tourist Attractions
Kamo Shrine
Under the jurisdiction of Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto, this is the major shrine of the ancient Kuragaki demesne.
With a large number of rare folkloric events taking place here throughout the year, it is known as a setting for interacting with the gods.
From the horseback archery conducted on May 4th to the amberjack-preparing ritual and to the children’s dances, about 30 different Shinto rituals and traditional cultural events are carried out and passed down here every year.Address 630 Kamochubu, Imizu
>Google MapsPhone
number0766-59-2654 -
Tourist Attractions
Hojozu Hachiman Shrine
Otomo no Yakamochi built this shrine out of fondness for the onetime Nagonoura scenery. This beautiful shrine retains the elegance of the Man’yoshu poetry collection to this day.
When the autumnal festival is held every year on October 1st, 13 Hikiyama floats are paraded through the town.Address 2-2-27 Hachimangu, Imizu
>Google MapsPhone
number0766-84-3449 Details -
Tourist Attractions
Kushida Shrine
Famous from ancient times for its god of marriage, this is a shrine with a long history, with its name listed in registries of Japanese shrines. The cool, quiet space surrounded by trees is soothing.
The fire-walking ritual is conducted on September 10th, providing a stunning view of the courageous lion dancers and portable shrines crossing over the flames.Address 6841 Kushita, Imizu
>Google MapsPhone
number0766-54-1733 -
Events
Etchu Daimon Kite Festival
Kite enthusiasts from across the country gather here, when the wide-open sky is decorated with kites made in ingenious shapes and colors. Local neighborhood associations compete in the great kite conference, which is a powerful sight to behold.Address Daimon Kite Park (on the left bank of the Sho River)
>Google MapsPhone
number0766-51-6676 Details -
Events
Toyama Shinminato Fireworks Display
The decoratively illuminated Kaiwomaru and numerous fireworks gorgeously adorn the summer night sky. The sea lights up bright red, looking like a mine of stars boiling up from within the water, and the crowd’s excitement transforms into shouts of joy.Address Kaiwomaru Park (8 Kaiomachi, Imizu)
>Google MapsPhone
number0766-51-6676 Details
Himi City
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Tourist Attractions
Tateyama Range across the sea
The Tateyama Range towers at approximately 3,000 meters, seeming to float in Toyama Bay. It’s all the more moving when weather conditions finally permit this rare view. Along the shoreline, a large number of photography enthusiasts and tourists gather to try to capture that scene in photographs.Address 7 Sakae-machi, Himi (Himinoe Park address)
>Google MapsAdmission
feeNone Opening
hoursNone Closing
dayNone Phone number 0766-74-5250
(Himi Tourism Association)Details -
Tourist Attractions
Morning Sun
The magical view of the morning sun gradually showing its face from behind the Tateyama Range, dyeing everything around it orange, will take your breath away. Enjoy a luxurious morning. Recognized as one of Japan’s top 100 sunrises. In early summer, the red rising sun resembles a daruma doll.Address 7 Sakae-machi, Himi (Himinoe Park address)
>Google MapsAdmission
feeNone Opening
hoursNone Closing
dayNone Phone number 0766-74-5250
(Himi Tourism Association)Details -
Tourist Attractions
Manga Road
Encounter monuments to the popular characters created by Fujiko Fujio A, a manga artist from Himi. Sit down next to the character on “Moguro Fukuzo’s smile bench” and have fun taking commemorative pictures. The Himi Shiokaze art gallery is also not to be missed, displaying many of the artist’s original works.Address 3-4 Chuo-machi, Himi (address and below Shiokaze Gallery)
>Google MapsPhone
number0766-72-4800 Admission
feeAdults ¥200 (free entry to high school students and younger and those with certificates of disability) Opening
hours10:00 to 17:00 Closing
dayNew Year’s holidays (12/29 to 1/3) Details -
Events
Marumage Festival
This festival began when geisha, hoping for a happy marriage, would use their one holiday per year to do their hair in the “marumage” style of married women and visit Senjuji Temple to pray to Kannon.
With children, in conical hats adorned with flowers, leading the way, taiko drum floats, festival pages, portable shrines, and women wearing the marumage hairstyle parade to Senjuji Temple.Address 13-4 Saiwai-cho, Himi
>Google MapsAdmission
feeFree Phone number 0766-74-5250
(Himi Tourism Association)Details -
Events
Gongon Festival
This festival for Asahi Kannon at Jonichiji Temple began in the early Edo period (1603–1868), when a rainmaking ritual succeeded in ending a major drought, and the farmers celebrated by joyfully ringing the bell at Jonichiji Temple. Since then, those who want to prove their strength ring the temple bell with an enormous, freshly cut pine log.Address 16-8 Asahi-honmachi, Himi
Admission
feeFree Phone number 0766-74-5250
(Himi Tourism Association)Details -
Events
Gion Festival
Approximately 300 years ago, the entire area of Himi was struck by a terrible illness. The Gion deity of the Yasaka Shrine was sent from Kyoto to heal them, and when they prayed for recovery, the people were cured of the illness. To give thanks, they restored the Gion divine spirit to the portable shrine and began the tradition of parading it through the Gozamachi area.
Address 7-2 Minami-omachi, Himi
>Google MapsAdmission
feeFree Phone number 0766-74-5250
(Himi Tourism Association)Details -
Hands-on Experiences
Himi Ocean Cruising
This 25-minute round-trip tour will let you glide across Toyama Bay, part of the “World’s Most Beautiful Bays Club” to see the Ao Castle site, Karashima Island, and fixed short nets spread throughout the sea, all against the backdrop of the Tateyama Range seen across the water. You can also feed the seagulls.Address 7-1 Chuo-machi, Himi
>Google MapsAdmission
feeTBA Opening
hours9:00 to 15:00 (tours every hour on the hour except 12:00) Closing
dayBad weather Phone number 0766-74-5250
(Himi Tourism Association)Details -
Tourist Attractions
Asahiyama Park
From this slightly elevated hill on the south side of the town, you can get full views of the town, the coastline, and the Tateyama Range.
It is known as a leading spot for the prefecture’s cherry trees, the flowers of which are in full bloom around April 10 every year.
Beautiful azaleas bloom in May, warming your heart.
Address 16-6 Saiwai-cho, Himi
>Google MapsAdmission
feeFree Opening
hoursNone Closing
dayNone Phone number 0766-74-5250
(Himi Tourism Association)Details -
Tourist Attractions
Jonichiji Temple
Jonichiji Temple, at the foot of Asahiyama Park, is an ancient Shingon Buddhist temple famous for the Gongon Festival.
In the temple grounds, you’ll find a giant gingko tree, said to have been planted when the temple was built.
This gingko tree, over 1,000 years old, is a nationally designated Natural Monument.Address 16-8 Asahi-honmachi, Himi
>Google MapsAdmission
feeFree Opening
hoursNone Closing
dayNone Phone number 0766-74-5250
(Himi Tourism Association)Details -
Tourist Attractions
Shimao Swimming Beach
This is the prefecture’s best swimming beach, located on the beautiful Shimao coast.
In addition to the beautiful scenery of the Tateyama Range across the water from the beach, this area is recognized by the Ministry of the Environment as one of the “Top 100 swimming beaches” for its water quality, safety, cleanliness, and facilities.
Address Shimao, Himi
>Google MapsAdmission
feeFree Opening
hoursNone Closing
dayNone Phone number 0766-74-5250
(Himi Tourism Association)Details
Tonami City
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Hands-on Experiences
Wakatsuru Taishogura and Saburomaru Distillery Tour
Sake has been made at Taishogura since 1922, where the stucco walls and brick chimney will give you a sense of the history of the famous “Wakatsuru” sake. Saburomaru Distillery is the only whiskey distillery in Hokuriku. Here you can get a sense of the process whereby the malt cultivated by the natural features of Tonami is reborn as unblended whiskey.Address 208 Saburomaru, Tonami
>Google MapsPhone
number0763-37-8159 Admission
feeFree
*Some tastings charge a feeOpening
hours(1) 10:40 (2) 13:20 (3) 15:00 Closing
dayThursdays, New Year’s holidays, etc. Details -
Hands-on Experiences
Ceramics Classes (Etchu Sansukeyaki Pottery)
Try ceramics classes at Etchu Sansukeyaki Pottery, with its over 150 years of history. The patient instruction will set even novices at ease. You can also have a genuine experience using a potter’s wheel to create a one-of-a-kind, original piece of ceramics.Address 326 Fukuyama, Tonami
>Google MapsPhone
number0763-37-0126 Admission
feeFees: Pottery wheel class ¥2,000
Clay handwork ¥1,500
Ceramics painting ¥1,000
*Separate fee requiredOpening
hours9:00 to 17:00 Closing
dayOpen year-round Details -
Tourist Attractions
Sankyoson Observation Deck/Observation Plaza
This scenic spot offers sweeping views of the dispersed village; on clear days, you can even see the Tateyama Range and the Sea of Japan off in the distance. Around early May, the setting sun reflected in the water-filled rice paddies and the night views are popular. The observation plaza has a fully maintained parking lot for large vehicles.Address 160 Gotani, Tonami
>Google MapsPhone
number0763-33-1397 Admission
feeFree Closing
dayEarly December to late March (due to heavy snow) Details https://www.city.tonami.toyama.jp/kanko/sightseeing/detail.php?id=1330391217.html
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Tourist Attractions
Demachi Children’s Kabuki Hikiyama Hall
On display here are three Hikiyama festival floats from “Demachi Children’s Kabuki,” a Toyama Prefecture designated Folk Cultural Asset. Various events are held in the auditorium, which is designed like an old-fashioned theater, stagingmainly traditional performing arts.Address 5-4 Demachi-chuo, Tonami
>Google MapsPhone
number0763-32-7075 Admission
feeHigh school students and older: ¥210
Age 65 and older: ¥170
Junior high school students and younger: FreeOpening
hours9:00 to 17:00 Closing
dayWednesdays, 3rd Thursdays (open holidays), and New Year’s holidays Details -
Tourist Attractions
Tonami Tulip Gallery
This is the only place in the world where tulips bloom all year-round. In addition to a museum providing information about tulips, there is a terrace with flowers blooming throughout all four seasons, a multipurpose auditorium, and a shop selling cute fripperies.Address 100-1 Nakamura, Tonami
>Google MapsPhone
number0763-33-7716 Admission
feeHigh school students and older: ¥310
Elementary and junior high school students: ¥160
*Excluding special exhibitsOpening
hours9:00 to 18:00 Closing
dayNew Year’s holidays Details -
Hands-on Experiences
Sho River Gorge Cruise
Listen to the murmuring Sho River and the chirping birds while enjoying the Sho River Gorge scenery, which is a delight for the senses through all four seasons, from sporting fresh green leaves to donning autumn-hued leaves, and then transforming into a winter wonderland. Take the regular round-trip sightseeing service to Omaki Onsen, returning to the harbor after a short sightseeing trip of about 25 minutes.Address 73-5 Shogawa-machi Komaki, Tonami
>Google MapsPhone
number0763-82-0220 Admission
feeRegular service: Adults ¥2800
Short sightseeing cruise: Adults ¥1000
(Both half price for elementary school students and younger)Closing
dayDuring bad weather Details -
Events
Tonami Tulip Fair
This is one of the largest tulip festivals in Japan, with over 3 million flowers blooming in their full glory. In a normal year, about 300,000 people visit from Japan and overseas. Enjoy the extraordinary experience of being engulfed in countless tulips.Address 1-32 Hanazono-machi, Tonami
>Google MapsPhone
number0763-33-7716 Admission
feeAdults ¥1,300, children ¥200 Opening
hoursLate April to early May 8:30 to 17:30 Details -
Events
Toyama Yotaka Festival/Sho River Sightseeing Festival
The Yotaka Lantern Festival remains a tradition of the Tonami Plain. Originating as a rice paddy festival praying for abundant crops, it adds vivid color to the town in early summer. The festival reaches its climax with the feverish spectacle of paper lantern floats crashing into one another.Address Downtown Tonami/entire Sho River district
Opening hours Tonami Yotaka Festival: 2nd Friday and Saturday in June
Sho River Sightseeing Festival: 1st Saturday and Sunday in JunePhone number 0763-33-2109
0763-33-1397Details https://www.city.tonami.toyama.jp/kanko/entry/?id=1330494404https://www.41834183.com/index.html
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Events
Ranjonomori Iris Festival
Taking place at the Suisei Botanical Gardens, one of Hokuriku’s largest iris gardens and a nationally distinguished park noted for its uniquely beautiful landscape gardening, the festival is focused on 700,000 irises of 600 different varieties, as well as on water lilies and hydrangeas that bloom over an extensive area of 6 ha.Address 156 Ranjo, Tonami
>Google MapsPhone
number0763-33-7666 Admission
feeFree Opening
hoursMid-to-late June Details -
Events
Sho River Water Festival
The Sho River Water Festival, one celebrating the blessings of the Sho River, is an event unlike any other in Japan. In olden days, the Sho River district was a leading transport area for timber from the mountains (log chutes). The festival features events unusual in Japan that recreate timber transport work, such as the “Log-Riding Championship.”Address 1058 Shogawa-machi Kanaya, Tonami
>Google MapsPhone
number0763-82-6841 Admission
feeFree
*Some attractions charge a feeOpening
hoursFirst Saturday and Sunday in August Details https://www.city.tonami.toyama.jp/kanko/entry/?id=1465295508
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Events
Tonami Yumenotaira Cosmos Watching
The contrast between the pink cosmos flowers seeming to fill the entire ski slope and the perfectly clear blue sky is a sight to behold. Take the lift to the summit to get sweeping views of the dispersed village landscape and to see a panorama of the Sea of Japan and the Tateyama Range.Address 22 Haraya Gotani, Tonami
>Google MapsPhone
number0763-33-1397 Admission
feeFree
*Separate parking feeOpening
hoursMid-October Details https://www.city.tonami.toyama.jp/kanko/entry/?id=1330495346
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Events
Tulip Park KIRAKIRA Mission
In winter, the Tonami Tulip Park displays “flowers of light” in full bloom. About 100,000 light bulbs create this illumination display in the Tulip Tower and other spots, thereby beautifully lighting up the park and the entire surrounding area.Address 1-32 Hanazono-machi, Tonami
>Google MapsPhone
number0763-33-1397 Admission
feeFree Opening hours Early to late December
Sunday to Thursday: 17:00 to 21:00
Friday/Saturday: 17:00 to 22:00Details https://www.city.tonami.toyama.jp/kanko/entry/?id=1379994359
Oyabe City
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Tourist Attractions
Crossland Oyabe
Contains the 118-meter Crossland Tower, an exchange plaza, Crossland Center, the Da Vinci Techno Museum, and Art House Oyabe. The tower offers sweeping views of the majestic Tateyama Range and scattered villages in the area.Address 10 Washigashima, Oyabe
>Google MapsPhone
number0766-68-0932 Admission
fee[Crossland Tower Observatory Fees]
High school students and above ¥420, elementary and junior high school students ¥210, and young children (age 3 and up) ¥100Opening
hours[Crossland Tower hours] Weekdays 10:00 to 18:00 Weekends and holidays 10:00 to 21:00 (Entry up to 30 minutes before closing time) Closing
dayWednesday (or next day, if a holiday), New Year’s holidays (12/29 to 1/3) Details -
Tourist Attractions
Mount Inaba
Mount Inaba is a wonderful rest spot within the city, surrounded by plentiful nature. With livestock farms and the Inabayama Fureai Petting Zoo, it bustles with families on the weekends. Get beautiful, sweeping views of scattered villages from the observation plaza, and enjoy the huge panorama of the Tateyama Range on clear days.Address 165 Inaba Tagawa, Oyabe
>Google MapsPhone
number0766-67-2607 Admission
feeFree Opening
hours[Inabayama Fureai Petting Zoo hours] 9:00 to 16:00 Closing
dayMondays (or next day, if a holiday)
*The park is open from April to November every year.Details http://www.city.oyabe.toyama.jp/kankosangyo/inabayama/index.html
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Tourist Attractions
Hanyu Gokoku Hachiman Shrine
Hanyu Gokoku Hachiman Shrine is famous as the place where Kiso no Yoshinaka prayed for victory in battle, has a history that spans approximately 1,300 years, and is designated a nationally Important Cultural Property. The statue of Minamoto no Yoshinaka erected here is one of the largest horse-and-rider statues in Japan.Address 2992 Hanyu, Oyabe
>Google MapsPhone
number0766-67-1220 Admission
feeFree entrance
[Shrine sanctuary] Fee required (visit ¥300: groups ¥200) *Contact Hanyu Gokoku Hachiman Shrine for details.Opening
hours[Shrine sanctuary] 9:00 to 17:00 Closing
dayNone Details -
Tourist Attractions
Miyajima Gorge
Miyajima Gorge overflows with legends, greenery, and mountain stream beauty, including its Ichinotaki Falls, known as a mini Niagara, as well its Ninotaki Falls, Sannotaki Falls, Ryugu Pools, Kannondaki Falls, 12 Venus statues, and Konadegawa Dam. There are also onsen where you can relax and fully enjoy nature.Address Miyajima District, Oyabe
>Google MapsAdmission
feeFree Opening
hoursOpen for walking Phone number 0766-30-2266
(Oyabe Tourism Association)Details -
Tourist AttractionsKurikara Prefectural Park (Kurikara-san Double-Flowered Cherry Blossom Festival)
Tourist AttractionsKurikara Prefectural Park (Kurikara-san Double-Flowered Cherry Blossom Festival)
At this ancient battlefield, where Kiso no Yoshinaka fought Taira no Koremori in a battle between the Minamoto and Taira clans, Kiso tied torches to the horns of oxen and set them loose on the enemy forces, ensuring his victory. In spring, about 6,000 double-flowered cherry trees blossom in their full glory, with Kurikara Fudoji Temple at the center of it all.Address Hanyu, Oyabe
>Google MapsAdmission
feeFree Opening
hoursOpen for walking Phone number 0766-30-2266
(Oyabe Tourism Association)Details -
Tourist Attractions
Fairy Tale Architecture
The “Marchen” fairy tale architecture is a series of public facilities modeled on motifs from famous European castles and palaces. There are 34 of these buildings throughout the city, known to many people as a symbol of the region.Address Throughout Oyabe City
Admission
fee*See the website for details. Phone number 0766-30-2266
(Oyabe Tourism Association)Details -
Tourist Attractions
Shiroyama Park
This is the site of Imaisurugi Castle, which belonged to Toshihide Maeda, nephew of Toshiie Maeda, who laid the foundations of the Kaga Domain and its worth of a million koku of rice. In spring, enjoy the sight of approximately 600 Yoshino cherry trees in full bloom, and in autumn, the colorful foliage.Address 9 Shiroyama, Oyabe
>Google MapsAdmission
feeFree Opening
hours[Yoshino cherry trees] Early to mid-April [Autumn foliage] Late October to mid-November Phone number 0766-30-2266
(Oyabe Tourism Association)Details https://www.oyabe.info/archives/tour/ohanami-koyo-shiroyama/
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Events
Isurugi Hikiyama Festival
The Isurugi Hikiyama Festival exemplifies springtime in Isurugi, which once prospered as an important location along the former Hokuriku Highway. Eleven dazzling Hanadashi floats representing the best of the Momoyama period’s fine and applied arts are accompanied by traditional music as they weave their way through the town. As the sun sets and the lanterns are lit, the town shows a different side from from what it does during daytime.Address Throughout the Isurugi District, Oyabe
>Google MapsAdmission
feeFree Opening
hours4/29 (holiday) 15:00 on Parade ceremony and lineup (approximate) Phone number 0766-67-0756
(Isurugi Hikiyama League)Details -
Events
Oyabe Lion Dance Festival
The Oyabe Lion Dance Festival began when the founder of Oyabe City, Toshihide Maeda, entered Imaisurugi Castle as its lord, an occasion on which the local people performed the lion dance. The lion dances that parade out of each neighborhood bring excitement wherever they arrive in the city. The children’s dance is also a must-see.Address Downtown Isurugi, Oyabe
>Google MapsAdmission
feeFree Opening
hours4th Saturday and Sunday in May Phone number 0766-67-1760
(Oyabe Lion Dance Association)Details -
Events
Tsuzawa Yotaka Andon Festival
The Tsuzawa Yotaka Andon Festival is also called the “Brawling Yotaka Festival” because of its 7-meter-high, 12-meter-long floats that, with their great lanterns bedecked with images of warriors, clash into one another. Their collisions, as they try to break the other side’s float and hanging decorations, are worth seeing.Address Downtown Tsuzawa, Oyabe
>Google MapsAdmission
feeFree Opening
hours1st Friday and Saturday in June Phone number 0766-61-2356
(Tsuzawa Yotaka Lantern Preservation Society)Details -
Events
Marchen Oyabe Genpei Kagyu Festival
This event is named after the “fire ox plan,” the tactic used by Kiso no Yoshinaka when he defeated the Taira army at the Battle of Kurikara. The highlight is the fire ox race, when “kagyu” (fire oxen) made of about 700 kg of rice straw are pulled by teams of four people to compete for best time, which is a sight to see!Address Isurugi shopping arcade, Oyabe, in front of the Oyabe Chamber of Commerce
>Google MapsAdmission
feeFree Opening
hoursLast Saturday in July Phone number 0766-67-1760
(Oyabe City, Commerce and Tourism Section)Details -
Hands-on Experiences
Oyabe Tsuzawa Andon Fureai Hall
Tsuzawa Andon Fureai Hall is a sightseeing facility that lets visitors enjoy the charm of the Tsuzawa Yotaka Andon Festival all year round. In addition to a roughly 7 m tall lantern float on permanent display, the facility is equipped with meeting rooms, and offers Dengaku paper lantern painting lessons on a regular basis.Address 921 Iwatake, Oyabe
>Google MapsPhone
number0766-61-3531 Admission
fee*There is a fee payable to use the meeting rooms, etc.
*See the website for details.Opening hours [Andon Exhibition Room]
9:00 am to 5:00 pm
[Multipurpose rooms, classrooms, training rooms, and meeting rooms]
9:00 am to 9:00 pm *During some time slots, there are no permanent staff members.Closing day Mondays (or next day, if a holiday), 12/29 to 1/3 Details http://www.city.oyabe.toyama.jp/kankosangyo/1591776434808.html
Nanto City
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Tourist Attractions
Ainokura World Heritage Gassho-zukuri Village
This village has 20 thatched-roof houses, the oldest of which is estimated to have been built in the 17th century. Temples, shrines, earth- and panel-walled storehouses, and other traditional buildings, as well as hayfields for the grass used in thatching the roofs and wooded thickets to protect the village from avalanches, are all carefully preserved as historical landmarks.Address Ainokura, Nanto
>Google MapsAdmission
fee[Preservation Support Fee]
Standard/light motor vehicles ¥500
2-wheeled vehicles ¥100
Small/medium buses ¥2,000
Large buses ¥3,000Opening
hours8:30 to 17:00 Closing
dayNone Phone number 0763-66-2468
[Gokayama Tourist Information Center]Details -
Tourist Attractions
Suganuma World Heritage Gassho-zukuri Village
Along National Highway 156, the thatched-roof village appears through the trees on the right bank of the Sho River. The Suganuma Gassho-zukuri village is a small hamlet on a plateau along the Sho River. Featuring nine thatched-roof houses, the entire village is designated a traditional architectural preservation district.Address Suganuma, Nanto
>Google MapsAdmission
fee[Preservation Support Fee]
Standard/light motor vehicles ¥500
Small/medium buses ¥2,000
Large buses ¥3,000Opening
hours8:00 to 17:00 (April to November) 9:00 to 16:00 (December to March) Closing
dayDecember 31 to January 1 Phone number 0763-66-2468
[Gokayama Tourist Information Center]Details -
Tourist Attractions
Inami Betsuin Zuisenji Temple
This temple was founded in 1390 by Shakunyo, fifth priest of Honganji Temple. It is the largest Shinshu Buddhist wooden temple structure in the Hokuriku region. The main attraction is the elaborately carved main temple gate, most of which is a masterpiece created by Inami carpenters, becoming the foundation of the Inami woodcarving tradition.Address 3050 Inami, Nanto
>Google MapsPhone
number0763-82-0004 Admission
feeGeneral (high school students and adults) ¥500
Group (20+ people) Adults ¥450Opening
hours9:00 to 16:30 Closing
dayNone Details -
Tourist Attractions
Yokamachi Street
The stone-paved Yokamachi Street running through the town center is lined with many carving workshops and rings with the pleasant sound of wooden hammers. In 2018, it was recognized as a Japan Heritage site along with Zuisenji Temple, as the “Inami Woodcarving Museum Born from the Chisels of Master Carpenters.”Address Inami, Nanto
>Google MapsClosing
dayNone Phone number 0763-82-2539
[Inami Tourist Information Center] -
Events
Johana Hikiyama Festival
This Johana Jinmeigu Shrine festival is registered on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Six intricately carved and painted festival floats holding holy statues are paraded through the town. The “ioriuta” song unique to Johana, accompanied by the shamisen, can be heard from the lead “ioriyatai” float.Address Johana, Nanto
>Google MapsPhone
number0763-23-2019 Opening
hoursMay 4th and 5th yearly 9:00 to around 23:00 Details -
Hands-on Experiences
Hands-on: Make a wooden sake cup
Use real tools to create your very own sake cup under the direction of an artisan. Afterward, visit Wakatsuru Shuzo to try some local sake. This hands-on wood carving experience is designed so that even beginners can participate with ease.Address 956-1 Yamami, Nanto
>Google MapsAdmission
fee[Participation Fee]
Adults ¥3000 (incl. tax)Opening
hoursTime required: 60 min. (1) 10:00~ (2) 11:30~ (3) 13:00~ (4) 14:30~ (5) 16:00~ Closing
dayReservation required (at least 3 days in advance) Phone number 0763-62-1201
[Nanto City Tourist Information Center] -
Hands-on Experiences
Hands-on: Make Gokayama washi paper
At the Gassho-zukuri Experience Center, you can try your hand at making Japanese washi paper. The gallery has displays of historical materials related to Gokayama washi paper and holds exhibits of the famous washi paper from all over Japan.Address 148 Shimonashi, Nanto (Roadside Station Taira Gokayama Washi no Sato)
>Google MapsPhone
number0763-66-2223 Admission
fee[Participation Fee]
Handmade washi paper/postcard ¥700
Uchiwa fan (May to October) ¥1,500Opening
hours10:00 to 15:00 Closing
dayReservation required for groups Details -
Tourist Attractions
Johana Betsuin Zentokuji Temple
Johana Betsuin Zentokuji Temple, which belongs to the Otani sect of Shinshu Buddhism, was established by Rennyo, the eighth Honganji Temple priest, in the Muromachi period, at Sunagozaka, Inoue-no-sho, Kahoku County, Kaga. In the Edo period, under the protection of the Kaga domain, it flourished as the supervising temple of Shinshu Buddhist temples in Etchu Province.Address 405 Johana, Nanto
>Google MapsPhone
number0763-62-0026 Admission
feeTemple interior visit ¥400 Opening
hours9:00 to 16:00 Details -
Hands-on Experiences
Hands-on: Make wagashi sweets with wooden confectionary molds
Tamura Manseido is one of Johana’s oldest sweetshops, passed down generations since the Kansei era (late 18th century). Here you can use their precious wooden candy molds to make traditional Japanese sweets and enjoy the atmosphere as you experience part of a simple form of the tea ceremony.Address 175 Johana, Nanto (Tamura Manseido)
>Google MapsAdmission
feeParticipation fee
¥3,300 per person (incl. tax)Opening
hoursApril 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021 (except December and January), every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday: (1) 14:00 to 15:00 (2) 15:00 to 16:00 Closing
dayExceptions: All of December and January, 3/6 and 3/7 Phone number 0763-62-1201
[Nanto City Tourist Information Center]Details -
Hands-on Experiences
Hands-on: Grill your own sembei and kakimochi rice crackers
Try grilling your own sembei and kakimochi rice crackers. The grilling experience takes about 10 minutes. The fee is ¥200 per person (8 raw crackers).
Enjoy a lively session of grilling with your family or friends, and eat the crackers hot off the grill.Address 1213 Yoshienaka, Nanto
>Google MapsPhone
number0763-52-6785 Admission
feeParticipation fee
¥200 per person (8 crackers)Opening
hours9:00 to 12:00/14:00 to 17:00 Closing
dayJanuary 1, irregular closing dates Details -
Hands-on Experiences
Hands-on: Make Gokayama washi paper
The paper sifting experience offers equipment that is actually used to make washi.
You can create paper the size of a placemat and decorate it with autumn leaves.Address 148 Shimonashi, Nanto (JAU Gokayama Washi)
>Google MapsPhone
number0763-66-2016 Admission
feeParticipation fee
¥700 per sheet (approx. 10 min.)Opening
hours8:15 to 17:00 Closing
dayTuesdays (open on holidays), Sundays and holidays from December to April Details
