Things to do in Toyama: museums, parks, mountains, tourist attractions

The Toyama Glass Art Museum spans six floors and displays glass artwork from the region as well as international pieces. The museum houses a specialized library focused on glass production techniques and hosts temporary exhibitions. Visitors can explore the craftsmanship and history of glass, from traditional Japanese methods to contemporary international creations.

The Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art and Design presents regional and international artworks in a contemporary building. The museum regularly organizes design exhibitions and offers educational programs throughout the year.

The Botanical Gardens of Toyama function as both a research center and a public space for exploration. Outdoor areas display native Japanese plant species in their natural settings. Tropical greenhouses shelter exotic plants, with rotating flower exhibitions throughout the year. Visitors can walk among domestic flora while also discovering plants adapted to distant climates.

This castle ruin from the 16th century sits in a public park where you can see the original stone foundations and restored walls of the fortress. Information panels explain the military history of the site. Walking through these ruins gives you a sense of Toyama's past and connects you to the city's earlier periods.

Kansui Park runs along the Fugan canal system and features paved paths, benches, and green spaces beside the water with seasonal plantings. This park in Toyama offers a place to walk and spend time where visitors can enjoy nature within the city.

The Toyama Family Park spreads across spacious grounds with a zoo featuring animals native to the region, playgrounds for children, and open areas for picnicking. The park displays seasonal flowers throughout the year and gives visitors room to relax and enjoy the outdoors. Walking here, you will see different plants and notice how the seasons change the look of the gardens. This park fits naturally into Toyama's mix of culture and nature.

The Toyama Science Museum is an educational center with permanent exhibitions on space, biology, and technology. It features a planetarium and interactive experimental stations for children. The museum allows visitors to learn about scientific topics through hands-on activities and explore scientific concepts in an engaging way.

Mount Washiba reaches 939 meters and offers visitors a more accessible mountain experience compared to higher peaks in the Toyama region. Marked trails wind through thick forests, providing a straightforward walk for nature lovers near the city. Winter snow can make access difficult during the colder months, but the mountain draws hikers throughout the warmer seasons.

The Sanroku de Tateyama ski resort sits at the base of Mount Tateyama in Toyama and offers ski runs and equipment rentals for winter sports. Open from December through March, the resort allows visitors to enjoy the mountain landscape of the region.

Mount Kurobegorō rises to 2,840 meters (9,318 feet) and features marked trails that wind through alpine vegetation. From observation points along the routes, visitors can see the Northern Japanese Alps and the surrounding mountain landscape.

Toyama Castle is a reconstructed structure from 1954 that houses exhibitions on regional history and traditional artifacts. From its observation platform, visitors can see across the city and the surrounding mountains.

This museum in Toyama documents the effects of cadmium pollution on the local population during the 20th century. The exhibitions feature documents, photographs, and accounts from people who were affected. The museum preserves the history of an environmental disaster that made many residents in the region sick. It is an important place to learn how industrial pollution changed the lives of communities.

Toyama's Gokoku Shrine is a Shinto shrine founded in 1912 to honor fallen soldiers. The shrine features a prayer hall, a bronze bell tower, and hosts seasonal ceremonies throughout the year. Visitors find a place of quiet reflection rooted in local history, where the rhythms of spiritual practice continue today.

The Asahi City Art Museum in Toyama presents rotating exhibitions of Japanese paintings, ceramics, sculptures, and regional crafts. The museum regularly hosts cultural events for visitors and complements Toyama's diverse offerings of museums, parks, and mountain access that together create a balanced experience of art, nature, and history.

This river cruise on the Shogawa River flows through forested banks and offers views of the region's plants and wildlife. The boat ride complements Toyama's mix of culture, nature and history, showing the natural surroundings from the water.

The Wakatsuru Saburomaru Distillery in Toyama has been producing Japanese whisky since 1952. Visitors can tour the production facilities and taste the whisky. The distillery shows how Japanese whisky is made, from selecting ingredients to aging in barrels. The experience offers insight into a traditional craft that is still practiced in this region.

The Mikurigaike pond sits at 2,405 meters (7,890 feet) elevation along the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, surrounded by peaks of the Northern Japanese Alps. This lake offers a quiet spot to pause while traveling through the mountains. The clear water reflects the surrounding slopes and creates a peaceful setting for hikers and nature lovers. Located at such high altitude, the Mikurigaike becomes a special destination for those wanting to explore Toyama's alpine scenery.

Unazuki Onsen is a hot spring town at the entrance to Kurobe Gorge, where warm waters rise naturally from the ground and shape daily life in the area. Public bathhouses and inns line the riverbanks, welcoming both travelers and locals. Steep canyon walls and thick forest surround the town, creating a dramatic natural setting. Within Toyama's offerings of mountain access and outdoor experiences, this hot spring destination provides a place to soak and rest while surrounded by the landscape. The river flows through the heart of the town, connecting the various bathing facilities and lodgings.

Amaharashi Coast in Toyama presents visitors with striking rock formations that rise from the shoreline. This coastal area is known for its panoramic views of the Tateyama mountain range, visible across the water. The location combines the raw beauty of rocky cliffs with distant mountain vistas, creating a natural contrast between sea and peaks. Hikers and photographers come here to observe the sculpted rocks and enjoy the expansive views over the landscape.

The Shomyo Waterfalls in Toyama are an impressive 350-meter cascade located in Chubu Sangaku National Park. They rank as Japan's tallest year-round waterfall and draw visitors seeking to experience the region's natural beauty. The waterfalls offer a striking sight, especially during spring and autumn when the surrounding landscape shifts through different colors. They sit within easy reach from central Toyama and fit well into a visit that combines culture, nature, and history.

The Shinminato Kitokito Market offers fresh seafood and seasonal products from Toyama Bay. This fish market is a lively place where local fishermen sell their daily catches. Visitors can see and purchase a wide variety of seafood caught in these waters. The market reflects the importance of fishing to the region and offers insight into local food culture. Freshness and quality are central here.

The Ainokura village in Gokayama displays traditional mountain architecture with distinctive Gassho-style houses. Their steep straw roofs, which resemble folded hands, are a defining characteristic. These houses date from the Edo period and remain well preserved. The village sits in Toyama's mountains and shows how people lived in rural mountain communities long ago. The buildings were designed to handle heavy snows and support traditional crafts like silk production. Walking through the narrow lanes, you can see how people adapted their homes to mountain life and understand the handcraft traditions that continue today.

The Takaoka Daibutsu is a bronze Buddha statue in this city that was completed in 1933. Standing at about 16 meters tall, it ranks among the three great Buddha statues of Japan. The figure sits peacefully and draws visitors interested in learning about the religious history and craftsmanship of the region.

Suganuma Village in Toyama preserves traditional Japanese farmhouses with distinctive steep thatched roofs. This UNESCO World Heritage site contains several buildings constructed in the Gassho style, which was designed to withstand heavy snow and mountain winters. As you walk through the village, you notice the careful craftsmanship in every detail of the structures. The houses show how rural families lived and adapted to their environment over time. The setting on a mountainside offers views of how traditional Japanese communities functioned in remote areas.

The Toyama Glass Workshop invites visitors to design and create their own glass objects under expert guidance. As part of Toyama's rich cultural offerings, which includes a major glass art museum spanning six floors showcasing both Japanese and international glass works, this workshop provides a hands-on experience. Participants can explore glassmaking techniques and discover how this craft is practiced in the region.

Miyazaki-Sakai Beach in Toyama is a place to swim and enjoy the water. Nearby restaurants prepare meals with fresh fish and seafood caught in local waters. The beach fits naturally into Toyama's range of activities, from museums and parks to mountain hiking.

The Matsukawa River flows through Toyama and provides many places to watch the city. In spring, visitors come to see the cherry blossoms that bloom along the banks. The river is an important part of the cityscape and invites walks and peaceful moments. The paths along the water are easy to use and connect different parts of the city.

The observation tower of Toyama City Hall is a public viewing platform located within the city hall building. From this vantage point, visitors can see across the city of Toyama and, on clear days, view Mount Tateyama in the distance. The platform offers a good perspective to understand how the city sits between the mountains and the bay.

This themed train operates in Toyama and displays characters from the popular manga series Ninja Hattori-kun on both its exterior and interior design. The train brings fans and visitors through the city in a playful atmosphere, while the decoration brings scenes and motifs from the series to life. Passengers can admire the detailed work on the cars and step into the story of the legendary ninja.

This boat tour follows the Uchikawa River and shows you the buildings along the water and the daily activities of local residents. You see how people use the river, what structures line the banks, and how the water fits into everyday life in this area. The tour offers a natural perspective on the relationship between the river, the buildings, and local habits without being instructional.

Murodo Tateyama is a mountain station at 2,450 meters (8,038 feet) elevation along the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route and houses Japan's oldest mountain lodge. This location offers visitors direct access to the high alpine landscape of Japan's Northern Alps. From here, hikers can explore the surrounding mountains and observe the distinctive alpine plants and wildlife. The historic lodge provides insight into traditional Japanese mountaineering culture.

The cedar forest at Sugisawa contains trees that are several hundred years old. Visitors can walk on marked trails that wind through the woods. The ancient trees create a quiet setting for walking and exploring. This forest is easily accessible and offers a natural retreat near Toyama.