Toyama is the largest city and the capital of Toyama Prefecture in the Hokuriku Region of northern Chubu in Japan. Back in the Edo Period, Toyama was a powerful castle town, the centre of distributing medicine, and an important trading hub. Today, Toyama is part of The New York Times “52 Places to Go in 2025” list.
Before going to Toyama, I only knew of the city as the gateway city for many excursions like Noto Peninsula, Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route and other places in the Northern Japan Alps.
But after spending a few days in the city, I can see the beauty in Toyama and how it is worth visiting. If you want to explore some of the lesser known places in Japan, then make sure you visit Toyama. I wrote a comprehensive 1-day itinerary so you can see all the best things in one day.
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What you need to know before visiting Toyama Japan
Before starting your Toyama itinerary, take a look at my post on everything you need to know before going to Japan. I included a lot of tips on how to get around Japan and other travel tips.
Here are a few additional travel tips that you may find useful for your Toyama trip:
- Toyama can be visited all year round. Spring is best for cherry blossom. Summer can be hot. Fall is excellent for fall foliage. And winter is like a winter wonderland.
- Coin luggage lockers are available at the Toyama Station if you are considering doing a day trip only.
- Toyama is a safe city for solo female travellers. I spent several days in the city and walked around by myself both day and night and felt completely safe.
- Plan your solo trip to Toyama with the following festivals and events:
- Matsukawa River Cherry Blossoms (early to mid April) – see 500 cherry trees in full bloom at Matsukawa Park. One of Japan’s top 100 places to see cherry blossoms.
- Takaoka Mikuruma-yama Festival (May 1) – see the annual parade featuring traditional local crafts with copperware in Takaoka.
- Iwase Hikiyama Festival (May 17 & 18) – see 13 giant floats that are part of the “fighting float festival” at Iwase Suwa Shrine.
- Tonami Yotaka Matsuri (June 9-10) – see the night-time festival celebrating a year of bountiful harvest with wooden clappers, taiko drums and huge lantern floats in Tonami.
How to get to Toyama, Japan
Plane
Toyama Airport (TOY) is 7.8km south of the city centre. However, only a few domestic flights (Tokyo Haneda and Sapporo) and international flights (Dalian and Shanghai) fly to TOY.
If you are flying to Japan and going to Toyama right away, chances are you will arrive in Haneda Airport (HND) or Narita International Airport (NRT) near Tokyo then travel to Toyama via Shinkansen (bullet train) or local train.
Train
Toyama Station is served by several train lines, including the JR Hida Line, Takayama Line, Ainokaze Toyama Railway Line and Hokuriku Shinkansen. The train station connects Toyama with Takaoka, Kanazawa to the west, Nagano and Tokyo to the east, and Takayama and Nagoya to the south.
If you are taking the Shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo, the journey takes 2.5 hours. From Kanazawa, it takes 26 minutes by Shinkansen. And from Takayama, it only takes 1.5 hour via JR Hida Line or Takayama Line.
How to get around Toyama on your own
If you are following my solo itinerary, you will walk most of the day and take Toyama Light Rail and/or the Fugan Suijo Boat in the afternoon.
Toyama Light Rail
Toyama Light Rail is a modern tram system in Toyama. There are four major routes.
Routes 1, 2 and 3 service places south of Toyama Station. And occasionally, you will see the retro train on these lines (see photo below). It costs ￥210 for all rides including the retro vintage train.
Toyamako Line or Portram is the other major route which departs from Toyama Station North Gate and travels north to the port town of Iwase. For this itinerary, you can either take the light rail on the way back from Iwase or take the light rail from Toyama Station to Iwase and back.
FYI – Toyama City is offering free tram tickets for international guests. Go to your hotel reception and ask for a complimentary ticket for two free rides.
Fugan Suijo Boat
Fugan Suijo Boat is a 60-minute scenic boat ride that travels between Kansui Park and Iwase between late March to late November.
A ticket costs ￥1,700 which includes one-way boat ride and a complimentary light rail ticket for the return trip. That means you can take the boat to Iwase and light rail back, or take the light rail to Iwase and boat back.
Because of the boat schedule, take the boat to Iwase and the light rail back to Toyama. Here’s the timetable:
- Kansui Park to Iwase Canal Hall: 10:10am and 1:20pm
- Iwase Canal Hall to Kansui Park: 11:20am and 2:30pm
Toyama Day Trip Summary & Attractions Map
Here is a quick summary of my solo Toyama day trip itinerary:
- Toyama City Hall Observation Tower
- Matsukawa Park
- Toyama Castle
- Toyama Glass Art Museum
- Ikedaya Yasubei Shoten
- Kansui Park
- Fugan Suijo Boat to Iwase
- Iwasehama Beach
- Toyama Port Observation Deck
- Baba Residence
- Mori Family Residence
- Craft beer or sake on Niikawacho Street
- Toyama Local Food
Below is an interactive map with all the highlights for my Toyama itinerary. Red pins indicate the must-see attractions during your day in Toyama, while blue pins indicate other things to see if you have more time.
I also pinned trip ideas (green pins), place to stay (yellow pins) and restaurants in Toyama (burgundy pins) so you can easily locate them.
Things to Do in Toyama: 1-Day Itinerary
1. Toyama City Hall Observation Tower
First, go up Toyama City Hall Observation Tower which has an observation deck with a 360 degree panoramic view 70m above the ground. It doesn’t sound super high but on a clear day, you can see Toyama City and Toyama Castle to the south, Kurehayama Park to the west, and Toyama Bay to the north and Tateyama Mountain Range to the east.
It might be worth coming back to the observation deck to see sunset at the end of the day. Depending on the season and weather, consider returning to the observation tower and see Toyama during golden hour or night time. It is absolutely free!
Address: 7-38 Shinsakuramachi, Toyama | Hours: 9am-9pm Monday to Friday and 10am-9pm Saturdays & Sundays from April to October; 9am-6pm Monday to Friday and 10am-6pm Saturdays & Sundays from November to March | Admission: free
2. Matsukawa Park
Next, roam around the Matsukawa Park and enjoy 3km of walking trails and see different sculptures. This is also where you can find other attractions like Toyama Castle, Toyama Castle Ruin Park, and Sato Memorial Museum of Art.
During springtime, over 500 blooming cherry trees line the banks of Matsukawa River. The best way to see the picturesque tunnel of cherry blossoms is by river cruise boat. Or you can walk along the lovely pedestrian promenade beneath the cherry trees
There is also a cute coffee shop called Matsukawa Teahouse. It has seats on the open terrace overlooking Matsukawa River. They serve Japanese sweets and savoury food.
Address: 1-11 Hanazonocho, Toyama | Hours: 24 hours; 10am-5pm for boat ride | Admission: park is free; boat ride costs ￥2,000 during regular months and ￥3,000 during cherry blossom season
3. Toyama Castle
Toyama Castle is a flatland-style Japanese castle and was built in 1543. Because of its long and troubled past and natural disaster, the castle has been destroyed and rebuilt numerous times.
Today, only the Chiyoda Gate and parts of the stone walls and moat are part of the original castle. Everything else was reconstructed in 1954 to look like the original castle.
Go up to the tower balcony on the 4th floor and see a view of the area surrounding Toyama Castle. And you can learn more about the history of the castle (but in Japanese) at the Toyama City Local History Museum.
For Pokémon fans, there is a Pokémon utility manhole cover near the “Amazing Toyama” sign across from the castle and the partial moat. Over the last couple of years, Japan installed many Pokémon manhole covers all over the country to boost tourism. Toyama has three, and two are easily accessible (and are included in this itinerary).
Go see the Ledyba and Comfey Pokemon utility manhole cover which features a ladybug and a flower selecting Pokemon. It is so cute!
Address: 1-62 Honmaru, Toyama | Hours: 24 hours | Admission: ￥210
4. Toyama Glass Art Museum
Walk through the downtown Sogawa area to the next attraction. There is a covered pedestrian street called Sogawadori Shopping Street. This retro shopping arcade has a history of 130 years and over 40 shops lining the 260m street. This is a good place for local food and window shopping.
Soon you will arrive at Toyama Glass Art Museum, a contemporary museum with different glass exhibits houses inside a gorgeous space designed by the world-renowned architect, Kengo Kuma.
The affordable admission price includes a few permanent exhibit including the Glass Art Garden by Dale Chihuly, who is a leading figure of contemporary glass design.
Even if you are not a fan of arts, you can still walk around the space and see the stylish interior, design library, museum shop and cafe.
Address: 5-1 Nishicho, Toyama | Hours: 9:30am-6pm Sunday to Thursday; 9:30am-8pm Fridays & Saturdays | Admission: ￥200 for regular exhibits including Glass Art Garden. Additional fee for special exhibits
5. Ikedaya Yasubei Shoten
Established in 1936, Ikedaya Yasubei Shoten is one of the most famous pharmaceutical shop in Toyama as the city was once the center for distributing medicine during the Edo Period.
Not only do they sell medicinal herbs, healthy teas and other Japanese and Chinese medicines, you can see a demonstration of how traditional pills are made with the old wooden apparatus. You can even try making some yourself.
On the second floor of the shop is a restaurant which serves Japanese food made with the same medicinal herbs sold at the store.
I wish I had bought something (but wasn’t really sure what the meds were for) but I really liked the retro-style vintage package design.
Address: 1 Chome-3-5 Tsutsumichodori, Toyama | Hours: 9am-6pm; 11:30am-2pm for restaurant | Admission: free
6. Kansui Park
Next, walk over to Kansui Park, a large green park with waterfront promenades, picturesque canal, outdoor theatre and a bird sanctuary. It was a former boat mooring area on the Fugan Canal but today, it is a relaxing space for visitors to enjoy.
During spring time, this is another excellent spot for cherry blossom viewing. Take in the aerial view from the observation deck at the towers at each end of the Tenmon Bridge or from the large windows at the Starbucks coffee shop.
Remember I said there is a second Pokemon manhole cover that is part of this itinerary? Cross over Tenmon Bridge to the artificial island and the cover is located near the pedestrian bridge. This one is called Inkay and it is a cute firefly squid (famous Toyama seafood) swimming in the canal. The Tenmon Bridge is also part of the illustration.
Address: 1 Minatoirifunecho, Toyama | Hours: 24 hours | Admission: free
7. Fugan Suijo Boat to Iwase
Another reason to visit Kansui Park is to take the Fugan Suijo Boat to the port town of Iwase. The 60-minute boat ride passes through a serene landscape and the Nakajima Lock, which is about halfway along the canal. Depending on the season, you might see cherry blossom or autumn leaves.
Buy a ticket at the ticket booth near the boarding dock near the west side of Kansui Park. And board your boat at the scheduled time, which is 1:20pm. Remember to keep the ticket because you will need it to take the light rail back to Toyama Station.
As mentioned, the Fugan Suijo Boat only operates between late March to late November. If you are travelling outside of this timeframe or don’t want to take the boat, you can take the light rail to Iwase and back. Tourists can get a free complimentary light rail ticket from their hotel.
Address: 1-1 Nishinomiyamachi, Toyama | Hours: 9am-5pm | Admission: ￥1,700 one-way (including tram ticket included for the return trip)
8. Iwasehama Beach
Walk north for about 11 minutes towards the coast and see Iwasehama Beach. This is the closest bathing beach to Toyama City.
I visited Iwasehama Beach in April so there was not much to see or do. Except there is a stranded cargo ship by the shore. But I read it gets busy during summer.
But I think visitors should visit the beach anyway regardless of when you are in Toyama. You can see a view of Tateyama Mountain Range over the sea from the beach. My photo below captured a bit of the snowy mountains.
Address: Iwasekoshimachi, Toyama | Hours: 24 hours | Admission: free
9. Toyama Port Observation Deck
Walk back towards Iwase and over to Toyama Port Observation Deck and see an aerial view from the 20m high observation deck. On a clear day, you can see as far as the Noto Peninsula and the Tateyama Mountain Range. The tower looks like a stone garden lantern, don’t you think?
Address: Kaigandori, Toyama | Hours: 9am-4:30pm | Admission: free
10 or 11. Baba Residence or Mori Family Residence
Iwase is an old merchant town with traditional Edo Period streetscape. The retro town was developed about 250 years ago and is known for Kitamae boat trading during the Edo and Meiji Periods.
One of the highlights of Iwase is touring the homes of wealthy sea merchants. It is possible to walk through two well-known noble family homes.
I visited the Baba Residence which belongs to the most wealthy sea merchant family in Iwase. It is one of the biggest houses in Iwase District; it has a main home, several storages, a large 33-tatami mat-floored room and the long indoor passage. It was interesting to see how people used to live back then.
The Mori Family Residence is another family home open for tourists. Built around 1878 for the boat wholesaler, the property includes a typical Edo Period wooden townhome and rocks from Shodo Island. And it is deemed as a national important cultural property in Japan.
Baba Residence Address: 107 Higashiiwasemachi, Toyama | Hours: 9am-5pm | Admission: ￥100
Mori Family Residence Address: 109 Higashiiwasemachi, Toyama | Hours: 9am-4:30pm | Admission: ￥100
12. Try sake or craft beer on Omachi Niikawacho Street
Omachi Niikawacho Street, the main street in Iwase, used to line with workshops and wholesalers that were converted from traditional wooden homes. Today, the picturesque street is home to specialty stores, galleries, beer pubs, sake bars, cafes and fine dining restaurants.
Speaking of sake, there are several historic breweries on Omachi Niikawacho Street where you can find top quality sake.
Saseki is a unique sake tasting bar with many Toyama sakes for tasting. First, buy a wooden cup for ￥200. Take note of how many cups of sake you had on the order form. Each sake costs between ￥200-500. Then pay at the end and take the cup home with you.
Or you can taste as many sake from the fridge for 15 minutes and pay ￥1,000. If you want more, you can drink for 30 minutes and pay ￥2,000.
However, I opted for a few beers at Kobo Brew Pub which is at the back of the Baba Residence. They serve Czech-style craft beer and snacks.
You can wander around Iwase a bit more before heading back to Toyama City. Make sure you still have the boat ticket (or the free light rail ticket).
Saseki Address: 93 Higashiiwasemachi, Toyama | Hours: 10am-6pm; closed Tuesdays
Kobo Brew Pub Address: 107-2 Higashiiwasemachi, Toyama | Hours: 11am-6pm
13. Try one of several Toyama food
Since Toyama is right by the Sea of Japan, that means delicious seafood is always part of the menu. And in Toyama, there are a few unique seafood (and regular food) that you should try:
- Shidoebi – white shrimp. Try it fried, raw (sashimi) or over rice. Shiroebi-tei has many local Toyama seafood dishes including a bowl of fried white shrimp, fried firefly squid and yellowtail tempura over a bowl of rice.
- Firefly squid – little squid from Toyama Bay that emits a pale blue light when stimulated. Try it as sashimi, deep-fried with a tempura batter or in shabu shabu (hot pot).
- Masuzushi – pressed trout sushi in a woodbox. Buy one at Minamoto at Toyama Station or the supermarket at Maroot shopping mall.
- Tororo Kombu Rice Ball – rice ball covered with dried shredded kelp shavings. Minamoto always has a long queue.
- Toyama Black Ramen – try a bowl at Daiki Nishimachi Honten, which is the birthplace of the noodle. Order a bowl of rice to eat with the soup (which is a bit salty).
Other Things to See in Toyama Japan
Besides all the attractions in the Toyama itinerary, there are other things to do but I couldn’t fit them into the day trip itinerary. If you stay longer or want to change the itinerary, here are some suggestions:
- Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art and Design (9:30am-6pm; free) – see contemporary art exhibits at this modern museum. Go up to the Onomatopoeia Rooftop and enjoy a view of Kansui Park.
- Shusui Museum of Art (10am-5pm; closed Mondays & Tuesdays;￥800) – if you like Japanese swords, this would be an excellent spot to check out.
- Museum of Folklore (Toyama Municipal Folkcraft Village) (9am-5pm; ￥530) – opened in 1974, the folk art village has over 1,700 items from everyday household things to equipment for agriculture. And it has traditional steep thatched-roofed farmhouses like the ones you see in Shirakawa-go.
Toyama Day Trips and Excursions
Many travellers go to Toyama to take day trips and excursions because there are many things to do in the Hokuriku Region of northern Chubu. Here are some places to consider:
- Takaoka – see Takaoka Daibutsu, ride the Doraemon tram and attend annual festivals like Takaoka Mikuruma-yama Festival and Tonami Tulip Fair. Only a 15-minute train ride away.
- Himi – visit the coastal town and see the Manga road, eat Kanburi (winter yellowtail) or Himi udon and watch sunset at Amaharashi Coast.
- Kanazawa – visit the nearest major city and spend two days visiting different neighbourhoods around Kanazawa.
- Shirakawa-go – take a day trip to Shirakawago on your own or join a tour to see the famous steep thatch-roofed farmhouses in the UNESCO village.
- Kurobe Gorge – take the sightseeing train and see the scenic gorge in the Northern Japan Alps. Currently, a bridge along the railway is damaged by the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake. Railway will resume in 2026.
- Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route – take a tour of this mountain sightseeing route, which is surrounded by 20m high walls of ice connecting Toyama City and Omachi City.
Where to stay in Toyama as a solo traveller
When I was searching for Toyama accommodations, I quickly realized that staying around Toyama Station is the best option because I only stayed for a few days. This is where I stayed and I highly recommend it.
- Hotel Vischio Toyama ($$) – the 4-star hotel is on top of the Maroot shopping mall, just south of Toyama Station. Take the elevator near the mall entrance and go up to the 5th floor for the hotel reception. Check prices & reviews: Agoda and Booking
Is Toyama worth visiting as a solo traveller
At first I wasn’t sure to visit Toyama because I had never heard of the city and didn’t know what to do. But I quickly found many fun things to do to Toyama fill to up an entire day. Plus, I learned it is an excellent city for doing excursions around Toyama Prefecture and Nagano Prefecture. I didn’t have enough time during my trip but I would love to visit Nagano and see the famous Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route.
I hope you will also consider visiting Toyama when you are travelling around Japan. Toyama is easy to get to from Tokyo; it is only a 2.5 hour Shinkansen ride away. Moreover, you can visit the places around Toyama and cities like Kanazawa and Takayama.
Let me know in the comments if you are going to Toyama and will try this itinerary. Or if you have any suggestions to improve the itinerary, let me know also.
Ready to plan your trip to Toyama? Here are some of my go-to travel planning resources:
* Book your flight: find flight deals on Skyscanner
* Book accommodation: find the best Toyama accommodations on Agoda or Booking
* Buy insurance: Safetywing is my go-to provider for travel insurance, as it covers many things. I will never travel without the Nomad Insurance Package because it protects me against unforeseen events. Get a quote today.
* Order a SIM card: order a SIM card in advance and set up your mobile phone before arriving in Japan.
* Join tours: check Klook for the best tours around Toyama.
Thank you for reading my solo Toyama itinerary
I have many posts on Japan so you might also like:
Introduction to Japan
- Solo Travel to Japan: 17 best cities for solo travellers
- Things I wish I knew before going to Japan
- Off-the-beaten-path places in Japan
- One month in Japan: from Tokyo to Hiroshima
Chubu region
- Nagoya day trip: What to see in one day
- Nakasendo Trail Guide: 1 to 3-Day Itinerary for hiking on your own
- Best things to do in Matsumoto: 1-day itinerary
- Takayama 2-day itinerary for first time solo travellers
- Shirakawa-go Solo Guide: How to get there & Itinerary
- Kanazawa Itinerary: 1 to 2 day Itinerary for Solo Travellers
- Karuizawa Itinerary: 1 or 2 Days
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Hi, my name is Queenie, and I’ve been a solo traveller for 20+ years and currently based in Hong Kong. Follow me on my adventures through Instagram and my blog!
