Best things to do in Toyama Prefecture

Toyama Essentials

Toyama features a landscape that transitions from the 3,000-meter peaks of the Northern Alps to the deep waters of Toyama Bay. This selection includes the UNESCO-listed gassho-zukuri farmhouses of Gokayama and the engineering feat of Kurobe Dam, Japan's tallest dam. Cultural highlights range from the Zen architecture of Zuiryū-ji and the bronze craftsmanship of Takaoka's Great Buddha to the contemporary glass art housed in the Kengo Kuma-designed Toyama Kirari building.

User:Minque / Public domain

Ainokura village

Gokayama is an area within the city of Nanto in Toyama Prefecture, Japan.

User:Minque / Public domain

Suganuma Village

Gokayama is an area within the city of Nanto in Toyama Prefecture, Japan.

Kurobe Dam

Standing 186 meters high, this is Japan’s tallest dam. A key stop on the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, it is known for its massive arched embankment and dramatic water discharges that take place from late June through mid-October.

Tx-re / CC BY-SA 3.0

Tateyama

Tateyama Station is a railway station in the town of Tateyama, Nakaniikawa District, Toyama Prefecture, Japan, operated by the private…

Asturio Cantabrio / CC BY-SA 4.0

富山市ガラス美術館

Designed by architect Kengo Kuma, this museum is located within the Toyama Kirari building. It features a striking interior of slanted glass and wood, housing a diverse collection of contemporary glass art and permanent installations by Dale Chihuly.

柑橘類 / CC BY-SA 3.0

The Great Buddha of Takaoka

Completed in 1933 using local copper-casting techniques, this 16-meter bronze statue is recognized as one of Japan’s three great Buddha figures. It stands on the site of previous wooden versions that were destroyed by fire over several centuries.

Fraxinus2 / CC BY-SA 4.0

Zuiryū-ji

Zuiryū-ji is a Buddhist temple in Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture, Japan. The temple belongs to the Sōtō-school of Japanese Zen Buddhism.

えむかとー / Public domain

Toyama Canal Park

This 9.7-hectare waterfront park is built around a former boat basin. It features the Tenmon-kyo Bridge with its twin observation towers and a scenic canal-side walkway that connects the city center to the port area.

Shomyo Falls

The highest waterfall in Japan, Shomyo Falls drops 350 meters in four distinct sections. During the spring snowmelt, the adjacent Hannoki Falls often flows simultaneously, creating a rare V-shaped twin waterfall.