Top Things to do in Toyama Prefecture
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What to do and see in Toyama Prefecture, Chubu: The Best Free Things to do
Discover the best top things to do in Toyama Prefecture, Japan including Mt. Tateyama, Yuki no Otani (Snow Wall), Ainokura Gassho Community, Suganuma Gassho Community, Shomyo Falls, Mikurigaike Pond, Gokayama, Fugan Unga Kansui Park, Nisekiji Temple, Mt.Kureha Park Observatory.
Restaurants in Toyama Prefecture
1. Mt. Tateyama
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 135 reviews
Mt. Tateyama is a mountain located in the southeastern area of Toyama Prefecture, Japan. It is one of Japan's "Three Holy Mountains" along with Mt. Fuji and Mt. Haku. Mt.Oyama is one of the three peaks that make up Mt.Tateyama. There is "Oyama Shrine" on the summit of Oyama and a priest there can pray for you with 500JPY from July to September. You can see Mt.Fuji and Japan sea from the summit if the weather is good! It takes about 2 hours from Murodo terminal to the summit of Oyama one way. As it is a mountain climbing course, equipment such as trekking shoes, stocks, and warm clothes even in summer are required.
Reviewed By Eevon88
We hiked up Mt Tateyama on 8th May 2018. We started our journey at Toyama Chitetsu Railway station departing at 5.26am, exchanged our tickets (JR tateyama promo tix 9000 yen) at Tateyama station, and took the 1st cable car at 7am. Then, switched transport to Tateyama highland bus and reached Murudo station around 8.15am. We did approach the customer service counter to get some guides as we have no clue how to get to th summit, however we were given assurance that path is footprinted and many has gone up already. No registration required. We started our hike at 8.30am, putting on our crampons, prepping hiking sticks and most importantly, sunglasses as the reflection from the snow is very glaring. We found poles sticking out from the snow and that was the guide to lead to the 1st resthouse. The snow was thick and deep, but crampons did help to grip the snow. It was a relaxing climb, but there were few steeper slopes. We were amazed by the view as we were surrounded by snow mountains. There was this little stinch of sulphuric smell in the air and the snow has yellowish patchy colours that represent the mixture of sulphur with ice. Once we reached the first resthouse, we kept our crampons as the rest of the hike was loose rocks and gravel. There wasnt much of a path at the rocky areas, and you have to be careful where you step as some promising rocks are shaky or will give way due to your weight. In between the rocky path there was a very small shrine. We made our prayers and continued our journey. We reached a false peak only to find a longer path up the summit. After the false peak, the path is zig-zagged. Please be careful not to step on the frost as it could be slippery. Initially, halfway up from the false peak, we took a wrong turn to the right and reached a frosty steep slope. We decided to turn back, but another hiker who is descending pointed a different direction and we somehow found another path up the summit. Finally, we reached the summit and the view was amazing!!! Took us 3 hours to get up there from Murudo station! The resthouse at the summit was not operating and buried in snow. We took our time to savour the moment and just spoil ourselves with the view and coldddd wind. Please prepare warm clothings and waterproof shoes as it could get very cold and windy up there. Amazing experience and it was our very first alps snow hike!!!
2. Yuki no Otani (Snow Wall)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 223 reviews
Yuki no Otani (Snow Wall) is the highlight of Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route in spring. "Yuki no Otani" would be open from middle of April to late of June and you can walk along the walls during the festival. This snow wall is located in Murodo where is 2,450m above the sea level and it reaches about 20m some times. Of course, this is the best photo spot!! ※Please note this event would be cancelled if the weather is bad.
Reviewed By shlomit100 - Nagano, Japan
Spectacular during April - May. Very impressive. Was there during the corona season, so very few people. I was there before, much less enjoyable with lots of tourists around...
3. Ainokura Gassho Community
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 291 reviews
Reviewed By sarahl588 - Brisbane, Australia
I read about Ainokura in Lonely Planet and from that point on I made sure that I had to go out to visit there. I stayed in Toyama, not far from the train station, hired a car for the day and drove out to Ainokura. It was so worth it! It's such a beautiful village and was a beautiful way to experience traditional Japanese hospitality and living. It really is a must! It's like you've stepped back in time into a fairytale. Make sure you visit the Gokayama tourist information centre and Murakami House before you make the drive to Ainokura. When you're at the visitor centre make sure you put a sticker on the map of where you're from, my family were the first visitors from Samoa to place a sticker there.
4. Suganuma Gassho Community
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 209 reviews
Reviewed By FoodTraveler_Huang - Bangkok, Thailand
The first stop you can consider to drop by before going to Shirakawago . If you stay in Kanazawa, first take JR to Shin Takaoka station. Then , take the Kaetsunou bus terminal no.8 to Suganuma and also take the same bus to Shirakawago. This route considers less crowded than the bus in Takayama. Come a bit early like 9am so that you won’t see many people. February is good timing to get full snow.
5. Shomyo Falls
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 174 reviews
Shomyo Falls falls 350m and the difference in elevation is biggest in Japan. That's why it looks so powerful and it is valuable to see it. In autumn from late October to early November, Shomyo Falls are sYou can see a small part of Shomyo Falls from the parking space, but you should go to observation deck by walking about 30 minutes to see whole of the fall.urrounded by colorful leaves. This autumn season would be crowded, so sometimes it is difficult to find empty parking space in weekend. Besides, you can not go to Shomyo Falls from late Novemver to Spring because the road to there would be closed. You can see a small part of Shomyo Falls from the parking space, but you should go to observation deck by walking about 30 minutes to see whole of the fall.
Reviewed By unescotravelbug - Wooster, United States
Shomyo Falls situated in Tateyama, Toyama Prefecture, is considered the tallest waterfall in Japan by the period of running water and is one of the significant attractions of Tateyama Kuorbe Alpine Route. Shomyo Falls can be accessed by Tateyama’s sightseeing bus at outside of Toyama Chiho Railway Tateyama Station during the Spring to late Fall season when Alpine Route is opened to the visitors. Each year after the heavy snow begins to melt in the late Spring, visitors can view the magnificent scenes of high-volume water continuingly rushing down from 350 meters high above, created thundering effects and colorful rainbow sights on the sunny days. Hannoki Falls flows down beside it actually situated at the higher position at 497 meters but waterfalling is only limited to April through July due to the origin of the melting snow from Midagahara plateau wet land. It’s paired with Shomyo Fall as a twin-waterfall. The winter heavy snow sometimes would cause the Somen Waterfall to appear to the right of the Hannoki Falls after the snow melted. If you visit at the right time you might be able to catch such extraordinary phenomenon that three waterfalls are seen spontaneously flowing down beside each other. There are two separate viewing decks and a covered rest area where you can watch the waterfalls up close, but you must take stone steps going up which can be a challenging task for people with mobility concerns. After you get off the final bus stop there is a rest area and toilet facility. To reach the Falls from the bus stop you can enjoy approx. 30 min. scenic walk with the stream of rushing water and lush greenery or autumn foliage along the way. You will see the famous part of the mountain range in this area appeared to be in shear cut bold cliff faces due to the volcanic erosion. Shomyo Falls National Park is closed during winter but other three seasons’ natural scenery are not to be missed. Bus ride from Tateyama Chiho Railway Station is about 15 minutes served by Tateyama Kurobe Kankou (TKK) bus, and then 30 minutes by foot. Bus service schedules between the Falls and Tateyama Station are infrequent so be sure to keep track of time during the visit. The bus fare is 500 yens each way. I highly recommend that you include the Shomyo Falls visit as part of your Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route itineraries if time allowed. It’s difficult to manage the Alpine Routes and Shomyo Falls all in one day. So I recommend that you either stay extra day in Tateyama (which is a small charming town with relaxing atmosphere and plenty of greenery) or Toyama and make it a half day trip before or after the Alpine Route journey.
6. Mikurigaike Pond
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 233 reviews
Mikurigaike Pond is a volcanic lake in Murodo that looks like a symbol of Tateyama. The circumference of the pond is 631m and there is a walking path, so you can walk in about an hour. You may see Raicho bird which is Japan Natural Monument near the pond. It is completely covered with snow from April to June.
Reviewed By AndyDingo
One of the stops on the Alpine railway. We did a day trip from Toyama. To get here it is via train, cable-way and bus. Note it is not open during winter.
