6 Must-Visit Tourist Spots in Toyama That Will Make You Want to Head There in Winter – Enjoy the Snowy Scenery!

Here are some attractive winter tourist spots in Toyama Prefecture. In the southeast of the Toyama Plain, the Tateyama mountain range rises majestically, and vast natural landscapes unfold all around, captivating you at first glance.

Because Toyama is a heavy-snow area, you can enjoy skiing as well as unique winter snowy scenes. This guide focuses on the winter season and introduces recommended attractions in Toyama that are especially appealing in winter. After reading, you’ll surely feel inspired to visit Toyama during the snowy season.

1. “Gokayama Ainokura Gassho-Zukuri Village”

Gokayama Ainokura is one of Toyama’s representative tourist attractions. Registered as a World Heritage site, it showcases the traditional Japanese scenery of olden times. “Gassho-zukuri” refers to a traditional architectural style characterized by steeply pitched roofs. The village offers different views throughout the year, creating an extraordinary atmosphere.

In winter, the village is especially magical: during the day, the clear blue sky and snow create a stunning scene, while at night, the illuminated houses cast a fantastical glow. With 23 houses in the village, where locals still live, visitors should be mindful not to disturb the residents.

This rare sight can only be seen in this region of Japan—an unmissable attraction when visiting Toyama.

2. “Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route”

The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route connects Toyama’s Tateyama Station with Nagano’s Oigawa Station and is a famous mountain sightseeing route. Due to the rugged terrain, visitors use ropeways, cable cars, and trolley buses to traverse the Tateyama mountain range.

Located in one of Japan’s renowned heavy-snow areas, the route is closed from late November to mid-April, when deep snow prevails. The globally famous “Snow Corridor” is a spectacular sight unique to this route.

The highest point of the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route is Murodo Plateau, at an elevation of approximately 2,450 meters. The road from the Toyama side to Murodo begins snow removal by bulldozers, using GPS, around late January. Then, the long-awaited Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route opens every year around mid-April.

From mid-April to mid-June, why not take a walk along the “Snow Corridor Walk,” a passage flanked by snow walls about 10–20 meters high? If you stroll along the snow panorama road at Murodo, you might even encounter a pristine white ptarmigan. At Daikanbo, you can also enjoy the “Snow Tunnel” and “Snow Pocket.”

3. “Hotaruika Museum”

Winter in Toyama can be extremely cold, making continuous outdoor sightseeing challenging. In such cases, why not relax at the Hotaruika Museum—a unique facility located in Namerikawa City and surrounded by rich nature? Even in winter, you can observe and interact with firefly squid.

The museum allows you to experience the ecology of the firefly squid inhabiting the waters off Namerikawa, and to get a feel for the deep-sea environment. The firefly squid, known for its bioluminescence, creates a fantastical light display that is further enhanced by special illumination in the museum’s “Live Theater” and “Mysteries of the Deep Sea” exhibits.

4. “Toyama Glass Art Museum”

For an indoor attraction in winter, visit the Toyama Glass Art Museum. Toyama City has long aimed to be known as the “City of Glass,” and after 30 years of urban development, its masterpiece is the multi-use facility “TOYAMA Kirari,” designed by architect Kengo Kuma. This complex houses the Glass Art Museum, the Toyama City Library, and the First Bank of Toyama.

Inside, the building features a striking diagonal atrium; the museum occupies the south side from the 2nd to the 6th floor, offering a variety of exhibitions on each level.

Even on days with harsh winter weather, you can easily spend most of the day here, enjoying precious works including those by renowned glass artist Dale Chifouli.

The glass and aluminum exterior of “TOYAMA Kirari” reflects light beautifully on clear winter days, creating an even more dazzling sight.

5. “Toyama Castle”

The final spot is Toyama Castle, which is especially captivating in winter due to its illuminated castle park.

The castle keep, lit in a cool blue hue, blends harmoniously with the snowy surroundings, creating a scene that compels you to take photos. Located at the center of Toyama City, the castle is truly a city symbol.

Originally constructed in the mid-16th century and designed to take advantage of the Jinzu River’s flow for defense—earning it the nickname “Floating Castle”—Toyama Castle offers seasonal beauty with cherry blossoms in spring, autumn foliage in fall, and stunning illumination in winter. The current structure is a replica modeled after a 3-story, 4-layered castle and now serves as the Toyama City Local Museum.

6. “Noto Peninsula National Park – Himi Onsen Resort”

Toyama Prefecture is home to 149 hot springs, nearly 70% of which originate from the expansive Kouryou region surrounding the Toyama Plain. Himi Onsen belongs to this group and forms a vibrant hot spring town with numerous baths and ryokan. When visiting Toyama in winter, using Himi Onsen as your base can be a great choice.

The water at Himi Onsen is a sodium chloride type with a slightly briny taste, known as “fossil salt water” dating back about 1,500 years. Nicknamed “the bath that makes you beautiful,” it is especially popular among female visitors. In winter, you can enjoy an extraordinary experience by soaking in a snow-view bath under a starry sky.

Below are three recommended hotels in the Himi Onsen area.

◆ Himi Onsen “Uomeguri no Yuka” (BBH Hotel Group)

This is an accommodation offering breathtaking views of Toyama Bay from every room. Every guest room features an ocean view, including Japanese-style rooms ranging from 8 to 11 tatami mats, a “Bessetsu Ten'yū Special Room” that combines a Japanese-style room with a twin bedroom, and “Bessetsu Ten'yū Room I,” which is spacious enough for three generations to stay comfortably.

There are two large communal baths with views of either Toyama Bay or the Tateyama mountain range, operated on an alternating basis for men and women during morning and evening hours. Each bath includes an indoor bath, a jet bath, and an open-air bath.
For meals, enjoy our proud cuisine that makes full use of the fresh seafood from Toyama Bay, renowned as a natural live fish tank. Our chefs skillfully prepare seasonal specialties such as white shrimp, firefly squid, and crab to delight both your eyes and your palate.

◆ Immigrating-Worthy Inn: Imigre

Imigre is a seaside stay-and-dine restaurant. It offers a total of six guest rooms—all with ocean views—including one Japanese-Western style suite and five Western-style superior/standard rooms. Guests can relax in the calm, modern Japanese interiors of the rooms.

At dinner, enjoy French cuisine served in a theatre-style restaurant where every seat offers an ocean view. The chef, formerly a chef at an ambassador’s residence, prepares exquisite dishes featuring abundant local treasures from Toyama Bay and Himi’s mountain and sea produce, including Himi’s chilly amberjack.

◆ Route In Grantia Himi: Kazura Inn

Route In Grantia Himi is conveniently located about a 4-minute drive from Himi Kita IC on the Nōgoshi Expressway and offers a parking lot that accommodates roughly 300 vehicles. With its natural hot spring large bath and Japanese restaurant on site, the hotel is ideal for both business and leisure stays. The welcome café corner is open until 10:00 PM, where you can enjoy complimentary Doutor Coffee.

Guest accommodations include various room types such as single, twin, and double rooms, as well as family doubles, Japanese-style rooms, and barrier-free rooms designed without steps. The large bath, “Shiosai no Yu,” features an open-air bath with natural hot spring water flowing directly from the source. The water, a strong sodium chloride type with a tea-brown hue from its iron and salt content, is available for bathing between 15:00–24:00 and again from 5:00–10:00 the following morning.

◎ Summary of Recommended Winter Toyama Tourist Spots

While Toyama Prefecture is known for its nature-centric attractions that often draw visitors in spring through autumn, there are plenty of enchanting spots to explore in winter as well.

For those from regions where snowfall is rare, the winter scenery here is truly awe-inspiring. In winter, Toyama offers everything from World Heritage sites that will make you want to visit, to relaxing hot springs and indoor attractions that you simply can’t cover in one day.
Let the magical, pristine winter landscapes soothe your soul, enjoy a leisurely soak in a hot spring, and experience a Toyama tour that will transport you to a world far removed from everyday life.

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6 Must-Visit Tourist Spots in Toyama That Will Make You Want to Head There in Winter – Enjoy the Snowy Scenery!