Toyama City selected as "Places to visit" by the New York Times!

Toyama City in particular has been praised for its unique culture, beautiful scenery, and attractive tourist spots, and has attracted worldwide attention. In this article, we will introduce in detail the reasons why Toyama City was selected, its charms, and the spots to visit.

Why Toyama City was selected:
The New York Times article particularly praised the following points of Toyama City.

• The artistic charm of the Toyama City Glass Art Museum
• The fantastic atmosphere of the traditional festival "Owara Bon Festival"
• The richness of local gourmet and cafe culture
• The fusion of rich nature and modern urban landscapes
• Easy access and development of tourism infrastructure

Let's take a closer look at each one.

1. Toyama City Glass Art Museum
The Toyama City Glass Art Museum is an art spot that is highly regarded not only in Japan but also around the world. Beautiful works that combine glass craft techniques with contemporary art are on display, captivating visitors.

In particular, the building designed by architect Kengo Kuma has a unique design that combines wood and glass, and even just entering the building is an artistic experience. Glass art workshops are also held, and tourists can actually try making glass art, which is a major attraction.

2. Owara Bon Festival
The Owara Bon Festival, held every September in the Yao district of Toyama City, is a traditional festival characterized by fantastic dances unfolding in silence and the sounds of shamisen and kokyu.

This festival has a history of about 300 years and is highly regarded not only by tourists but also by culture lovers in Japan. The sight of dancers wearing hats dancing slowly as the soft lights of the night cityscape shine will be deeply engraved in the hearts of visitors.

3. Toyama Gourmet and Cafe Culture
Toyama City is also known as a treasure trove of fresh seafood and delicious sake.

• White shrimp sashimi and tempura: White shrimp caught in Toyama Bay are so delicious that they are called the "jewel of Toyama Bay."
• Marinated firefly squid: It has a unique flavor and goes great with sake.
• Toyama Black Ramen: A local ramen with thick noodles in a strong soy sauce soup.

In addition, Toyama City's cafe culture has also been attracting attention recently. Sweets made with local ingredients and stylish cafes are opening one after another, making it a great place to stop by between sightseeing.

4. Rich nature and modern urban landscape
Toyama City is a city where beautiful scenery with the Tateyama mountain range in the background and modern urban design are in harmony.

• Matsukawa Riverbank: In spring, the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, and you can enjoy the scenery along the river on a sightseeing boat.
• Kansuikoen Park: A spot famous for having the most beautiful Starbucks in the world. At night, it is lit up and enveloped in a fantastic atmosphere.
• Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route: A spot where you can enjoy the world-famous Yuki-no-Otani Walk.

One of the great attractions of Toyama City is that you can feel close to rich nature while being in an urban area.

5. Good access and development of tourism infrastructure

With the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen, Toyama City can now be accessed from Tokyo in about two hours. It is also easily accessible from Kansai and Nagoya, making it an easy-to-visit tourist destination.

In addition, buses and rental bicycles for tourists are being developed, making it easy to walk around the city.

Now is the time to visit Toyama City!

The reason why the New York Times chose Toyama City as a "must-visit place" this time is because it is not just a tourist destination, but is full of attractions that allow you to experience Japanese culture, nature, food, and art in a comprehensive manner.

The number of tourists from overseas is expected to increase in the future, so if you have not yet visited, why not experience the charm of Toyama City to the fullest while you can?