Your visit to this Prefecture can be as varied, exciting, laid back, culturally enriching as you care to make it. In between playing Golf, there are loads of attractions for you and family members.
You may wish to relax and vegetate in a sand bath at the Hanayama Onsen Hotel, where they cover most of your body with the sand while listening to relaxing Zen music. Following this you may choose to immerse yourself in the natural hot spring (Onsen) at the same hotel.
One trip, which is really worth taking, is the Tateyama Korube Alpine route. This usually operates from April to October and besides passing through one of the most impressively scenic mountainous routes you will be able to walk on a snow walled passageway. You will take in snow-capped peaks, gorges, dams, lakes, tunnels, bridges, greenery, flowers, highs and lows on this spectacular bus trip. There are also numerous pistes for skiing and snowboarding for those interested in these sports.
Between March and June, you will be able to visit one of Toyama Bay’s Beaches in the early hours of the morning to witness one of the most electrically charged natural phenomenon on the planet. Firefly Squid, which come up from the depths of the Japan Sea to the shallow beaches to mate, offer an intriguingly unusual spectacle of a deep blue twinkling luminescence. It will probably be one of the most unusual and rewarding sights of your entire life.
For art and Nature/Science lovers, there are quite a few Museums to visit, such as the famous Toyama Prefectural Museum of Modern Art, Toyama Science Museum of Natural History or the Toyama Glass Art Museum. The Suiboku Museum showcases both ancient and recent Chinese art, while the Fukumitsu Museum, exhibits works by Japanese Wood Block artist Munakata Shikoh. For opening times and locations of all the different Museums, you may wish to contact the Toyama Museum Association.
Another attraction, which falls under the Toyama Museum Association, is the Uozu Aquarium. This was the first Aquarium incorporating marine life from the Japan Sea and although the structure is a tad dated, it is still worth a visit. Within walking distance of the Aquarium, you will find the Mirage Land Amusement / Water Park where, besides a number of rides and games for all the family, you may also opt to snap some aerial shots of the park itself by riding the giant Ferris Wheel.
Throughout summer between June and September, you will be able to participate in various folk festivals with different themes, such as the Bamboo Pole and Lantern highly decorated artistic floats in the Jankotoi Uozu Festival. You may remain for the Kokiriko Festival in Gokayama, which is held in late September. A number of Fireworks festivals in different locations are also the norm in this region during summer.
PHOTO: Harvesting Fire fly squid in Toyama by phil halper https://flic.kr/p/SGVwAg
