You probably now have an image of the Heaven and Hell concepts surrounding this area, especially if you saw the mandaras in the museum. Well how about getting a hands-on, 3-D multi-sensory experience for yourself! Time to move on to Mandara Yuen for a modern and artistic representation of Tateyama’s Heaven and Hell! As it has indoor and outdoor experiences, going in fine weather is preferable.

The Tateyama Museum of Toyama complex here offers a number of interesting facilities revealing Ashikuraji’s centuries as a religious centre. A day can be pleasantly spent strolling through time in this tranquil mountain village.

Tateyama is a famous symbol of Toyama, and one of the three most sacred mountains of Japan. The picturesque landscape of the Tateyama range in the Northern Japan Alps draws people for many reasons - hiking in summer, snow sports in winter, onsens, food, local festivals.

Traditional Japanese sweets (wagashi) come in different shapes, sizes and stories. Typically served with tea, the culture of gifting wagashi was mentioned in historical tales from the Muromachi era. At Toyama City's Matsukawa Teahouse you can learn how to make wagashi (complete with an interpreter), and then take a quiet river cruise.

From 8th December 2018 to 24th February 2019, the Studio Ghibli Exhibition is entertaining young and old fans in Toyama City. Come to the Toyama Glass Art Museum and soak in the magic! This creative exhibition draws visitors into an intricate maze. As you figure out your way to the exit, the world of Ghibli envelops you with a wealth of history, culture, arts and philosophy. Don’t worry about getting lost, you’ll be presented with a road map at the entrance.

Sunsets alone along the Sea of Japan, or Nihonkai as it’s called in Japanese, make getting there well worth the effort, and the cycling and camping it offers make it more than well worth it.

With some knowledge of the local dialect and the following guide, I am sure you will enjoy your stay at Toyama city. Any season is a great time–why not drop by for a visit?

Despite of its gloomy reputation, winter has a special place in my heart. I am spending my first full-length winter in Toyama and I am enjoying some really memorable experiences!

With traditional houses built over 400 years ago surrounded by glorious foliage all around, the experience I had here was one I will cherish forever.

Here are my favourite social expressions in Toyama-ben. And yes, you will not find these vocabularies in a standard Japanese language textbook!

The following is a brief guide which outlines the main highlights of the Alpine Route, and its extensive yet impressive transportation system, starting from Shinano-Omachi Station. The trip will end in Toyama.

When most people visit Japan for the first time, there’s few itineraries they have in mind. Very few of them involve a visit to the Hokuriku region. Here's why you definitely should go, and a sample itinerary stretched across the region's three main cities.