Things to Do in Toyama
Hand-picked sights and experiences across Toyama, with day trips from Nagano.
When to catch the colours in Toyama?
Average red maple, golden ginkgo and cherry blossom dates for Toyama, from the Japan Meteorological Agency's 1991–2020 normals — the fortnight to aim for, not a promise for any particular year.
- Red maples
- Leaves turnNov 24
- Peak viewingNov 24 – Dec 8
- Golden ginkgo
- Leaves turnNov 19
- Peak viewingNov 19 – Dec 3
- Cherry blossom
- First flowersApr 3
- Full bloomApr 8
Where to look next?
The prefectures we've mapped so far, nearest to Toyama first.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route with its famous spring snow corridor, the World Heritage gasshō-zukuri villages of Gokayama, and Toyama Bay's absurdly good seafood — firefly squid in spring, white shrimp all year.
The Alpine Route opens in mid-April, and the towering snow walls at Murodō are at their tallest — sometimes well over ten metres — through May. The full route stays open until late November for autumn colours.
Same steep-roofed thatched farmhouses, far fewer people — Gokayama's Ainokura and Suganuma hamlets are smaller, quieter and feel more lived-in. Buses link them with Shirakawa-go and Takayama, so you can compare in one day.