Toyama City’s Fugan Canal Kansui Park, Toyama Castle and the Kurobe Gorge Railway at Unazuki Onsen make a perfect two-day plan for travelers who want more than the Alpine Route in Toyama Prefecture. The city sits between Toyama Bay and the 3,000-meter peaks of the Northern Alps, which you can see from downtown on clear days, and it was named one of The New York Times’ 52 Places to Go in 2025. It is compact, easy to explore by tram, and known for some of the freshest seafood in Japan. This guide covers the three highlights, practical tips for the 2026 season of the Kurobe Gorge Railway, and where to stay in Toyama.
1. Fugan Canal Kansui Park
Fugan Canal Kansui Park is a canal-side park about a nine-minute walk from the north exit of Toyama Station, and it is the city’s favorite place for a stroll. Its centerpiece is Tenmon-kyo, a bridge with an observation tower at each end, open 9:00 to 21:30; the two towers are linked by a long red string telephone, and on clear days you can see the Tateyama range from the top. In the evening the bridge and waterfall are lit up in changing colors. The park’s Starbucks, often called the world’s most beautiful Starbucks after winning the company’s store design contest in 2008, has a glass front facing the water. Canal boats run from here toward Iwase, an old port district of merchant houses and a sake brewery. Nearby, the Toyama Glass Art Museum, in Kengo Kuma’s TOYAMA Kirari building, shows modern glass, including a Dale Chihuly garden; the permanent collection is 200 yen.
2. Toyama Castle Park
Toyama Castle Park, about 10 minutes on foot from the south exit of Toyama Station, is the green heart of downtown. The castle was the seat of the Maeda family’s Toyama domain, and today’s keep is a concrete reconstruction from 1954 that houses the Toyama City Local History Museum, with displays on the castle and the city’s history. Admission is 210 yen, and it is open 9:00 to 17:00 (last entry 16:30); note that the museum is temporarily closed from October 27 to 30, 2026. The moat, stone walls and Japanese garden are free and lovely for a walk, especially in spring when cherry trees bloom, and at night the lit-up keep stands out against the modern city. Toyama’s trams stop right by the park and run on a flat fare of 240 yen, so it is easy to combine with Kansui Park and the glass museum in one day.
3. Kurobe Gorge Railway and Unazuki Onsen
The Kurobe Gorge Railway is a little open-air trolley train that winds about 20 kilometers up one of Japan’s deepest V-shaped gorges from the hot spring town of Unazuki Onsen, crossing red bridges and passing through more than 40 tunnels. After damage from the 2024 Noto earthquake, service in 2026 ran only part of the way until full service to the terminus at Keyakidaira resumed on October 1, 2026. The ride takes about 1 hour 20 minutes each way, and the adult fare to Keyakidaira is 4,960 yen round trip; plan about four hours in total. At Keyakidaira, only the station area and visitor center are open for now, while walking trails such as Sarutobi Gorge remain closed. The 2026 season ends on November 30, and foliage near Unazuki usually peaks in mid-November. Before boarding, see the red Shin-Yamabiko Bridge from a viewpoint three minutes from the station.
Where to Stay Near Toyama
Where to stay: ToyamaHotel links in this section go to Orbitz. If you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Toyama city makes a convenient base for both downtown sights and day trips: Toyama Station has the Hokuriku Shinkansen, the trams and the Toyama Chiho Railway, which runs to Unazuki Onsen in about an hour and a half (or take the Shinkansen to Kurobe-Unazukionsen and change there). If you would rather wake up in the gorge, Unazuki Onsen has riverside ryokan with hot spring baths.
Luxury
ANA Crowne Plaza Toyama is an upscale international hotel near Toyama Castle Park and the tram line, with restaurants on site and comfortable, spacious rooms. It suits travelers who want a quieter downtown location with full-service comfort.
Upscale hotel near Toyama Castle Park and the tram.
Mid-Range
Dormy Inn Toyama Natural Hot Spring is a favorite with travelers for its natural hot spring baths and the free late-night bowl of ramen the chain is known for. Rooms are compact but well designed, and the hotel is close to the tram for easy sightseeing.
Dormy Inn Toyama Natural Hot Spring
Hot spring baths and free late-night ramen.
Budget-Friendly
Comfort Hotel Toyama is a simple, reliable hotel near Toyama Station with a free breakfast included. It is a smart choice for travelers who plan to spend their days on trains to Unazuki or the Alpine Route.
Simple hotel near the station with free breakfast.
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Hotels in Toyama on Orbitz
Stay in Toyama for easy trams to Kansui Park and the castle, and trains to Unazuki and the Alps.
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Quick Tips for Visiting
- Buy a tram day pass if you plan several rides; single rides are a flat 240 yen and IC cards work.
- Book Kurobe Gorge Railway seats online from three months to two days ahead, especially in foliage season.
- Try Toyama Bay seafood such as shiro-ebi white shrimp, firefly squid in spring and winter yellowtail, plus Toyama Black ramen.
- Bring a jacket for the trolley train: the open cars get cold and windy in the gorge.
- Pick up masu-zushi, trout sushi wrapped in bamboo leaves, as a classic train lunch.
Getting there by train: The Hokuriku Shinkansen reaches Toyama from Tokyo in about 2 hours 10 minutes on the Kagayaki and is covered by the JR Pass. For Unazuki, ride the Shinkansen one stop to Kurobe-Unazukionsen, then walk to Shin-Kurobe Station for the Toyama Chiho Railway to Unazuki-Onsen, about 25 minutes (not covered by the JR Pass). JR Pass holders get a small discount on a same-day round trip on the Kurobe Gorge Railway bought at the Unazuki counter. Read our guide to riding trains in Japan, learn how to ride the Shinkansen, and check whether the JR Pass is worth it for your route.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Kurobe Gorge Railway running to Keyakidaira in 2026?
Yes. Full service to Keyakidaira resumed on October 1, 2026, and the season runs until November 30. Walking trails at Keyakidaira such as Sarutobi Gorge are still closed.
How much is the Kurobe Gorge Railway?
The adult round-trip fare between Unazuki and Keyakidaira is 4,960 yen, and the ride takes about 1 hour 20 minutes each way.
Why is the Kansui Park Starbucks famous?
The Starbucks at Fugan Canal Kansui Park won the company store design contest in 2008 and is often called the most beautiful Starbucks in the world.
Is Toyama Castle open?
Yes. The keep houses the Toyama City Local History Museum, open 9:00 to 17:00 for 210 yen, but it is temporarily closed from October 27 to 30, 2026.
