Toyama Guide: Kansui Park, Trams & White Shrimp

A one-day course guide for traveling in Toyama. About 2 hours 10 minutes from Tokyo on the Hokuriku Shinkansen. Recommended for those arriving via the Alpine Route OUT as well, this covers Kansui Park (Fugan Canal Kansui Park), the Toyama Glass Art Museum, how to ride the tram, and Toyama's famous local restaurants all in one place.

Key Toyama Travel Info: Recommended One-Day Course Route

Toyama travel works well as a one-day course when you base yourself at Toyama Station and combine Kansui Park (Fugan Canal Kansui Park), the Toyama Glass Art Museum, the city tram, and the restaurants near Toyama Station.

It’s about 2 hours 10 minutes from Tokyo on the Hokuriku Shinkansen, so a day trip is possible, but if you connect it with an Alpine Route trip, staying one night near Toyama Station is also a good option.

Key Summary

✔️ Toyama is a city in Japan's Hokuriku region, about 2 hours 10 minutes from Tokyo on the Hokuriku Shinkansen.

✔️ Using Toyama Station as your base, you can see Kansui Park, the Toyama Glass Art Museum, Toyama Castle, and more in a single day using the city tram and walking.

✔️ If you're arriving via the Alpine Route OUT, the most relaxed plan is to stay one night near Toyama Station and do the Toyama one-day course the next day.

✔️ Toyama's famous local foods are represented by shiroebi (white shrimp), black ramen, and masuzushi (trout sushi).

✔️ From Tokyo to Toyama, you can use the Hokuriku Shinkansen or the Hokuriku Arch Pass, and trips combining Kanazawa or Karuizawa are also possible.

Recommended Toyama One-Day Course Route

① Depart Toyama Station

↓ Route 3 Toyama City Loop Line

② Toyama Castle Kokusai Kaigijo-mae (国際会議場前), 2-min walk

↓ Route 3 Toyama City Loop Line

③ Toyama Glass Art Museum Grand Plaza-mae (グランドプラザ前), 1-min walk

↓ Route 2 toward Toyama University-mae

④ Lunch: Boteyan Dentetsu Toyama Station / Esta-mae (電鉄富山駅・エスタ前), 1-min walk

↓ Routes 4·6 toward Iwasehama

⑤ Kansui Park Oaks Canal Park Hotel Toyama-mae (オークスカナルパークホテル富山前), 10-min walk

↓ On foot or by tram

⑥ Dinner: Toyama's signature foods such as shiroebi, black ramen, and masuzushi

↓ On foot

⑦ Return to Toyama Station

How to Ride the Toyama City Tram

The Toyama city tram is a streetcar connecting the north and south areas of Toyama Station, the city center, and the Iwasehama direction.

Locally it’s called the Shiden (市電), and it’s handy for getting between Toyama Castle, the Toyama Glass Art Museum, and Kansui Park during a Toyama trip.

Tram Basics

※ 10,000-yen, 5,000-yen, and 2,000-yen notes cannot be used in the in-car change machine.

※ Fares and operating information are subject to change.

Transit Cards Accepted

The Toyama city tram accepts nationwide transit IC cards such as Suica, PASMO, and ICOCA. You can use the same transit card you used in Tokyo or Osaka, so for travelers in Japan it’s more convenient than cash.

However, you cannot recharge nationwide transit IC cards inside the tram. If your balance runs low, you’ll need to pay in cash, so it’s a good idea to top up in advance at Toyama Station or a convenience store.

How to Ride the Tram

1️⃣ Board through the middle or rear door of the car.

2️⃣ When the announcement for your stop plays, press the stop button.

3️⃣ Get off through the front door of the car and pay your fare.

4️⃣ When paying in cash, put the exact amount into the fare box.

5️⃣ For IC cards, touch the reader when you get off.

📌 Notes

The fare box does not give change.

If you ride with cash, prepare small coins in advance, or use the in-car change machine.

Also, 10,000-yen, 5,000-yen, and 2,000-yen notes cannot be used in the in-car change machine, so prepare small change ahead of time.

Toyama Sights: Toyama Castle, the Glass Art Museum & Kansui Park

The sights that fit best into a Toyama one-day course are Toyama Castle, the Toyama Glass Art Museum, and Kansui Park. All three are easy to reach from Toyama Station by tram and on foot, so you can comfortably see them even on a half-day schedule after the Alpine Route OUT.

1️⃣ Toyama Castle: A Symbolic Sight in the Center of Toyama City

Toyama Castle is a landmark sight in the center of Toyama, located within Toyama Castle Park.

The castle interior currently operates as the Toyama Municipal Folk Museum, where you can see exhibits on the history of Toyama Castle and the changes to the castle grounds.

2️⃣ Toyama Glass Art Museum: Kengo Kuma Architecture and Glass Art

The Toyama Glass Art Museum is a museum specializing in glass craft, located inside the TOYAMA Kirari building.

It’s a space designed by architect Kengo Kuma, and the atmosphere created by the building’s wooden structure and the light inside is striking.

3️⃣ Kansui Park: Toyama’s Signature Walking Course with the Tenmonkyo Bridge and Canal

Kansui Park, whose official name is Fugan Canal Kansui Park (富岩運河環水公園), is a signature park of Toyama. You can reach it on foot from the north side of Toyama Station, and it’s a waterside park where the canal, the Tenmonkyo Bridge, and walking paths come together.

The park is free to use, and from the Tenmonkyo Bridge observation tower you can see both Kansui Park and the cityscape of Toyama. If the weather is good, it’s the spot where you can linger most comfortably on a Toyama one-day course.

4️⃣ Kansui Park Starbucks: A Popular Toyama Café with a View of the Canal

Inside Kansui Park there’s a Starbucks Toyama Kansui Park store.

From the large windows and terrace you can see the canal and the Tenmonkyo Bridge, so it’s a place many people visit as a Toyama travel photo spot.

5️⃣ Optional Course: Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art & Canal Cruise

If you have time to spare in your schedule, try also visiting the Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art.

It’s located in Kansui Park, so it pairs well with a walk through the park, and you can see the rooftop garden and contemporary art exhibits together.

If you want to enjoy the canal in a more special way, the Fugan Canal Cruise (富岩水上ライン) connects Kansui Park with the Iwase direction. It suits travelers on a relaxed one-night, two-day trip.

※ Operating period and fares should be confirmed officially before departure.

Toyama Restaurants: Shiroebi, Black Ramen & Masuzushi

The foods you must try on a Toyama trip are shiroebi, Toyama black ramen, masuzushi, and Toyama Bay sushi.

Around Toyama Station there are many restaurants and takeout shops that are easy to stop by right after the Alpine Route OUT, so they fit well as lunch or dinner during a one-day course.

1️⃣ Boteyan: An Okonomiyaki Restaurant in Front of Toyama Station

Boteyan is an okonomiyaki specialty restaurant in front of Toyama Station.

It’s a popular place that has been selected several times for Tabelog’s Top 100 Okonomiyaki list.

Its okonomiyaki is known for a thick, soft texture, and it feels more like a hearty, filling meal than typical okonomiyaki. It’s a good place to stop by right after you arrive at Toyama Station following the Alpine Route OUT.

2️⃣ Shiroebitei: The Jewel of Toyama Bay, White Shrimp Rice Bowl

Shiroebitei is a shiroebi specialty restaurant inside Toyamarche, directly connected to Toyama Station.

Shiroebi is the white shrimp called “the jewel of Toyama Bay,” and it’s in season from April to November.

The shrimp are small, but their sweetness and umami are delicate, and you can enjoy them as a rice bowl, tempura, or sashimi.

If you want a meal with a strong local character in Toyama, the shiroebi rice bowl or shiroebi tempura is what I’d recommend first.

3️⃣ Ramen Isshin: Experience Toyama Black Ramen

Ramen Isshin Toyama Station-mae Main Store is a Toyama black ramen specialty shop.

It’s within walking distance of Toyama Station, so it’s easy to fit in even during a short Toyama one-day course.

Toyama black ramen is a local Toyama ramen known for its black broth on a rich soy sauce base, coarse pepper, and strong saltiness. It’s said to have started as a dish well-suited for laborers who sweat a lot to eat together with rice.

If it’s your first time, it’s best to think of it as a way to experience Toyama’s regional food. If the saltiness is too much, eating it together with rice is one way to go.

4️⃣ Kaiten Toyama Sushi: Conveyor-Belt Sushi for Toyama Bay Seafood

Kaiten Toyama Sushi Toyama Station-mae has both its main building and annex near Toyama Station, so access is good. You can eat Toyama Bay seafood and local sushi relatively casually.

Toyama Bay is a region rich in seasonal fish, so be sure to try the fresh sushi.

5️⃣ Masuzushi: Trout Sushi That’s Easy to Buy at Toyama Station

Masuzushi is the trout sushi that represents Toyama.

It’s a famous Toyama food in which salted trout is marinated in vinegar, then wrapped with rice in bamboo leaves and aged.

If you’re looking for proper masuzushi near Toyama Station, visit Aoyama Sohonpo. Aoyama Sohonpo is a specialty shop that sells Toyama’s famous trout sushi as its flagship product, and it also has products individually packaged so they’re easy to eat one piece at a time.

If you’re short on time, you can also buy masuzushi at the ekiben and souvenir shops inside Toyama Station. You can compare masuzushi from several brands, so it’s good as a bento to eat on the train or as a travel gift.

Since I had to make my train time, I bought masuzushi and shiroebi tempura as ekiben at Toyama Station. They were easy to eat in bite-sized pieces and tasted good, making for a nice meal to wrap up my Hokuriku trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Is a Toyama one-day trip possible after the Alpine Route OUT?

Yes, it’s possible.

However, after the Alpine Route OUT, you often arrive at Toyama Station in the afternoon, so on the arrival day it’s best to lightly see just Kansui Park and the Toyama Glass Art Museum.

If you have time to spare, it’s more comfortable to stay one night near Toyama Station and do the Toyama one-day course the next day.

Q2. Why is the Kansui Park Starbucks famous?

The Kansui Park Starbucks is a store where you can drink coffee while looking out at the canal and the Tenmonkyo Bridge.

From the large windows and terrace you can see the park scenery, so many people visit it as a Toyama travel photo spot.

It’s a good café to fit in for a rest after a walk through Kansui Park.

Q3. Can I use the Hokuriku Arch Pass from Tokyo to Toyama?

Yes, you can use it.

However, if you’re simply making a round trip between Tokyo and Toyama, a Shinkansen round-trip ticket is cheaper.

If your itinerary also includes Kanazawa, Karuizawa, and Nagano, the Hokuriku Arch Pass becomes more worthwhile.

Q4. Is there an airport in Toyama too?

Yes, Toyama has Toyama Airport (富山空港, Toyama Kitokito Airport).

However, regular direct flights to Seoul/Incheon are currently suspended, and the Korea route is sometimes operated as seasonal charter or temporary flights.

Q5. Where should I stay for a Toyama one-day trip?

Hotels around Toyama Station are the most convenient. There are many hotels within a 5-minute walk of Toyama Station (JAL City Hotel, Chitetsu Hotel, Toyama Manten Hotel, Tokyu Hotel, etc.). Access to the tram and Shinkansen is good, making it ideal for a one-day trip.

➡️ Compare hotel prices near Toyama Station

Toyama is a city that’s good for seeing Kansui Park, the Toyama Glass Art Museum, the city tram, and Toyama’s famous local foods all in a single day.

You can plan a Toyama trip on its own, but if you come down to Toyama after a Tateyama Alpine Route trip and continue with the one-day course, your itinerary feels more complete.

In particular, if you stay one night at the Murodo Sanso lodge and then base yourself at Toyama Station to combine Kansui Park and Toyama’s restaurants, you can enjoy both the high-mountain scenery of the Alpine Route and a Hokuriku city trip together.

If you’re planning an Alpine Route trip departing from Tokyo, try adding the Toyama one-day course to your itinerary too.

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