Nature Spots in Toyama Area
Area
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Toyama
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Toyama
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- Amaharashi Coast
- Travel / Tourism
- Toyama Pref. Takaokashi Ota
- At the Amaharashi Coast Quasi-National Park, visitors standing on the beach can enjoy spectacular views of the rocky islets offshore and of the majestic Tateyama Mountains in the distance that seem to float above Toyama Bay; every season brings its own unique scenery. The stretch of coastline that extends from the Amaharashi Coast to Matsudae-no-Nagahama in Himi City has been ranked as one of Japan’s “Top 100 White Sand and Green Pines Beaches” and as one of “Japan’s 100 Best Beaches.” Otomo no Yakamochi, the poet and compiler of the Man’yoshu poetry anthology, was deeply impressed by the scenery of the Amaharashi Coast; his many poems in praise of the area were a major factor in its becoming so famous.
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- Toyama Bay
- Travel / Tourism
- Toyama Prefecture
- "This bay is located in southern northern area of the Hokuriku region. The largest open sea-inner bay on the Sea of Japan, it is famous for the abundance of fish and its mirages. You can see the majestic landscape of the 3,000 meter-high Tateyama Mountain Range from the bay. Arisomi, one of the settings of ""Oku no Hosomichi"" (The Narrow Road to the Deep North), has been designated as one of Japan's most scenic spots. In addition, the submarine canyon called Aigame where the water suddenly becomes deep is the perfect home for fish. Various fish can be caught because of the warm and cold currents that flow into Toyama Bay, uniquely allowing you to get fresh tastes of firefly squid that flock around the coast while emitting a pale blue light, and translucent glass shrimp."
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- Shomyo Falls
- Travel / Tourism
- Toyama Pref. Nakanikawaguntateyamamachi Ashikuraji
- With water crashing down from a height of 350 meters and sending up a mass of spray, Shomyo Falls—the highest waterfall in Japan—is an impressive sight. When the flow of water in the rivers increases, another waterfall (Hannoki Falls) appears to the right of Shomyo Falls, and when the flow is really high several other, smaller waterfalls also appear nearby, which makes for a truly amazing spectacle. Hannoki Falls can only be seen in spring, when the snow-melt from the Tateyama mountain range leads to an increased flow of water.
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- Bijodaira
- Travel / Tourism
- Toyama Pref. Nakanikawaguntateyamamachi Ashikuraji
- This plateau is in the western area of Midagahara. You can see a virgin forest of Tateyama cedar and beech and the Joganji River. The forest overflowing with broad-leaved trees including beech trees that are over 200 years old is also famous as a popular bird-watching spot where many birds gather every year in the early summer. Chosen as one of Japan's Top 100 Forest Bathing Areas, there are many people who come to take in the forest atmosphere and for nature walks. In front of Bijodaira Station stand a couple of legendary Bijosugi (beautiful lady cedar) trees, which are known as a symbol for the fulfillment of love.
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- Kurobe Gorge
- Travel / Tourism
- Toyama Pref. Kurobeshi Unadukimachifunami Tomorrow Mr. Asoawa
- Japan’s deepest V-shaped gorge, Kurobe Gorge divides the northern Hida Mountains into the Tateyama Mountains and the Ushiro-tateyama Mountains, and awes people all year round. You can enjoy an electric trolley ride weaving through the 20.1 kilometers of the gorge, a 1-hour 20-minute ride. The hidden areas accessible only through electric trolley are—simply put—astounding.
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- Murodou-Daira
- Travel / Tourism
- Tateyama cho Shimodo Toyama prefecture
- Murodou-Daira is a tourist spot located at an altitude of 2,450 meters above sea level. Located at the heart of the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route area, Murodou-Daira is also a base for mountain-climbing. Visitors can view several peaks that rise to around 3,000 meters, including Mt. Tsurugi. There are plenty of great walks nearby, with the opportunity to view Mikuriga-ike Pond and Jigoku-dani (“hell valley”); in spring, when the snow has been cleared from Otani area, visitors can also experience traveling along a road with 20-meter high snow drifts on either side.
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- Midagahara
- Travel / Tourism
- Toyama Nakaniikawa-gun Tateyamamachi Ashikuraji
- A plateau in Midagahara, Ashikuji, Tateyama, Nakaniikawa. Stretching two kilometers north to south and four kilometers east to west, it is Japan's largest plateau over 2000-meters above sea level. It offers beautiful scenery especially as the colors start to change during autumn.
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- Sarutobi Gorge
- Travel / Tourism
- Kurobe Canyon, Kurobe-shi, Toyama Prefecture
- "This is one of the areas accessible to travelers on the upper reaches of the Kurobe Gorge in Toyama Prefecture. It got the name ""Sarutobi"" from the parts of the gorge that are so narrow that wild monkeys can leap across with ease. A walkway runs to the Sarutobikyo Observatory from Keyakidaira Station, the final stop on the Torokko Electric Railway that passes along the Kurobe Gorge. The tourist season gets busy with hikers who come to see the many highlights like the red arch bridge along the way. "
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- Yoshitsune Iwa
- Travel / Tourism
- Toyama Takaoka-shi Ota
- "The samurai Minamoto no Yoshitsune sheltered in this rock formation when it rained while he was escaping to the safety of Mutsu Province after the Kamakura shogunate government ordered his capture. This in turn is the derivation of the area's name of Amaharashi, which literally means ""break in the rain."" The Amaharashi Coast along which the rock lies was described in Matsuo Basho's famous ""Narrow Road to the Interior"" and has been designated a Place of Scenic Beauty in the modern day. According to legend, the warrior monk Benkei also lifted the boulder in a feat of strength, and some theorize that it was once the burial chamber for an ancient tomb."
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- Oyama (Mt. Tateyama)
- Travel / Tourism
- Toyama Nakaniikawa-gun Tateyamamachi Ashikuraji
- According to legend, the priest Jiko spent his life developing this mountain in the Northern Japan Alps, founding the Ashikuraji and Iwakuraji temples at its foot and turning it into a center for mountain worship. A stone monument marking the Tateyama Tamadono Spring, famous for its abundant and delicious waters and chosen for inclusion in a list of the Top 100 Famous Water, is located close to the Murodo Terminal (Hotel Tateyama), one of the terminals on the mountain available for those climbing it.
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- Kurobedaira
- Travel / Tourism
- Toyama Nakaniikawa-gun Tateyamamachi Ashikuraji
- This station is situated on the Tateyama Ropeway. The station's white building stands on a plain 1,828 meters above sea level. The Kurobe Teien garden can be found here and visitors can enjoy abundant natural scenery; an alpine plant garden is also a two-minute walk away. The station has a restaurant and menu highlights include Tateyama Black Soft Serve Ice Cream, and an original curry inspired by the area's wintertime snow corridors.
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- Tengudaira
- Travel / Tourism
- Toyama Nakaniikawa-gun Tateyamamachi Ashikuraji
- This area, located along the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route between Murodo Terminal and the Tateyama Kogen Hotel, is relatively flat and can be used to take a relaxing hike. Pleasant walking can be had here from around early July onward when the winter snow has disappeared. In addition, visitors can enjoy the sight of fields of Geum pentapetalum from mid-July to early August.
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- Somen Falls
- Travel / Tourism
- Toyama Nakaniikawa-gun Tateyamamachi Ashikuraji
- This 130-meter-tall waterfall drops from a cliff near Tengudaira. The thin, white waterfall resembles somen noodles, hence its name. A spectacular view of the falls can be enjoyed from the Bijodaira Tenku Road Somen Falls Observation Platform. Upriver from the falls is Jigokudani (hell valley), and downriver is Shomyo Falls.
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- Tokonijino-taki Falls
- Travel / Tourism
- Toyama Toyama-shi Inotani
- "This waterfall is located in Inotani, Toyama City. Situated on the lower reaches of the Inotani River, it actually consists of two waterfalls, individually known as Jabami Falls and Goshoku Falls - together, they are also known as the ""Husband and Wife Falls"" and the ""Great Falls."" The waterfall's name literally means ""Ever Rainbow"" and is derived from the fact that it appears rainbow in the morning."
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- Miyazaki-Sakai Beach (Jade Beach)
- Travel / Tourism
- Toyama Pref. Shimonikawagunasahimachi Miyazaki And border
- Located a one minute-walk from Ainokaze Toyama Railway's Etchu-Miyazaki Station, this beach with beautiful gravel that stretches for approximately four kilometers east and west is where jadestones wash onto shore. It has been chosen by the Ministry of the Environment as one of Japan's Top 100 Beaches and Japan's Top 100 Finest Beaches. Many people come not only for the beach in the summer, but also to look for valuable jadestones. The views from the beach of the beautiful sun setting into the ocean at dusk have made it famous. The cod soup served at eateries near the beach is also well-known. Originally eaten among fishermen, it is not loved by ordinary people as a local cuisine.
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- Lake Kurobe
- Travel / Tourism
- Toyama Pref. Nakanikawaguntateyamamachi Ashikuraji
- "This water reservoir for Kurobe Dam is located approximately 15 minutes from Ogizawa Station using the Kanden Tunnel Trolley Bus. A huge artificial lake that dams the Kurobe Gorge, it is known as ""Kuroyon."" Japan's largest dam with a height of 186 meters, it has a beautiful arch. A world-class lake in all respects, it is said to have a total water storage capacity of approximately 200 million tons. The lake's surface shines emerald green, and it is perfect for sightseeing in the summer because of its cool temperatures. Over 10 tons of water flows out per second when water is discharged from the dam every year at a fixed time, making it impressive and a big attraction."
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- Shogawa River Ravine
- Travel / Tourism
- Toyama prefecture Tonami city Shogawa cho
- This 15 kilometer-long ravine upstream of Komaki Dam is a 20-minute drive from Hokuriku Expressway's Tonami Interchange. In the past, the Shogawa River was used to transport wood harvested in the mountains. The ravine shows many different colors all year long; In the spring, the area is dyed pink with cherry blossoms. In the summer, the ravine is colored with fresh greenery. In the fall, it is draped in red leaves. In the winter, the ravine is carpeted with white snow. The area is visited by many tourists from Japan and around the world. A sightseeing boat that operates between Komaki Port and Omaki Port provides passengers with views of the bottom of the bright-red Nagasakibashi suspension bridge.
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- Lake Arimine
- Travel / Tourism
- Toyama Pref. Toyamashi Arimine
- This artificial lake in Arimine, Toyama City was created by the construction of Arimine Dam. The entire area has been designated as a prefectural natural park. The Arimine Rindo (forest road) that runs along the lake's shore offers amazing views of seasonal sights including vibrant green forests, the magnificent Tateyama Mountain Range, burning red autumn foliage, and the lake's mysterious surface. Make sure to catch a glimpse of the wondrous sight of the lake's surface hidden by the morning mist. The lake also has camping and lodging facilities, meaning that visitors can take their time to enjoy the area's natural beauty. Due to heavy snowfall, the Arimine Rindo that encircles the lake is only open from June to early November. The road is also subject to closure depending on rainfall levels, so check before visiting.
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- Mikurigaike Pond
- Travel / Tourism
- Toyama Nakaniikawa-gun Tateyamamachi Ashikuraji Bunazaka Tono 11 Kokuyurin
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- Hitokui Iwa
- Travel / Tourism
- Toyama Kurobe-shi Kurobe Okuyama Kokuyurin
- Located a five-minute walk from the final stop on the Kurobe Gorge Railway, Keyakidaira Station, this walkway is carved into the cliff face of Mt. Okukane. The looming face of the mountain above your head seems like it's going to devour the people walking along it, earning it the name Hitokui Iwa (People-eating Crag). The powerful sight has earned it lasting popularity as a photo spot.
Toyama Areas
Toyama is one of the three prefectures that house the Japanese Alps, with its southern and eastern borders comprising one long stretch of mountains, out of which the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route is forged. While traditional crafts fill the northern coastal cities of Toyama and Takaoka, thatched roof houses offer unrivalled views against a backdrop of fantastic scenery at Gokayama in the mountainous area in the south of the prefecture.
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