Located along the Sea of Japan, Toyama Prefecture is a scenic destination that offers its visitors
majestic coastal views with beautiful mountains as a backdrop.
One of the best ways to experience the prefecture’s abundant nature is to go on self-guided cycling
tours that bring one closer to nature as well as explore small towns off the typical tourist
route.
In this video, we will introduce five cycling routes, two of them in the interior of the
prefecture and three along the coast.
Each of these routes can be done at a relaxed pace in a day, and are easily accessed from
Toyama Station.
These cycling routes are aimed at the average cyclist, carried out with rental bicycles
and include stops at dedicated cycle stations that are easily identified.
The cycling routes are clearly defined on maps you can get at each bicycle rental shop,
and clever blue markings on the road will point you in the right direction through most
of the trips.
So follow along as we go on 5 cycling tours around Toyama Prefecture.
Route One: Hidden traditional culture in the mountains
Spanning about 20 kilometers, this route can be comfortably done in a day trip from Kamiichi Station.
This itinerary allows visitors to see some of Toyama’s most stunning natural and cultural sights.
The starting point of the course, Kamiichi Station, is about 25 minutes from Toyama Station
via the Toyama Chiho Railway Main Line.
The bicycle rental station is conveniently located in the station building, and after
filling in the forms, just grab a helmet and you’re ready to go!.
The initial section of the cycle goes through the town and soon shifts to scenic rice fields.
The first stop along the way is the Joyama spring water, which comes from snow melt from
the surrounding mountains.
This spring water is popular amongst the locals who even use it in their everyday cooking!
A small donation is appreciated if you fill your water bottles here.
The next stop on the itinerary, only 3 kilometers away from the spring water, is Nissekiji Temple
which was established in 725.
The main deity here is an impressive stone carving of Fudo Myoo, one of the most important
deities of Japanese Buddhism.
The lush temple grounds also feature a pagoda, as well as waterfalls, which make for a nice
relaxing stroll.
The highlight of a visit to Nissekiji is Sengankei Valley which is not far from the main hall.
A tree-lined path leads to an otherworldly moss covered opening filled with large rocks,
and from where a waterfall can be seen.
.
For lunch, we recommend Dango-ya, a local restaurant beside Nissekiji Temple.
This place serves up a delicious bowl of Somen noodles, the local speciality, together with
other delectable side dishes.
These thin wheat noodles are served cold and make for the perfect refreshing meal for a
day of cycling.
After lunch, it’s time for a thrilling cycle along the Adventure Line, a winding road featuring
man-made caves and panoramic views of the town below..
The last stop on the route is Ganmokuzan Ryusenji Temple, founded in 1370.
Apart from its scenic grounds, one of the highlights of a visit to the temple is its
300 meter long tree lined approach.
Some of these toga trees are said to be more than 400 years old!
Route Two: Traditional crafts in a quaint old town
This half day cycling trip is a relaxed tour in the small town of Yatsuo, and an exploration
of the town’s traditional culture and craftwork.
To get to the bicycle rental station, take a 25-minute train ride on the JR Takayama
Line to Etchu-Yatsuo Station from Toyama, then take the loop bus and get off at Hikiyama
Tenjikan-mae.
The rental station is in the Etchu Yatsuo Kanko Kaikan, which is also a museum that
showcases the massive wooden floats used in the local festival known as the Hikiyama Festival,
held annually on May 3rd.
From the Kanko Kaikan it takes less than 5 minutes to get to the Japanese paper mill,
Keijusha Washibunko.
A visit to the washi mill will allow you to view the full process of making washi, from
start to finish.
A permanent exhibition held on the second floor of the mill showcases the various types
of paper used in various parts of the world through time.
Finally, washi making activities are also available here if you want to try your hand
at making Japanese paper.
After visiting the washi mill, you can head to Oyatsu, an accommodation, cafe and kimono
rental facility located in Yatsuo’s old shopping street.
The friendly staff will help you pick a kimono and provide assistance putting it on.
Once fully dressed in the traditional Japanese attire, you can enjoy a nice drink or have
a photo session in the beautifully restored residence.
The owners of Oyatsuo also have a shop next door where you can buy hand-made upcycled
clothes made from kimono fabric.
Once the half day of cycling is done and upon return to Toyama station, we recommend checking
out Iroha in the CIC building across the station.
There, you can try a delicious version of the Toyama Black Ramen, a local specialty
made with dark soy sauce.
The shop also serves a succulent shiro-ebi ramen, made with Japanese glass shrimp fished
in great quantities in Toyama Bay.
Route Three: Exploring a historic port town
This half day cycling trip is a leisurely ride from Iwasehama Station that explores
the old town of Iwase and its history in the commercial shipping industry.
The trip starts with a 25-minute ride on the Portram to Iwasehama from Toyama Station,
followed by a short walk to the Iwase Canal Hall where the bicycle rental station is located.
The route follows part of the bay and down the old preserved street of Iwase.
The first stop is the Toyama Port Observation Deck, a 25 meter building that offers great
views of Toyama Bay and the Tateyama mountain range in the Northern Japan Alps when the
weather is clear.
From there, it is a short cycle to the preserved old street of Iwase where the former shipping
agencies were located.
One of the buildings, the Mori Residence, can be entered and visited.
The large residence shows the affluence of one of the bigger shipping agents in the region
who managed the boats that traded seaweed and seafood from Hokkaido with medicine and
herbs from the south.
Building material and design of the property further emphasize the Mori family’s wealth,
making for an interesting historical and architectural visit.
After your visit, how about grabbing a Dorayaki at Otsukaya, a Japanese sweets shop, for a
quick snack?
Dorayaki are typically round, but at Otsukaya, they’re cut into triangles instead.
This short cycling tour of the area takes about 2 hours and can be combined with a Portram
ride or a canal cruise to Kansui Park, the large park not far from Toyama Station.
Route Four: Coastal spots and natural beauty
This approximately 30 kilometer cycling route combines both beautiful views of the coast
as well as an exploration of natural spots inland.
At Toyama Station, take a 40-minute train ride on the Ainokaze Toyama Railway and get
off at Nyuzen Station.
Bicycle rentals are available from the Tourist Association Counter which is a short walk
from the station.
The town of Nyuzen has more than 110 years of history growing watermelons, and it’s
no wonder that their cute little mascot is shaped like one!
From the Tourist Association Counter, it is a 10km ride to the first stop on the itinerary,
the pretty Hisui Beach, where lucky beachcombers can find jade stones.
Rocks collected from the beach can be checked at the rockcounter at the nearby Hisui Terrace.
Is it just a pretty rock, or did you find a jade stone?
Along the main road a few minutes cycle away, you can find many restaurants like this one
that serve tara-jiru.
Tara-jiru is a cod fish soup usually eaten in the winter and is the area’s local specialty.
Delicious!
After all this cycling, give yourself a nice break at the teahouse Komichi.
The small cafe serves up local drinks and light refreshments, and it was the perfect place to rest for us.
Our next spot was the cherry tree boulevard along the Funakawa river, which is about 7km
from Hisui Beach.
Cherry blossoms, rapeseed blossoms and tulips can be seen here in the spring, while rice
fields and leafy greens can be seen in the summer.
The last attraction on this route was the Sawa Sugi Preservation area, a forest of Japanese
cedar trees along the coast, and a designated natural monument.
An observatory allows visitors to view the cedar forest and surrounding rice fields from
up high.
Although cycling is not allowed in the area, walking through the cedar forest makes for
a nice stroll and is a good break from all the cycling.
Route Five: Coastal ride along the bay
This scenic 20 kilometer ride one way from Himi is relatively flat and the return journey
covers about 40 kilometers and can be done in a leisurely 6-7 hours.
From Toyama Station, take the Ainokaze Toyama Railway Line all the way to Takaoka, and there
change for the JR Himi Line bound for Himi.
At Himi station, take a local bus to the Himi Fishery Culture Center, where the bicycle
rental is located.
From there cycle the 20 kilometers all the way along the bay straight to the Seaside
Station Shinminato Sazan.
This quaint restaurant serves some delicious shiro-ebi pizza, and its location right next
to a picturesque marina make for the perfect lunch break after a morning of cycling.
From here it’s time to make a u-turn and stop at the attractions along the way back
to the Himi Fishery Culture Center.
The first stop is Kaiwo Maru Park where the former training ship Kaiwo Maru, built in
1930, is permanently docked.
For a small fee, visitors can board and explore the inside of the ship.
Kaiwomaru Park, with its wide open space, is a great place for a stroll and offers a
great view of the ship together with the Shinminato Bridge behind it.
Located only a short cycle away is the nearby Kitto Kito Ichiba, a fish market that offers
fresh seafood from Toyama Bay and makes for an excellent alternative place for lunch or
a post-lunch seafood snack.
Our next and final stop on this route is Amaharashi, and its road side station known as michi-no-eki Amaharashi.
When the weather is clear, the observatory platform on top of the building is the perfect
spot to view the Tateyama mountain range across the bay.
Special sightseeing trains like the Belles Montagnes et mer, stops along the Amaharashi
Coast for visitors to enjoy the view of the mountains and the sea.
And there you have it, five cycling routes spanning a wide range of charming sightseeing
spots, from mountains to cities to scenic coastal landscapes, that will hopefully inspire
you to discover Toyama Prefecture for yourself.
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