Discover Toyama with TOYAMA EXCEL HOTEL TOKYU

Just two hours from Tokyo on the Hokuriku Shinkansen - and only two stops before Kanazawa - lies one of Japan’s best-kept secrets: Toyama Prefecture. Featured on the New York Times list of 52 Places to Go in 2025, Toyama is celebrated for its craftsmanship, cuisine, and untouched natural beauty. Yet despite its easy access, fewer than 1% of international visitors made it to Toyama in 2024 - making it a perfect escape from the crowds. TOYAMA EXCEL HOTEL TOKYU, only a 3-minute walk from Toyama Station, is the ideal base to explore the region. The hotel is also equipped to accommodate large tour buses, making it an excellent choice for group travel. It features banquet halls for events and gatherings, and spacious guest rooms that can accommodate up to four guests—ideal for families or small groups.

Outstanding Sushi & Michelin-Rated Cuisine

Toyama Bay’s dramatic underwater landscape delivers some of Japan’s freshest and most diverse seafood. Enjoy omakase sushi experiences at a fraction of Tokyo prices, prepared by local masters who take pride in quality. Toyama also has the country’s highest per capita annual spend on sushi consumption - testament to its deep love for good fish. Breakfast at TOYAMA EXCEL HOTEL TOKYU is served on the top floor, offering panoramic views of the Tateyama Mountain Range on clear days. The menu features a Toyama specialty corner, where guests can sample local favourites such as firefly squid in soy sauce, crab soup, and masu zushi — a unique pressed trout sushi served in slices like a savoury cake. It’s a regional delicacy, and a must-try during your stay. For fine dining, head to the historic Iwase port area of Toyama City, where just one street offers six Michelin-listed restaurants, two sake bars, and a craft brewery. Watch the video here for an introduction to Iwase.

Inspiring Museums

Toyama City is home to a vibrant arts and culture scene, with museums that blend striking architecture and rich local heritage. Visit the Toyama Glass Art Museum, designed by Kengo Kuma, to see cutting-edge glassworks, or try a hands-on glassblowing workshop at Toyama Glass Studio. Families will enjoy the Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art and Design, home to an impressive rooftop playground with panoramic views of the Tateyama Mountain range. Throughout the hotel, guests can also enjoy displays of locally crafted Toyama glasswork, offering guests an ever-changing showcase of Toyama’s renowned craftsmanship.

Explore Takaoka’s Craft Heritage

Ideal as a day trip, just 20 minutes by train from Toyama City, Takaoka has for centuries been a centre of metalwork and crafts. Try your hand at copper coaster-making at Momentum Factory Orii or create your own sake cup at Nousaku. Be sure to visit the Great Buddha of Takaoka, one of Japan’s three most famous. Nearby, Zuiryuji Temple- completed in 1663 after 20 years of construction - is a designated National Treasure and a masterpiece of Edo-period Zen Buddhist architecture.

Wellness & Seasonal Afternoon Tea

Toyama has long been known as Japan’s centre for medicine and wellness. At Healthian-wood in Tateyama Town, enjoy herb gardens, aromatherapy, and therapeutic massages in a serene alpine setting. TOYAMA EXCEL HOTEL TOKYU partners with Healthian-wood to create seasonal afternoon teas at Restaurant Ricco Monte. Until 29 June, enjoy a menu themed around succulent melon and refreshing herbs; "Toyama is known as a treasure trove of food, so the ingredients can be made even more delicious with the addition of herbs," says Ricco Monte’s Head Chef, Higashi Munehito. For the summer months the menu will shift to a selection centred around the refreshing juiciness of Shine Muscat grapes and vanilla's mellow, lingering sweetness.

Nature Escapes: Gokayama, Tateyama, & Kurobe Gorge

Toyama city is your gateway to three breathtaking day trips: the UNESCO-listed village of Gokayama, with its iconic thatched-roof homes; the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, where you can hike the scenic trails of Murodo high in the Northern Alps; and the Kurobe Gorge Railway, a spectacular sightseeing train ride that winds through dramatic cliffs, forests, and hot springs — especially stunning during the autumn leaf season. After a day of adventure, return to the hotel for the Grand Chef Dinner at Restaurant Ricco Monte - a seasonal menu of "Toyama French" cuisine showcasing the rich flavours of local mountain and sea ingredients.

For more information on Toyama and the options presented in this feature, contact Japan-san. For information on the TOYAMA EXCEL HOTEL TOKYU, please contact toyama-e@tokyuhotels.co.jp.