Ishikawa & Toyama Tourism – Autumn 2026 | Food, Drink & Craft Experiences
Two neighbouring prefectures, countless ways to explore Japan through a culinary lens
Located side by side on Japan’s Sea of Japan coast, Ishikawa and Toyama are easy to combine in a wider Japan itinerary. The Hokuriku Shinkansen connects Tokyo with Toyama in around 2 hours and 5 minutes, while Toyama and Kanazawa are just 20–25 minutes apart.
Itineraries themed around the region’s distinctive shokubunka – the culture of food and drink – offer opportunities to explore local flavours through hands-on culinary experiences, sake tastings and traditional crafts.
All experiences featured below are bookable via Japan Travel Enlightened, the trade-only platform connecting travel professionals with distinctive experiences across Japan.
ISHIKAWA
Refined flavours, exceptional sake and artisan craftsmanship
Ishikawa’s culinary culture reflects centuries of samurai, merchant and courtly influences, alongside the rich produce of its land and coastline. From traditional fermentation to expertly crafted sake, food here is closely connected to the prefecture’s heritage and craftsmanship.
Discover Japanese fermentation at Yamato Soy Sauce & Miso
Visit a historic Kanazawa brewery founded in 1911 for a guided tour of Koji Park, a hands-on miso soup mkaing experience and a fermented-food lunch. Guests can also sample doburoku, an unfiltered sake, while learning about Japan’s fermentation traditions. View details.
Sake tasting at the Noguchi Naohiko Sake Institute
Discover the world of legendary master brewer Naohiko Noguchi at his sake institute in Komatsu. On 16 October 2026, Noguchi became the first toji (master brewer) in Japanese history to be recognised as a Living National Treasure, making this a particularly significant time to explore his legacy. A guided tasting in Touan, a dedicated room inspired by a traditional teahouse, introduces guests to a curated selection of sakes, served in handcrafted cups, with insights into their aromas, flavours and distinctive characteristics that have made Noguchi one of Japan’s most celebrated sake brewers. View details.
Lacquerware Artist Visit & Sushi Lunch
Enjoy a private visit to the workshop of Eiko Tanaka, a leading woodturner specialising in Yamanaka lacquerware. See the craft up close, from shaping wood to applying lacquer. For an additional culinary dimension, guests can arrange a sushi lunch served on wooden and lacquer vessels handcrafted by Tanaka herself. Find out more.
TOYAMA
Exceptional seafood and crafts with a contemporary twist
With the deep waters of Toyama Bay, fertile plains and dramatic mountain scenery, Toyama offers a distinctive food culture centred on fresh seafood, local produce and sake. The prefecture’s artisans are also finding new ways to bring traditional crafts into contemporary life.
Learn the art of sushi in Toyama
At Hokuriku Sushi Academy in Iwase, guests take part in a comprehensive, hands-on introduction to sushi making and learn how to shape their own nigiri. Alternatively, a workshop at Minamoto Masu no Sushi Museum introduces masu-zushi, a local speciality of seasoned rice and salted trout wrapped in bamboo leaves and pressed in a wooden box.
Fishing and sashimi on Toyama Bay
Board a local fishing boat from Imizu and explore the Uchikawa River and Toyama Bay, with views towards the Tateyama mountains. Learn about the region’s fishing culture before returning ashore to fillet the catch and enjoy it as sashimi. For a longer stay, guests can also spend the night at AKAMA, a former fishing hut transformed into an auberge. View details.
Create lacquered chopsticks in Inami
Stay at Bed and Craft, a collection of restored traditional houses in Inami, a town renowned for its woodcarving. Guests can join an exclusive small-group workshop with lacquer artist Sanae Tanaka, learning to mix lacquer and pigments and create their own design on a pair of chopsticks. View details.
Create a glass of your own in Toyama City
Discover Toyama’s contemporary glass-art scene in a hands-on workshop at Toyama Glass Studio guided by professional glass artists. Guests design and blow their own sake or wine glass, choosing the colours and shape. View details.
ADD UNIQUE EXPERIENCES TO YOUR CLIENT’S JAPAN ITINERARIES
Explore these experiences and discover more regional suppliers through Japan Travel Enlightened, a members-only platform for travel professionals. Create an account to access detailed experience information, including prices, duration, location and booking contacts.
STAY CONNECTED
Keep up to date with news, new experiences and practical information for incorporating Toyama and Ishikawa into Japan itineraries.
Toyama: visit-toyama-japan.com
Ishikawa: Ishikawa Travel
Instagram: @toyama_visit · @visitishikawa
Travel trade contacts: Kylie Clark — kylie.clark@kylie-consultancy.com; Michael Stock — michael.stock@japan-san.net
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