At the center of this public park is — as the name suggests — the city’s lovely white-walled castle. It was built in 1543 by daimyo Mizukoshi Katsushige of the Maeda Clan, and has faced quite some trials throughout its existence, having been burnt down and rebuilt more than a few times. The current version only dates back to the mid-20th century, as it was dismantled during the Meiji era.
Nowadays, the castle is part of a city park which is a favorite local hangout, and the site of the Sato Memorial Art Museum which houses the private art collection of its namesake. During spring, the park is also one of the best spots in the city for cherry blossom viewing, especially along the banks of the castle moat.
Head up to the top of the reconstructed keep for a nice viewpoint across the city. It’s on the lower levels of these buildings that you’ll find the Toyama Municipal Folk Museum, which covers the history of the castle, city, and its people.

Museums, cherry blossoms, lovely lawns, and the reconstructed castle make this park one of the Toyama locals’ favorite sunny-day hangouts.                     

Toyama Castle Park Food Experiences & Restaurants | byFood

Toyama Castle Park 

Tucked away on the north coast of Japan, just above Gifu and Nagano, you’ll find a real jewel of Japanese natural beauty and rural culture — Toyama Prefecture. The capital city shares its name, and was once known as a center of Japanese medicine, and once had quite a formidable castle at its center.

Nowadays, visitors are much more likely to come for the incredible scenery which lies outside the bounds of the city. This prefecture is home to one of the most familiar and idyllic postcard scenes in the country: the traditional old houses of the UNESCO-listed Gokayama.

This area is home to the villages of Ainokura and Suganuma, which are filled with triangular thatched-roof houses built in a style called gassho-zukuri. In winter, the snow resting on the roofs creates one of the most stunning rural scenes in the country.

For another vision of rural Japanese living, head along to the capital in summer for the Ukai Festival: a showcase of traditional cormorant fishing in which fires are lit to attract fish, before the tamed birds are sent to catch them. The warmer months also mean the thawing of the mountain snows, leaving them open for adventurers to explore. Hikers flock here to walk the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, and to enjoy the dramatic scenery of the Kurobe Gorge and Dam. 

If rural exploration is what gets you going, then you should put Toyama right at the very top of your to-do list.

A window into the Japanese mountain life of days gone by, Toyama offers plenty of fantastic hiking routes and scenery to enjoy on the way.                      

Discover Toyama byFood | Restaurants, Experiences, Travel Tips

Toyama

Japanese Table Manners

Japanese Phrases for Dining Out

Travel Videos for a Virtual Japan Trip

A haven for budding mountaineers and amateur anthropologists — the mountains of Toyama have kept the beautiful villages between them frozen in time.

A reconstructed castle at the heart of a pleasant city park, perfect for warm summer strolls or cherry blossom picnics in spring.

toyama

Food

Drinks

Tableware

Traditional Japanese / Kaiseki / Kappo

The lowkey exterior might potentially make you walk past the restaurant altogether. Unlike the outer appearance however, the food at this Japanese restaurant is guaranteed to catch your attention. Fukuya's one Michelin star is testament to their ability to bring out the best in local Toyama ingredients.

Chef-owner Joji Oya has had years of training under master chefs who helped him to develop his original style of cooking, in addition to time spent working in his family's soba restaurant. The vision Oya has for Fukuya is to focus on provenance. Almost all of the ingredients used at the restaurant are sourced from Toyama itself, including the fresh seafood caught in Toyama Bay and wild mushrooms handpicked by the chef.

The personal touch Oya adds to every dish in the 10-serving omakase menu brings a newfound sense of uniqueness that connects him to every customer he serves. The Japanese cuisine at Fukuya has a distinctive depth and umami factor, rooted in the land it calls home. You won’t find a meal quite like it anywhere else.

Almost all of the ingredients used at this one Michelin star restaurant are sourced from Toyama itself, some even picked by the chef himself.

Fukuya | Kaiseki Restaurant in Toyama | byFood

Fukuya

Tempura / Fried Foods

You might miss this restaurant if it wasn’t for the elegant sign out front. Takano is a well-known tempura restaurant in Toyama, located in a basement of an office block not too far away from the nearest train station. This restaurant is headed by Tomoo Takano, who had spent his training years of almost two decades in his hometown Osaka  — some even said he spent a year or two in Tokyo as well. Regardless of what it was, chef Takano decided to open his own restaurant in Toyama based on the wonderful recommendation of a friend.

He has no regrets though — the people of Toyama love his dishes. Chef Takano uses 100% safflower oil to fry tempura-battered ingredients that are primarily sourced from Toyama.The batter is made Kansai-style, which means it’s light and thin so that the tempura pieces come out crispy and not heavy on the stomach. 

Everything else is also well thought through — rice is of the highest grade possible, using Toyama-grown grains, and the varieties of sake are mostly of local microbrews. Takano reflects the seamless bind of Osaka techniques with Toyama produce, presented in the craft of tempura.

Experience the flavors of Osaka in each crispy tempura bite, only at this Michelin-starred restaurant in Toyama. Reserve here!         

Takano | Tempura Restaurant in Toyama | byFood

Takano

Pescetarian

Sushi

If at first you don’t succeed… 

The age-old adage is as true for sushi restaurateurs as everyone else. Izumi Kimura knows this better than most, now on his third restaurant. This is due in part to the fact that he is totally self-taught, beginning at the late age of 29. It can be difficult to penetrate the elite world of sushi without the backing of some big name teachers on your employment record.

Whatever the reason, his current restaurant proves that the third time’s the charm. Combining a homely atmosphere with dishes of the best locally-caught seafood, diners are treated to an experience which is drawing in pilgrims from around the country.

The city where it’s located, Toyama, can boast some of the richest seas in Japan, with a few varieties of fish unique to these waters. Kimura-san transforms these ingredients into brilliant Tokyo-style sushi which flies in the face of tradition.

The proudly stubborn chef is irreverent of the established practices, always seeking to improve upon commonly-accepted wisdom. His dedication to his craft is clear in the fact that he begins his preparations for each day at midnight the night before.

Expect his own special takes on steamed custard (made pink with the addition of plum), shrimp nigiri, shabu-shabu with local whitefish, and grilled skewers of perch. Of course, fantastic tuna is also on offer. On top of all that, he also collaborates directly with a local sake brewery to make sure his pairings are perfect

In a refreshingly unpretentious twist, Kimora-san leaves four seats in his restaurant free every evening, meaning that walk-ins are possible. This is especially admirable when he could easily play up to the exclusivity angle given his newfound reputation.

Thankfully, that’s just not his style. This self-made sushi genius sets up everything to make sure that diners can enjoy the best of the best sushi, with down-to-earth hospitality and honest pricing.

Combining a homely atmosphere with dishes of the best locally-caught seafood, diners are treated to an experience which is attracting pilgrims from across Japan.

Sushi Jin | Sushi Restaurant in Toyama | byFood

Sushi Jin

French

Cafe / Bakery / Pastries / Desserts

La Chance, located just a 3-minute drive from Toyama Station, is at a superb location overlooking Kansui Park. This popular wedding venue is located in Kansui Park and was awarded a Michelin star for 2021 for its excellent cuisine.

The brasserie on the first floor offers casual and friendly French courses. They have an a la carte menu and a take-out menu as well as a children's menu. You can enjoy the view of the park while having lunch or dinner in a relaxing atmosphere.

In the dining room on the second floor, the restaurant offers authentic French courses using local ingredients. The menu changes every month, giving you a taste of each season as it passes. Private parties of up to 84 people are also accepted here.

Don't forget to make a reservation at this Michelin-starred restaurant in Toyama.


La Chance is a Michelin-starred French restaurant in Toyama. This popular wedding venue is located in Kansui Park and was awarded one Michelin star for 2021 for its excellent cuisine.

Food Experiences

Restaurant Reservation

Gourmet Product

Toyama Castle Park

Fukuya

Takano

Sushi Jin

La Chance