Toyama Prefecture sits on the Sea of Japan coast of central Honshu, framed by the dramatic Tateyama mountain range and the deep waters of Toyama Bay. Home to the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, one of the world's great high-mountain crossings, and the UNESCO-listed gassho-zukuri thatched-roof villages of Gokayama, Toyama pairs alpine scenery with a coastline famous for firefly squid and glass shrimp, plus a proud tradition of glassmaking and sake brewing in its historic port town of Toyama City.
Top food tours
Guided experiences that show you Toyama through its food.
Iwase Port Town & Sake Brewery Walking Tour
Includes: Sake flight tasting at Masuda Shuzoten's Saseki standing bar, roughly 100 Masuizumi varieties · Meiji-era rice storehouse turned craft beer taproom at KOBO Brew Pub · Triangle dorayaki from long-running confectioner Otsukaya · Free harbor views from the Toyama Port Observation Deck · Self-paced walk tracing the historic Kitamae-bune trading route
Shinminato Kitokito Market Midday Fish Auction Tour
Includes: Rare midday fish auction, held around 12:30pm rather than before dawn · Live bidding on shiroebi, red snow crab, hotaru ika, and kan-buri yellowtail · Reserved viewing for a nominal ¥100 entry · Post-auction lunch options at the market hall's sushi and seafood-donburi restaurants
Himi Bay Fishing Boat & Breakfast Tour
Includes: Ride aboard a working teichi-ami fixed-net fishing vessel with the crew · Morning fish-auction viewing at Himi fishing port, roughly 6:00-8:00am · Seafood breakfast built from the same morning's catch · Small-group, early-departure format led by working fishermen
Toyama Black Ramen Tasting Walk
Includes: Original 1947 black ramen recipe at Nishicho Daiki's Otaguchi-dori shop · Side-by-side comparison with Nishicho Daiki's Toyama Ekimae branch · Nationally ranked milder variant at Menya Iroha inside the CiC building · Self-paced walk or short tram ride between all three stops
Himi Banya-gai Fish Market Food Hall Tour
Includes: Roughly 30 independent food stalls beside Himi's working fishing port · Regional specialties: Himi curry, Himi udon, and Himi ramen · Same-day sushi counters supplied directly from the adjacent port · Waterfront views of Toyama Bay and the Tateyama mountain range · Free entry, with each dish purchased individually
Cooking classes
Take a piece of Toyama home with you.
Masuzushi Hands-On Making Experience
Sushi Making Experience & Glass Art Museum Tour
Foodie tips
Get more out of every meal.
Book tours and cooking classes at least a few days in advance — small-group experiences sell out quickly.
Come hungry — most food tours include 5-8 tastings.
Bring cash for unscheduled stops the guide may recommend.