Toyama city is it worth?

Hello,

I am going during the first week of March to Hokuriku area, my intention is to visit Takayama first and then go to Shirakawa-go, after that I am going to overnight in Kanazawa and I have 1 full day, I have to choose between Kanazawa and Toyama, the fact is that I've already been to Kanazawa twice and visited Kenrokuen, the Modern Art Museu, the castle, Omicho market, the tea house district and samurai district mainly, so I was thinking maybe go to Toyama from Kanazawa and come back to Kanazawa overnight, is it really worth Toyama city? What do you think? any other alternatives from Kanazawa - not Fukui since I'll go there the next day and plan to visit the Dinosaur Museum and Eiheji.

Possibly consider going to the Noto Peninsula and spending some tourist dollars there. The area is trying to recover from the 2024 earthquake, and some tourism venues have reopened but are having a hard time getting people to go there. You can access some nice-looking places by public transit. (I might pick the Notojima Aquarium myself, as I like small local aquariums, and it is apparently accessible by train and bus. And I might look for a place to do some onsen day use.) You could look at the following page, search online for other resources, and get more suggestions and up-to-date information after you get to Kanazawa.
https://visitkanazawa.jp/en/trip-ideas/detail_491.html

In Toyama, I liked the glass art museum (and the building housing it, which is a public library) very much but beyond that did not find the tourism venues to be remarkable. But there are always things to do in any Japanese city of that size, if you dig a little, and sometimes the simpler or less-heralded sites are where you can get the most satisfying experience of “the real Japan.” But I’m not sure I would spend the money for transit there from Kanazawa. If you have an applicable rail pass, maybe.

I have been to Kanazawa about 10 times (? I’ve lost count) and am still drawn to Kenrokuen in any season. With one full day I would go to Kenrokuen and the Gyokusenin Maru Garden, possibly the art museum (good art is worth seeing more than once), and maybe go shopping. And probably get some good seafood. If you dig a little, I’m sure you can find some less-famous spots, and it might be well worth digging. It’s a pity that most tourists only go to famous places in Japan. There is a tourist information center in the station that might be able to help you identify spots that would be meaningful to you personally. I often just look at Google Maps, click on places that look interesting, and read reviews and look at photos. I have found some very worthwhile places this way.

I was in Kanazawa on March 1 of this year, and the large witch hazel (mansaku) tree was in full bloom and absolutely glorious. I would happily go to Kanazawa just to see that. But usually it blooms earlier, I believe. And most people aren’t as crazy about mansaku as I am.

I personally did like Toyama, but how about Takaoka? I did a half-day trip from Toyama to Takaoka, and I thought that Takaoka can be easier to get around for first-timers (like me), because the town is more concise.

https://www-takaoka-or-jp.translate.goog/viewpoint/index.html?_x_tr_sl...

Or Toyama could be better in the sense that it's more commercial in a good way. Once you get to the castle, it's pretty easy to walk around.

Wherever you go, everything in Hokuriku is delicious!

I have to confess that the only times I’ve been in Takaoka it was to go to the Aeon Mall, which is right near the shinkansen station and has a large supermarket, but Uco’s link has me interested in digging deeper. It looks like a good example of one of the many places in Japan that can be well worth visiting but that foreign tourists essentially never go to. Japan is having a terrible time trying to get more of the millions of foreign tourists who come to the country to go to places other than the ultra-famous cities and sites. Meanwhile, tourists keep going to those famous places and complaining bitterly about the crowds. Honestly, what do they expect? They are missing out on so much by packing their itineraries with nothing beyond the tourist magnet sites. I’m glad to see the original poster looking for some alternatives.

Thanks, Uco… I might check out Takaoka the next time I’m in Hokuriku. (I am thinking about going to Kanazawa in late February next year to check on that splendid mansaku tree. There is a smaller one there, too.)

Why Kanazawa or Toyama? You have been to Kanazawa before and for me, it doesn't offer that much for an additional day, even for a first trip. I sometimes go to Komatsu or Kaga.

in Kanazawa we missed proper small-town feeling, so decided to take a train from Takaoka to very end - town called Himi. Good decision it was, rented e-bikes for day and discovered everything there. Never had sushi more fresh then in Himi.

Everywhere has something to see, but I found Toyama City to be almost a desert for interesting sights. There is always Takaoka City, and if you like nature, there is the Ameharashi Coast. Or if you want to see someplace really bizarre, there is the Ozawa no Sekibutsu no Mori & Fureai Sekizo no Sato, though it is by far easier if you are driving.

Actually, Toyama Folkcraft Village looks quite interesting. I didn’t know about it when I was in Toyama before, but I’d be interested in going there and to the nearby temple, Chokeiji, with its rakan sculptures. Japan Guide has an informative page:
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e7505.html
And I really think the glass museum, housed in the Kuma Kengo-designed building, is quite unique and interesting. (I actually like the building more from the inside than looking at it from the street.)

Toyama is less than 20 minutes by Kagayaki from Kanazawa Station, and Takaoka is between the two (not served by Kagayaki, but by frequent Tsurugi and Hakutaka shinkansen trains), so you could conceivably go to both places in one day. A two-fer! In Takaoka, Zuiryuji looks like a very fine Zen temple with some attractive features. I like this kind of temple myself, although my knowledge of Buddhism is woefully slim. I’m seriously thinking of going there as a side trip from Kanazawa in February, even if I don’t go to some of the other tourist attractions in Takaoka. Zuiryuji is easy walking distance from Shin Takaoka Station, which would be a plus for me as my time will be limited that day. I’ll keep Toyama Folkcraft Village and Chokeiji in mind for another trip, though.
https://www.zuiryuji.jp/

Ken, Toyama has lots of tiny hidden gems that I don't even dare to reveal here, but I was guided by a local friend's car. I do find that the city is kind of too vast for first-timers to find their ways on their own, which is why it's fascinating. Maybe first-timers can hire a taxi for half a day.

I've never been to Himi, which girlwithpearl suggested, but I was about to suggest it since it seems so popular among my Japanese friends!

I found Toyama City to be almost a desert for interesting sights.

This was likely due to the Great Toyama Air Raid on August 2, 1945, four days before the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.

https://www.city.toyama.toyama.jp/etc/kuushuu/

1945年8月2日午前0時36分、米軍のB29大型爆撃機174機が、富山市中心部に50万発以上の焼夷弾を投下し、町は一瞬にして焦土と化しました。この「富山大空襲」は市街地の99・5％を焼き尽くし、被災した人はおよそ11万人、亡くなった人は2700人を超え、地方都市としては人口比で最も多くの犠牲者を出しました。

At 12:36 AM on August 2, 1945, 174 US B-29 bombers dropped over 500,000 incendiary bombs on the center of Toyama City, instantly reducing the city to ashes. This "Great Toyama Air Raid" burned 99.5% of the city, leaving approximately 110,000 people affected and over 2,700 dead, the highest casualties relative to the population of any regional city.

Kanazawa City, on the other hand, escaped the air raid.

https://digital.asahi.com/articles/ASQC86445QC1PISC021.html

太平洋戦争では国内の多くの都市が爆撃を受けたが、金沢は「都市空襲」を免れ、主に使われた焼夷（しょうい）弾が降り注ぐことはなかった。「文化的価値が高いから受けなかった」という説もあるが、実は、米軍の文書に空襲計画が残っている。専門家は「長引いていれば、実行されていた」と指摘する。

While many Japanese cities were bombed during the Pacific War, Kanazawa escaped the "urban air raids" and was spared the incendiary bombs that were primarily used. While some argue that the city was spared due to its high cultural value, in fact, US military documents contain air raid plans. Experts point out that "if the war had continued longer, the plans would have been carried out."

The Takaoka area is nice. I'd recommend the Amaharashi Coast if the weather is good for the beautiful view.
Takaoka Daibutsu is small, but one of the "top 3".
Taking the train south to Zuiryuji Temple is nice, too.
You could also visit the Kaiwomaru Ship.
Himi has onsen, fish markets, and anime statues.

The historic district and temple in Johana is nice.

If you are going during the tulip season, Tonami is a great place to visit.

Amaharashi Coast was my only plan around Toyama as well. But since I will be travelling around Shikoku, I already had a lot of coastal trip in my plan and decided to skip Toyama altogether. I would suggest you look at what is there to offer as well as what is already on your plan to make sure the places are not repetitive to keep the overall journey interesting.