JAPAN and the WORLD Magazine APRIL ISSUE 2016 #Issue 15

TOYAMA TOURISM IN JAPAN 富山県への旅、日本の華麗なる「美」との出会い TOYAMA, ON THE WAY TO ASTONISHING BEAUTY IN JAPAN WORLD HERITAGE SITES, CHARMING FESTIVALS AND DELICIOUS FOOD 世界文化遺産、祭り、そして「食」を楽しむ INTRODUCTION Foreign tourists tend to visit Japan following the golden route: from Kyoto, through Osaka, finishing up in Tokyo. If anyone ever thinks of detouring from this route, he or she might discover a beauty of a different kind. 日本にやって来る外国人旅行客のお決まりのコースがある。京都から出発して大阪を訪問後、最後は東京である。しかしこのコースからの迂回を考えてみるなら、ちょっと趣の異なる「美」に出会えるかもしれない。 T oyama prefecture is located in the center of Honshu at the side of the Sea of Japan, harboring “nature‘s fish tank”. The Bay of Toyama is boasting with its wide variety of fish and shellfish. 500 out of 800 types of fish living in the Sea of Japan can be found in the Toyama Bay. The pureness and freshness of Toyama‘s sea will not just satisfy the connoisseurs but also people who do not like the taste of fish. Toyama’s fish can bring a sensual experience. Shinminato Kittokito Market is a fish and seafood market. Kittokito is a word in Toyama’s dialect that means “fresh” and relates to the freshness of the fish, which directly comes from the Shinminato fishing port. Auctions of fish caught in Toyama Bay can be attended twice a day, which is rarely found in Japan, so even people who are not early birds, can experience it. A Shinminato sightseeing cruise on Uchikawa river gives a unique opportunity to admire the oldest Japanese fishing village and to explore twelve individual bridges of the 2.6 kilometer long Uchikawa. The river in Imizu city, also called Japan’s Venice, can be discovered either with a sightseeing cruise or while walking along the riverside. There are a lot of shrines and temples, built along the river so that fishermen can pray for their safety from their boats. There is a temple called Sennenji where a visitor can see the very rare pine trees called “Kasamatsu” or “umbrella pine tree”. The modern face of Toyama is found among the peaceful areas of Fugan Canal and Kansui Park. The area is known for bird-watching and is a perfect spot to take a break from everyday life in the world‘s most beautiful, glass- windowed Starbucks. Onsens are recommended for a longer break outside the city. Surrounded by mountains and wildlife, the most famous onsens of Toyama 49 // APRIL 2016 are the Unazuki Onsens. This place, full of hot springs, is not just known for excellent relaxation, but also for the annual snow carnival with fireworks and torches, held each year on the first Saturday of February. Another sightseeing spot is the Zuiryuji Temple in Takaoka. Founded by the Soto sect and constructed in 1663, this Buddhist temple overwhelms visitors with its magnificent and elegant beauty. The main gate, the lecture hall, and the main hall of Zuiryuji are designated as national treasures of Japan. Sometimes being in Toyama al

JAPAN and the WORLD Magazine APRIL ISSUE 2016 #Issue 15 | Page 50