{"id":35066,"date":"2025-04-08T15:55:05","date_gmt":"2025-04-08T14:55:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/?p=35066"},"modified":"2025-04-11T10:58:10","modified_gmt":"2025-04-11T09:58:10","slug":"the-places-in-between-toyama","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2025\/04\/08\/the-places-in-between-toyama\/","title":{"rendered":"The places in-between: Toyama"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4>Like this post? Help us by sharing it!<\/h4><ul class=\"wpfai-list\"><li class=\"wpfai-list-item facebook\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F35066&amp;t=\" title=\"Facebook\" class=\"wpfai-facebook wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-facebook fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item twitter\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F35066\" title=\"Twitter\" class=\"wpfai-twitter wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-twitter fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item pinterest\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F35066&amp;description=&amp;media=\" title=\"Pinterest\" class=\"wpfai-pinterest wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-pinterest fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item linkedin\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F35066&amp;title=\" title=\"Linked In\" class=\"wpfai-linkedin wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-linkedin fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item envelope\">\r\n      <a href=\"mailto:?subject=&amp;body=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F35066%20-%20\" title=\"E-Mail\" class=\"wpfai-envelope wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-envelope fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item stumbleupon\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stumbleupon.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F35066\" title=\"Stumble Upon\" class=\"wpfai-stumbleupon wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-stumbleupon fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item reddit\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F35066\" title=\"Reddit\" class=\"wpfai-reddit wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-reddit fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><\/ul><h2>The places in-between: Toyama<\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">It\u2019s easy to categorise Toyama simply: a traditional, beautiful and charming corner of Japan. Known for its woodcarving heritage, incredible coast-side sushi and epic alpine landscapes, it\u2019s all these things. But its true character goes beyond centuries-old temples and quaint shopping streets. It\u2019s a region where old charm meets modern ambition \u2013 and where tourists are a pivotal part of a new era. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">One of <\/span><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/interactive\/2025\/travel\/places-to-travel-destinations-2025.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">New York Times<\/a><\/em><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> top 52 places to visit in 2025, the Toyama prefecture is pricking up international ears. The <em>Shinkansen<\/em> bullet train line seamlessly connects Tokyo to the Toyama region in just two hours, and, thanks to the recent extension, Kanazawa and Fukui. But, the real story of Toyama goes beyond its convenience \u2013 it\u2019s in the sheer skill and tenacity of its crafters, the ingenuity of its people and the symbiotic relationship it has with its past and future, nature and community.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Akiya<\/span><\/i> <span data-contrast=\"auto\">(empty houses, a growing problem across Japan) are renovated into art hotels and Michelin listed restaurants. Persimmon gluts are transformed into craft beer. And its wood carving masters are teaching a new generation of young apprentices.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">From empty spaces to thriving communities, Western Toyama is on the cusp of a cultural renaissance \u2013 one driven not by spectacle, but deep reverence for craft and connection.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-35129 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/rakudo-an-accomodation-Tonami-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"819\" height=\"546\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/rakudo-an-accomodation-Tonami-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/rakudo-an-accomodation-Tonami-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/rakudo-an-accomodation-Tonami-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/rakudo-an-accomodation-Tonami-390x260.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/rakudo-an-accomodation-Tonami-780x520.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/rakudo-an-accomodation-Tonami-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/rakudo-an-accomodation-Tonami.jpg 819w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Inami: carving a name for itself<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The rhythmic tap of chisels punctuates your steps as you walk down Yokamachi Dori, Inami\u2019s main street. Here, you\u2019ll spot woodcarvers hunched over workbenches, illuminated by natural light streaming through open-fronted shop windows. This isn\u2019t a staged performance \u2013 it\u2019s a centuries-old tradition unfolding in real time.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Walking through Inami feels like stepping back into a bygone era. The effect of this artisanal spirit is everywhere (there\u2019s even a cat carving on a vending machine). Even so, it\u2019s not a town overrun by visitors \u2013 just 1% of international tourists visit the Toyama prefecture \u2013 and it feels remote. Its quiet is its charm, but also its challenge.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Japan\u2019s rural population is dwindling, and the effects can be stark: vacant houses (over 9 million of them \u2013 that&#8217;s 14% of the country\u2019s houses), empty storefronts, and niche crafts at risk of extinction. Like the practice of making the <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">orin<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> bells used in Buddhist temples: there are only 10 remaining craftsmen skilled enough to make them, and it can take 12 years to learn. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Yet, in Toyama, people are reclaiming these spaces: not just for business, but as a means for community outreach, and an immersive showcase of local art and skill.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Half an hour from Toyama City on the Tonami Plain, bordered by rice paddies and the Oyabe and Shogawa rivers, the Rakudo-An art hotel is an example of this deep desire to restore and repurpose. Working at Pola Contemporary Art Museum, near Mount Fuji, Sari Hayashiguchi was heartbroken to see the vacant farmhouses of her home region in disrepair. So, she returned <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">to Takaoka<\/span> <span data-contrast=\"auto\">in 2012<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Appointed as a producer<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> at Toyama West Tourism Promotion Association <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u2013<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0 Mizu to Takumi <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">in 2019<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">she<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> converted a 120-year-old farmhouse into a boutique hotel, where each room \u2013 silk, paper or soil themed \u2013 is created in partnership with a local artisan. Rooms are modern, airy and have lots of natural light. The furniture, tableware and decor are all made locally, providing guests with a uniquely beautiful place to sleep, while acting as an advert for the artisan\u2019s work, too. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Rakudo-An\u2019s positive community support extends beyond the walls of the hotel. 2% of room fees are donated back to the <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Kainyo<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> Care Support Team who help to maintain the mini (and adorably named) \u201chouse forests\u201d that surround and shelter surrounding homes from harsh winter elements. These <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">kainyo<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> are an integral part of the region&#8217;s cultural landscape and traditional way of life, but prove difficult to maintain, with elderly residents struggling with tree management. Staff and guests can volunteer to help prune the <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">kainyo, <\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">with the spruce offcuts then used in the hotel\u2019s aromatherapy products. Guests can then buy them to take home, in a pleasing full-cycle between nature, community and visitors.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-35081\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Yujiro-Yamazaki-organic-farmer-Toyama-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Organic Farmer Yuijro Yamazaki smiles to the camera in one of his farm buildings in Toyama prefecture\" width=\"819\" height=\"546\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Yujiro-Yamazaki-organic-farmer-Toyama-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Yujiro-Yamazaki-organic-farmer-Toyama-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Yujiro-Yamazaki-organic-farmer-Toyama-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Yujiro-Yamazaki-organic-farmer-Toyama-390x260.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Yujiro-Yamazaki-organic-farmer-Toyama-780x520.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Yujiro-Yamazaki-organic-farmer-Toyama-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Yujiro-Yamazaki-organic-farmer-Toyama.jpg 819w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Regeneration: rooted in community, nature and zombie beer<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Back in Inami, Bed and Craft is a project that\u2019s transformed six empty homes, once again in partnership with local artists. It functions as a <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201c<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">dispersed hotel<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201d<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> \u2013 with each of its uniquely designed accommodations located within reach of forward-thinking local amenities, each doing things differently.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Like new craft brewery, <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Nat. Brew <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">(short for Nature), with its vision to create a \u201ccommunity-based brew\u201d. Young fruit pickers are helping with this: harvesting persimmons from abandoned houses or the gardens of older residents\u2019 homes for Nat. Brew to flavour their beer. The local bakery, too, donates stale bread \u2013 which Nat use to make the aptly named \u201cZombie\u201d beer. In this way, the forgotten fruit of empty <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">akiya <\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">and old bread are literally bringing new beer to life.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Organic farming is having its own growth spurt, too, backed by Japanese government. In 2020, only 0.5% of all farmland in Japan was organic \u2013 now, there\u2019s a push to increase this to 25% by 2050.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Yujiro Yamazaki worked in the Tokyo music industry until he was 30. Then, he saw a documentary about farming which changed everything. Now, he\u2019s head of a group of farmers, Nantonone, meaning root of Nanto, the town where Yamazaki is based. Working with Nat. Brew, he mixes the brewery\u2019s spent hops with fallen leaves from the gardens of Inami\u2019s\u202fZentokuji Temple to make organic soil. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What feels like a dramatic career change isn\u2019t such a leap for Yamazaki. In his words:<\/span> <span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cMusic is the choice of what we hear. Food is the choice of what we consume. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">&#8220;I&#8217;m proud of t<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">he fact that we recycle everything. For example, I use the hops from two breweries in Toyama to make organic soil \u2013 if I didn\u2019t do that, the hops would simply go to waste.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I also like that my daughter enjoys helping with the picking and the weeding \u2013 which is very useful!&#8221; <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">From bread, to beer, and a multi-generational return to the organic farming, natural produce is bringing forth new life.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-35084\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Master-and-apprentice-woodcarvers-tal-about-piece-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Master woodcarver Nobuo Taniguchi talks about his latest work with his apprentice Asaya from Germany in their Inami workshop\" width=\"819\" height=\"546\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Master-and-apprentice-woodcarvers-tal-about-piece-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Master-and-apprentice-woodcarvers-tal-about-piece-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Master-and-apprentice-woodcarvers-tal-about-piece-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Master-and-apprentice-woodcarvers-tal-about-piece-390x260.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Master-and-apprentice-woodcarvers-tal-about-piece-780x520.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Master-and-apprentice-woodcarvers-tal-about-piece-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Master-and-apprentice-woodcarvers-tal-about-piece.jpg 819w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Preservation and evolution: securing a future for the next generation<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">While the younger generation is tapping into new trends with a firm reliance on nature and community, the older generation isn\u2019t sitting back \u2013 they\u2019re just as passionate about improving Toyama for years to come.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Inami is the focal point for Toyama\u2019s woodcarving, home to 20 woodcraft workshops, 200 artisans and the impressive Zuisenji\u202fTemple that stands at the centre of the craft. Built in 1390 and intricately carved throughout, the temple burned down a little over a hundred years ago, which drew famous woodcarver, Maekawa Sanshirou, from Kyoto to lead its restoration.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">This phoenix-like story of \u201crising from the ashes\u201d is mirrored in the town\u2019s struggle to maintain a craft under threat today.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cThe average age of woodcarvers in Inami is 70 years old\u201d, explains Katsuhiko Nakajima from the Inami Woodcarving Association: \u201cIn ten years\u2019 time, we could be down to fewer than 50 woodcarvers\u201d.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">To prevent this decline and ignite a new generation of woodcarvers, Nakajima has united a power trio of skill, talent and a fresh drive to keep the tradition going: made up of himself, Nobuo Taniguchi, an award-winning wood-carving master, and Asaya Gold, a 25-year-old German apprentice.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">From learning how to perfectly sculpt Buddha\u2019s face, to making a chess set (which takes months), Asaya is an inspiration to the school of woodcarvers in Inami.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">On dedicating his life to promoting Inami tourism, with a mission to increase the number of trainee woodcarvers and commissions, Nakajima says:\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cTime is running out to preserve techniques. That\u2019s why tourism is so important, it brings commissions. The disappearance of wood carving skill is a loss to humankind. Inami needs more visitors from outside\u201d.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">And this sentiment isn\u2019t unique to Inami.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In the Iwase district of Toyama City, one man refused to let his children inherit a struggling business in a declining area. As the fifth-generation owner of Masuda Sake Brewery, Ryuichiro Masuda took action \u2013 purchasing abandoned buildings and inviting top chefs to open restaurants in them. The result? <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Kaiseki,<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> sushi, soba noodles, open-fire cooking, French, and Italian restaurants now all inhabit the once empty spaces. All are Michelin listed, and all serve his sake.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cOne man has completely regenerated a whole community\u201d, says Kylie Clark, the UK representative for the Toyama prefecture. \u201cIn this way, people across Toyama aren\u2019t merely preserving tradition \u2013 they\u2019re actively shaping the future.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-35087\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Sari-Hayashiguchi-Toyama-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Sari Hayashiguchi, Regional revitalisation producer at Toyama West Tourism Promotion Association. Stands outside a revitalised building in Toyama\" width=\"819\" height=\"546\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Sari-Hayashiguchi-Toyama-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Sari-Hayashiguchi-Toyama-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Sari-Hayashiguchi-Toyama-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Sari-Hayashiguchi-Toyama-390x260.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Sari-Hayashiguchi-Toyama-780x520.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Sari-Hayashiguchi-Toyama-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Sari-Hayashiguchi-Toyama.jpg 819w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cTourism isn\u2019t our aim, but our means\u201d<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What sets Toyama apart is the ingenuity of its regeneration. While driven by locals, tourism is a necessary catalyst for sustainable change.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cTourism isn\u2019t our aim, but our means\u201d, says Sari Hayashiguchi. \u201cIt\u2019s almost impossible to revitalise the region with just the local residents. We would like visitors to participate and join us to preserve it.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">As Hayashiguchi explains, it\u2019s the link between nature, community and visitors, that is at the heart, or root, of this:\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cOne of the most distinctive things about Toyama is the symbiotic relationship between nature and people. We call this <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">dotoku<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. Even after modernisation, people are grateful for blessings from nature. Buddhism is still popular here. Tourists can feel that atmosphere \u2013 even if they don\u2019t know exactly what it is.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">And that\u2019s just it \u2013 you may not be able to put your finger on exactly what makes Toyama so special, but that\u2019s because there\u2019s so much at work: nature, community, creativity, and welcomed tourism.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Regeneration is embedded into Toyama\u2019s DNA. From a 300-year-old wood carved temple rising from the ashes to Zombie beer made from abandoned garden fruit, Toyama\u2019s ingenuity and tradition is the recipe for its success \u2013 and the reason why you should weave it into your next trip to Japan.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Go to Tokyo, visit Kyoto, but also, come to the place where the Japan Alps meets the Sea of Japan. See (and hear) woodcarving masters at work. Taste beer that comes from forgotten fruit. Eat Michelin meals cooked in once-abandoned <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">akiya<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> houses, happy in the knowledge that your visit is actively contributing to its survival.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">For more on travel in Toyama visit <a href=\"https:\/\/visit-toyama-japan.com\/en\" data-linkindex=\"4\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">visit-toyama-japan.com<\/a>.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<h4>Like this post? 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Help us by sharing it! The places in-between: Toyama It\u2019s easy to categorise Toyama simply: a traditional, beautiful and charming corner of Japan. Known for its woodcarving heritage, incredible coast-side sushi and epic alpine landscapes, it\u2019s all these things. But its true character goes beyond centuries-old temples and quaint shopping streets. It\u2019s [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":174,"featured_media":35219,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_sitemap_exclude":false,"_sitemap_priority":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2355,2367],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-35066","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-first-trip-to-japan","category-japanese-culture-and-history"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35066","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/174"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35066"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35066\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35111,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35066\/revisions\/35111"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/35219"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35066"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35066"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35066"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}