The capital of an eponymous prefecture on Honshu island, Toyama is an ideal gateway to quintessential Japan. Surrounded by mountains, the area is home to some of Japan’s most well-known natural attractions from crater lakes to hot springs to snow-covered slopes.

The best sightseeing in Toyama isn’t in the city itself. Toyama serves as the starting point for the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, 90 kilometres of a combination of bus, funicular and ropeway travel to the surrounding area’s top attractions. The Kurobe Dam, Mount Tate and Mikurigaike crater lake are all highlights of the tour. The Hida Mountains are also a popular getaway, featuring top-notch skiing for powder hounds and relaxing hot springs for the less active.

Located on the Sea of Japan, Toyama is relatively accessible from the country’s capital Tokyo. Toyama Airport offers routes to Tokyo, Seoul and Taipei, with flights to Japanese capital taking little more than an hour. Train rides from Tokyo approach three hours.

Toyama has a long industrial history. During the Edo Period, which spanned from the early 17th to the mid-19th century, the prefecture was especially famous for its production of medicine. It was also a significant producer of washi paper, a traditional Japanese craft that has been dubbed a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage.