Uchikawa, Imizu City: Top Sightseeing Spots in Toyama to Visit Now

Recommended sightseeing spots in Toyama that you should visit now

1. Unazuki Onsen and a trip to a hidden area on the "Trolley Train" (Kurobe City, Toyama Prefecture)

2. Stroll through the beautiful port town of Uchikawa and take a night cruise (Imizu City, Toyama Prefecture)

A stroll through the beautiful port town of Uchikawa and a night cruise (Imizu City, Toyama Prefecture)

To Uchikawa in Imizu City, known as the "Venice of Japan"

The Uchikawa area in Imizu City, Toyama Prefecture, is a port town that flourished as a stopover point for Kitamae-bune ships in the 19th century. The Uchikawa area is known as the "Venice of Japan" for its beautiful streetscapes along the river, and in recent years has also been attracting attention as a location for movies and dramas. If you're planning a trip to Toyama, this is one spot we highly recommend.

Discover port town life and unique bridges

Uchikawa is a canal stretching 3.4km from east to west that connects the sea to the other, and along the river remain storehouses belonging to former Kitamae ship owners, with fishing boats moored on both banks, and it is still used as an important waterway today. There is a nostalgic atmosphere, and you can feel the breathing of the people living in the area, the smell of the sea, and the history and culture that have been cultivated in this port town.

Although Uchikawa is less than 4km long, there are more than 10 bridges spanning it. Azumabashi Bridge, designed by a Spanish architect, is a rare covered bridge in Japan, giving it an exotic feel. It was also used as a filming location for the movie "Promise of Life," and is lit up at night, creating a fantastic atmosphere.

Each bridge is unique, including Kagura Bridge, also known as the Rainbow Bridge, with its vivid stained glass; Sanno Bridge, with its eye-catching marble sculptures of four hands; and Ninomaru Bridge, which is modeled after a castle.

Tour the Shinminato Uchikawa River on a sightseeing boat and take a fantastic "Night Cruise"

It's nice to walk across these bridges, but we also recommend a sightseeing boat cruise that takes you under 12 unique bridges. The sightseeing boat "Manyomaru" boards and disembarks at "Kaiwomaru Park" and "River Station Shinminato", and the round trip takes about 50 minutes. You can also board at "River Station Shinminato" and disembark at "Kaiwomaru Park" (or vice versa).

At River Station Shinminato, you can board and disembark tourist boats during the day, as well as night cruises which operate only on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

Any scene with the bridge is picturesque, and the Tateyama mountain range seen from the bridge and the town reflected on the water are beautiful, and the view from the water is even better! It's especially fantastic at dusk, so be sure to try the night cruise that departs at sunset.

As the sky gradually darkens and lights begin to come on in houses and shops, you can enjoy dramatic changes in the scenery depending on the angle and time of day, even in the same location.

As you pass through the night view of the factories and approach Kaiwomaru Park, the huge illuminated Shinminato Bridge and the beautifully illuminated sailing ship Kaiwomaru come into view.

The Kaiwomaru is a sailing ship that began life as a training ship for a maritime school, and since its launch in 1930, it has sailed 1.06 million nautical miles (about 50 times around the earth) over the course of 59 years, educating more than 11,000 young sailors. Known as the "Lady of the Sea," its beautiful appearance has earned it the nickname "The Lady of the Sea," and it is currently open to the public at Kaiwomaru Park.

Shinminato Sightseeing Boat

[Location] Kaiwomaru Park (2-2 Kaiwo-cho, Imizu City, Toyama Prefecture) TEL 0766-82-1830

River Station Shinminato (1-26 Tatemachi, Imizu City, Toyama Prefecture) TEL 0766-30-2552

[Opening hours] Normal hours: March to November 9:00-16:00, Winter hours: December to February 10:00-15:00 (Reservations only on weekdays)

[Closed] Wednesdays (Thursdays if Wednesday is a public holiday)

[Fee]

Round trip: Junior high school students and above 1,800 yen, elementary school students 900 yen, preschoolers free

■Kaiwomaru Park (Departure) → Kaiwomaru Park (Return) ■River Station Shinminato (Departure) → River Station Shinminato (Return)

One-way: Junior high school students and above 1,200 yen, elementary school students 600 yen, preschoolers free

■Kaiwomaru Park (Departure) → River Station Shinminato (Return) ■River Station Shinminato (Departure) → Kaiwomaru Park (Return)

https://shinminatokankousen.jp

Shinminato Sightseeing Boat Night Cruise

[Location] River Station Shinminato (1-26 Tatemachi, Imizu City, Toyama Prefecture)

[Operating hours] Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and public holidays (1) Departure time: 17:00 (2) Departure time: 18:30

* Meet at River Station Shinminato 15 minutes before departure time

[Closed] Monday to Thursday, December 25th to January 9th

*Service may be suspended due to inspection and maintenance or bad weather.

[Fee] Adults (junior high school students and above) 4,000 yen, elementary school students 2,000 yen

https://shinminatokankousen.jp/cruise-normal.html

Charming cafes and bars around Uchikawa

Around Uchikawa, stylish cafes, bars, and shops are opening one after another in renovated old houses. During the day, you can enjoy a stroll along the river while stopping by these shops, and in the evening, it's a great place to enjoy a meal or a drink after a night cruise.

Cafe Uchikawa Rokkakudohttps ://inacafe.net

This popular cafe is the first name that comes to mind when talking about Uchikawa. It is a cafe and sandwich specialty shop that uses no additives, no chemical seasonings, and organically grown ingredients, and in the evenings you can enjoy wine and an ala carte menu. The building, a renovated 80-year-old tatami mat shop in a fishing town, is characterized by its exterior, with its chamfered corners, a structure called "kakugiri" that allows floats to pass through. The cafe's window seats are the best seats for festivals.

Foodie Serabi https://www.instagram.com/tabemonoya__cest_la_vie

The building on the right is a bistro that was self-renovated from an old house built over 80 years ago. Once inside, you'll be surprised by the space, with seating inside a storehouse. The first floor has tables by a fireplace, and the second floor is a lounge with sofas. You can enjoy a bistro menu that makes use of fresh seafood from Toyama.

Vegan Cafe 8ablish TOYAMA https://www.instagram.com/8ablish_toyama

This vegan cafe was formerly known as Cafe Eight, which opened in Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo in 2000. The building's striking pale pastel green walls were inspired by the color of the fishing boats moored in the river in front of the cafe. The vegan ice cream, which is produced in-house, is very popular.

BRIDGE BAR https://www.bridge-bar.jp

A cozy bar located right next to Sanno Bridge (Hand Bridge). The owner, Stephen, is from Hawaii, speaks fluent Japanese, and loves to chat. He renovated an old house to open the bar. The bar is stylish and comfortable, and you'll find yourself wanting to stay for a while.

Toyama Tourism Guide Uchikawa Area Tourism Information

https://www.info-toyama.com/attractions/21053

Access to Uchikawa, Imizu City, Toyama Prefecture

There are three Shinkansen stations in Toyama Prefecture: Toyama Station, Shin-Takaoka Station, and Kurobe Unazuki Onsen Station. Toyama Station and Shin-Takaoka Station are the closest to Uchikawa in Imizu City. From Toyama Station, take the Toyama Chiho Railway Toyama Burikani Bus for about 45 minutes and get off at Kawanoeki Shinminato. From Shin-Takaoka Station, take the Johana Line for 3 minutes to Takaoka Station, then take the Manyo Line for about 40 minutes. If you are driving, it is about 20 minutes from Kosugi IC on the Hokuriku Expressway.

From Tokyo Station

Toyama Station: Approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes (Hokuriku Shinkansen Kagayaki)

Shin-Takaoka Station: Approximately 3 hours (Hokuriku Shinkansen Hakutaka)

From Osaka Station

Toyama Station: Approximately 2 hours 35 minutes (Thunderbird Express/Hokuriku Shinkansen Kagayaki)

Shin-Takaoka Station: Approximately 2 hours and 50 minutes (Thunderbird Express/Hokuriku Shinkansen Hakutaka)

From Nagoya Station

Toyama Station: Approximately 2 hours and 50 minutes (Tokaido Shinkansen / Shirasagi Express / Hokuriku Shinkansen Kagayaki)

Shin-Takaoka Station: Approximately 3 hours and 20 minutes (Shirasagi Express/Hokuriku Shinkansen Hakutaka)

Tokyo (Haneda Airport) - Toyama (Toyama Kitokito Airport): Approximately 1 hour

*Shuttle buses run from Toyama Airport to Toyama Station in accordance with flight arrivals and departures.

From Tokyo to Nerima IC - Kosugi IC: Approximately 5 hours and 15 minutes (Kanetsu, Joshinetsu, Hokuriku Expressways)

From Osaka to Suita IC - Kosugi IC: Approximately 4 hours and 15 minutes (Chugoku, Meishin and Hokuriku Expressways)

From Nagoya to Ichinomiya IC - Kosugi IC: Approximately 2 hours 50 minutes (Meishin Expressway, Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway, Hokuriku Expressway)