We guided a family from the Philippines(a mother and two daughters). They
came to Japan during the daughters' school holiday and stayed in Toyama
for three days. Their travel plans included Gokayama(a World Heritage Site),
Kurobe Gorge and the Tateyama Alpine Route. On the day of our tour, they
took the Kurobe Gorge train in the morning and joined Tour2 in the afternoon.
At the Folk Craft Village, they saw a gassho-zukuri house, like the ones
they had visited the day before in Gokayama. We explained that "mingei"
means strong, beautiful items in everyday life.
They also tried painting Kureha clay dolls, one of the Toyama's local craft.
Each person made a unique and colorful doll.
After that , we had a break at the teahouse near the clay doll studio.
They enjoyed matcha green tea and Japanese sweets. The younger daughter
said that the tea was a little bitter-"like medicine"-but she
drank it all!
Then we visited the 500 Rakan statues. Each statue has a differnt face
and a pose.
Finally, we went up to the viewing platform, which is 77 merters above
sea level. On clear days, we can see Toyama City and the Tateyama Mountains.
The mountains were partly covered with clouds, but the family still enjoyed
the view and had fun looking at the mountains and city through the binoculars
on the observation deck.
Since they planed to visit the Tateyama Alpine Route the next day, it was
nice for them to see the mountains from a distance. We hope they enjoy
the rest of their time in Japan!
Jun 5th 2025
Tour1
We were worried about out-of-season snow in March. Spring is here in Toyama!
This time I guided 4 guests from Isreal. In stead of the traditional medicine
shop, we visited Hie shrine near the Glass Art Museum.
Next we enjoyed amazing Dale Chihuly's art works at the Glass Art Museum.
This museum is said "a towering cathedral of timber and light"
in the Nytimes. You can see the nice view from here.
At the Toyama Castle Park, we had matcha and Japanese sweets.
At the end of the tour, we walked along the Matsukawa river. This riverside
is selected as one of the 100 best cherry blossom vieing spots.It was so
beautiful!
April 5th 2025
Tour3 (Cruise version)
I guided a guest from England today. First we visited Kansui Park near
Toyama Station.
There are many many cherry trees in this park. This tree was 80% bloom.
Very beautiful tree!
This time we went to Iwase by Canal Cruise. We enjoyed the cherry blossoms
along the canal.
By showing the cruise ticket, we enjoyed a small Masu sake at Saseki.(Please
pay 210JPY for Masu cup ) Saseki is a standing sake tasting bar run by
Masuda Sake Brewery in Iwase.
The end of the tour, we wetted our whistles.
April 4th 2025
Tour3
We guided two guests from Australia.First we visited Kansui Park near Toyama
Station. Unfortunately it was cloudy, we could not see the Tateyama Mountain
Range.
There is a very beautiful Starbucks Coffee shop!
next we went to the port town Iwase. There is a Masuda Sake brewery. A
chimny used to be the symbol of a brewery.
It was chilly today( 8℃), but we found a small spring. This cherry blossoms
start to bloom!
They enjoyed Sake tasting instead of beer at Saseki. Saseki is a standing
sake tasting bar run by Masuda Sake Brewery. You can compare various sake!
March 6th 2025
Toyama City
The New York Times announced "52 Places to Go in 2025" and Toyama
City was seleted.I took this photo ,the Japanese Alps, from the passenger
seat of a car while driving on Route 8 in Toyama City.
This is the building that houses Glass Art Museum.According the article,The
Glass Art Museum is a towering cathedral of timber and light. Please visit
Toyama City and check the inside of the building by yourself!
February 6th 2025
