Kanazawa vs Toyama: Discover Japan’s True Hidden Gem

Kanazawa is one of Japan’s most popular cultural cities.

But just 20 minutes away by the Hokuriku Shinkansen lies Toyama — a destination recently recognized by The New York Times as one of the places to visit in 2025.

While Kanazawa is well-known and crowded, Toyama offers something different:

authentic Japan, fewer crowds, extraordinary seafood, and landscapes that remain untouched by mass tourism.

Kanazawa’s Higashi Chaya District and Kenrokuen Garden attract thousands daily.

In Toyama, you can walk through historic streets and coastal landscapes in peace.

Toyama is known across Japan as “Sushi Prefecture.”

Toyama Bay is called a “natural fish tank” because around 500 of the 800 species found in the Sea of Japan live here.

This biodiversity exists because warm and cold ocean currents meet in the bay.

Fishing grounds are located within just 5 km of the port, meaning seafood reaches restaurants exceptionally fresh.

In Toyama, you can enjoy sushi of equal — often higher — quality than Kanazawa, but at prices that are not inflated for tourism.

If you are traveling in Japan for sushi, Toyama is where locals go.

Toyama has recently gained international attention as a rising destination for 2025.

Unlike heavily promoted cities, Toyama remains refined, authentic, and quietly extraordinary.

Between Kanazawa City and Toyama City lies Takaoka City— a cultural treasure many travelers miss.

Takaoka is only 15 minutes by Shinkansen from Kanazawa.

Takaoka is home to two National Treasure temples — Zuiryuji and Shokoji — offering a level of cultural heritage rarely found in cities near Kanazawa.

Unlike crowded destinations, these National Treasure temples can be experienced in peace, allowing for a deeper connection with Japan’s spiritual and architectural heritage.

A day trip to Toyama allows you to:

• Enjoy fresh sushi from Toyama Bay
• Visit peaceful historic towns like Takaoka
• Experience authentic Japan away from crowds
• Return to Kanazawa the same day

Travel time from Kanazawa to Takaoka: approx. 15 minutes by Hokuriku Shinkansen

• Kanayamachi artisan district
• Yamachosuji merchant town street
• The Great Buddha of Takaoka
• National treasure Zuiryuji Temple

Travel time from Kanazawa to Toyama: approx. 20 minutes by Hokuriku Shinkansen

• Japanese sweets making & matcha (green tea) experience
• Toyama Castle
• Pill making experience at a traditional pharmacy
• The Toyama Glass Art Museum
• Cray doll painting in Folkcraft Village

Travel time from Kanazawa to Takaoka: approx. 15 minutes by Hokuriku Shinkansen

• Stunningly beautiful Amaharashi Coast
• National treasure Shokoji Temple
• Kojo Park
• Japanese-style praying at Imizu Shrine
• Evening return to Kanazawa

• Travelers staying in Kanazawa who want something less touristy
• Food lovers searching for Japan’s best seafood
• Cultural explorers who prefer authenticity over crowds
• Visitors curious about Japan beyond the guidebooks

Toyama offers what many travelers to Japan are searching for but rarely find: space, authenticity, extraordinary food, and meaningful connection.

I personally design private day trips from Kanazawa tailored to your interests.