Takaoka Station (Manyo Line)/The Doraemon tram

Take an enjoyable trip on the Doraemon tram

Adorned with Doraemon artwork, The Doraemon tram is a tram on the Manyo Line that connects Takaoka with Shinminato. Doraemon is the most famous work of Fujiko F. Fujio, a manga artist from Takaoka. Doraemon’s birthday is September 3rd 2112 in the manga. The train started its service in September 2012 to mark the 100-year countdown to his birthday. It is a very popular and much loved tram that welcomed its 100,000 passenger in May 2013.

Kansui Park Starbucks

Starbucks Coffee in beautiful park surrounds

Kansui Park, located next to Toyama Station’s north gate, is a park built where a canal was originally located, and is a tranquil place bursting with scenery which allows visitors to really sense the seasons through the cherry blossoms in spring, colored leaves of autumn, and snow in winter. This is where Starbucks Coffee Toyama, Kansui Park store, is located. From the big glass window facing the canal, one can gaze upon Tenmon bridge, the park’s symbol. This store was awarded the ultimate store design prize, selected out of all Starbucks stores worldwide. With its beautiful views, this store also enjoys popularity among visitors to Toyama, both from Japan and abroad.

Unazuki Onsen

The ideal base for exploring Kurobe Gorge

Unazuki Onsen is on the Kurobe River, at the gateway to Kurobe Gorge. The hot-spring resort, the largest in Toyama Prefecture, features a wide range of accommodation options, along with charming streets dotted with restaurants and shops.  Many inns and hotels are situated along the river, with mountain and forest views. Although Unazuki Onsen is in the mountains, its proximity to Toyama Bay means that visitors can enjoy fresh seafood, along with local sake and beer, brewed with water from sources in the gorge. The compact town is easy to explore on foot. Free hot-spring footbaths around the town offer a soothing respite after hiking and sightseeing in the area. Unazuki Onsen was founded in 1923 and has hot-spring waters drawn from a natural spring upstream. The mildly alkaline waters are reputed to be among the clearest in Japan and are gentle on the skin. The temperature of the spring water is over 90 degrees Celsius at the source but is tempered for bathers at the public baths and hot-spring inns in town.