Art and Culture in Toyama: Explore Your Creative Side

The Shusui Museum, located in the center of Toyama City, offers a closer look at elements of Japanese culture in its seasonally-changing exhibits. During my visit, there was a Japanese sword exhibition, continuing until spring 2025. 

The museum has two exhibit areas on the second and third floors, and a shop, video room, and tatami art room at ground level. The video shows you how to appreciate the exhibits to their fullest, such as the angle to view the swords for quality. There is also information in English about each exhibit, accessed through a QR code.

One exhibition explored famous swordsmen such as Miyamoto Musashi, while the next was dedicated to the swordsmiths. I personally also enjoyed the tatami room, which displayed two large artworks by Toyama-based artists. Make sure not to miss this atmospheric room beside the Japanese garden! 

Spot name: Shusui Museum of Art

Address: 1-3-6 Sengoku-machi, Toyama, 930-0066

Hours: 10:00 to 17:00 (last entry 16:30)

Closed: Mondays and Tuesdays

Admission: Adults ¥800; university students and younger free

Directions: 10 minutes on the City Tram Loop Line from Toyama Station to Ote Mall Station, then a 5-minute walk

Next is the beautifully designed the Suiboku Museum, with an elegant garden and tea house.
The wide-open spaces also make it wheelchair-accessible and create a welcoming atmosphere to explore suiboku, the Japanese art of ink drawing.

There are two permanent exhibitions, and the museum focuses on artworks that have been made from the Meiji Period (1868-1912) onwards. As you walk through the museum, you’ll see the beautiful cherry blossom in the center of the gardens, which I found myself wanting to sit and watch for a while. 

Near the tea room is an exhibition featuring artworks by Kaho Akira. Born in 1927, his works have a unique character to them that feels distinctly modern, using a lot of deep blue hues to create pieces with a very spiritual feeling about them.


Spot name: The Suiboku Museum, Toyama

Address: 777 Gofuku, Toyama, 930-0887

Hours: 9:30 – 18:00 (last entry 17:30)

Closed: Mondays(except public holidays), days after a national holiday, New Year’s holidays, temporary closure days

Directions: 10 minutes on the City Tram Loop Line from Toyama Station to Toyota Mobility Toyama G Square Station, then a 10-minute walk

General Admission: Adults ¥200 

DINING Kureon is a great stop for architecture enthusiasts and foodies. This inviting café and restaurant set among the greenery of Kurehamachi was designed by none other than Kengo Kuma, a renowned Japanese architect who has created eye-catching pieces in and out of Japan.

The restaurant was built in 2011 with an eco-friendly mindset by making use of same-sized blocks of wood that can easily be reused or moved in the future. The result is a striking design both inside and out, with a modern yet welcoming atmosphere.

As for the food, you can choose between single dishes and set courses. Their set courses have dishes like roast beef, sautéed fish, and local vegetable assortments, but my favorite was their popular Hamburg steak, which was juicy and flavorful with a rich sauce.

Spot name: DINING Kureon

Address: 2247-3 Kurehamachi, Toyama, 930-0138, inside Toyamashi Butaigeijutsu Park

Hours: 11:00 - 21:00 (last order 20:00)

Closed days: Fridays

Directions: 5 minutes on the Ainokaze Toyama Railway Line from Toyama Station to Kureha Station, then a 6-minute walk

If you’re like me and enjoy seeing how traditional crafts are made, Keijusha Washibunko is a great spot to do just that. Keijusha Washibunko is a washi (Japanese paper) facility where you can explore exhibits from around the world and even make your very own washi. 

The paper-making experience is very quick, and takes just 10 minutes per person. The experts show you how to make the paper by combining a mixture of bark and roots of the paper mulberry tree which they spread across a fine mesh. Then, they hang it up to dry. When you make it yourself, you can add fun shapes of colored paper to it to create something new. The paper is immediately dried and finished to take home.

Make sure to take a look around the exhibition rooms and shop, too. Everything is made of paper, from decorative ducks to jewelry boxes from around the world. The shop sells items made at the facility, with delicately hand-painted designs and items.

 

Spot name: Keijusha Washibunko

Address: 668-4 Yatsuomachi Kagamimachi, Toyama, 939-2341

Hours: 10:00 – 17:00 (last entry 16:30)

Closed days: Mondays (the following day if it's a public holiday), September 5 and 6, December 29 to January 10

Directions: Take the JR Takayama Line from Toyama Station to Yatsuo Station. Then take Yatsuomachi Meguri to Kamishinmachiguchi stop and walk about five minutes.

You can completely immerse yourself in the creative atmosphere by staying at the River Retreat Garaku. This luxury hotel is like an art gallery that you can sleep in, so every space is filled with creativity.

The hotel sits on the riverside overlooking luscious green hills. Most rooms have a river view, and each room has its own theme and artworks. One of their renovated rooms, Room 201, was designed under the concept of upcycling. The carpet was made using upcycled fishing nets, the lampshades were made with upcycled glass, and the flooring features unused ceramic parts from an artist’s studio. These elements make a uniquely creative room that you can settle into while being surrounded by the handiwork of Toyama artists. 

As well as the beautiful rooms and spacious lobby areas, there is also a shop, library, gallery space, lounge space, and restaurants, where chef-inspired course meals featuring local ingredients are served. Visitors can also visit the gallery or restaurants without staying overnight.
 

Spot name: River Retreat Garaku

Address: 56-2, Kasuga, Toyama, 939-2224 

Directions:Take the JR Takayama Main Line from Toyama Station to Sasazu Station, then a 15-minute walk to the hotel (free pick-up service available from Sasazu Station to the hotel).

 45 minutes by train from Toyama Station to Sasazu Station, then 1 minute by the hotel’s free pick-up service

Exploring Toyama’s creativity was a fun way to see a different side of Toyama, and get closer to its culture and traditions.
 

Here we looked at a few of the highlights of Toyama’s art scene, but there is plenty more to explore. Embrace your cultural curiosity, and come and experience it for yourself!