[Toyama] Now is the time to visit! Introducing the town of Iwase!

  • Toyama
  • Sightseeing
How about a gourmet meal in a retro townscape?

What kind of town is Iwase?

The Iwase area of Toyama Prefecture prospered as a transit point for Kitamae-bune, a type of ship that operated in the Edo period (1603-1867). Kitamae-bune is a general term for merchant ships that sailed between Osaka and Hokkaido from the late Edo period (1603-1868) to the Meiji period (1868-1912), selling and buying goods. Against the riverbank, many houses built in the Meiji era still remain, providing a picturesque view. About five years ago, restaurants, sake bars, and Japanese confectionery shops that have renovated old private houses while preserving the atmosphere of those days began to open one after another. In this issue, we will introduce some of the places you should definitely stop by when you visit Iwase.

Saseki - Standing sake tasting bar

If you like sake, this is a must-see! You can drink all the sake you want by the hour! This bar is run by the Masuda Sake Brewery, famous for its "Masuizumi" sake. Manjusen is a local sake representative of Toyama Prefecture, and is a sake that matches the ingredients of Toyama, which is rich in both seafood and mountain produce.
Sashi offers about 100 varieties of Manjusen, including sake that is not available to the general public and limited edition sake. Inside the restaurant, there is a large wooden board that doubles as a table, and many kinds of sake are laid out on it.

Otsukaya - Famous triangular dorayaki

If you are hungry, be sure to stop by!
The tasteful gate.
Dorayaki are round in shape, but Iwase's dorayaki are triangular in shape. You can buy these unusual dorayaki at Otsukaya Confectionery Shop. The mochi dough and the bean paste inside are a perfect match! Although it is small in size, the filling is substantial, so it is very satisfying. The store also offers a variety of other Japanese sweets such as warabimochi (rice cakes) and mizu-manju (sweet buns), and there is an eat-in space inside the store, making it the perfect place for a quick break. The triangular dorayaki will be closed as soon as they are sold out, so it is recommended to visit as soon as possible if you plan to buy some as souvenirs.

If you come to Toyama, you must ride it at least once! ～Tram (Toyama Port Line)

The "Toyama City Tram" is the transportation system connecting Toyama Station and the Iwase area. This train is a rare streetcar in Japan and is loved by many tourists and citizens alike. It takes about 25 minutes from Toyama Station to Iwasehama Station, the last stop, but the train arrives in no time as you ride while enjoying the scenery outside. The design of the train's body is inspired by the snow of the Tateyama mountain range that blends in with the city, and the train comes in a total of eight colors, all symbolizing the nature of Toyama and its future.
There are many more places in the Iwase area that we have not introduced here! Please stop by when you visit Toyama.
For reservations for train + lodging in Toyama Prefecture, please refer to the JR East View Dynamic Rail Package.
Tags related to this article
Previous post Back to list Next
related articles