🕓 2024/12/1
#Hotels
About Toyama Prefecture
Toyama Prefecture is known as a region where beautiful mountains, abundant water systems, tradition, and culture come together. Facing the Sea of Japan, with the Tateyama Mountain Range, Kurobe Gorge, and Toyama Bay offering a diverse array of natural landscapes, Toyama attracts visitors from both Japan and abroad. In particular, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Gassho-zukuri villages of Gokayama, Kurobe Dam, and Shomyo Falls are popular spots where you can enjoy the natural beauty of each season.
Here we introduce three carefully selected luxury hotels that offer an exceptional stay when visiting Toyama Prefecture.
- Top 3 Japanese-Style Ryokan in Toyama
- Unazuki Onsen Enraku
- River Retreat Garaku
- ■ The Appeal of River Retreat Garaku
- ■ Access Information for River Retreat Garaku
Top 3 Japanese-Style Ryokan in Toyama
Unazuki Onsen Enraku
Source: Unazuki Onsen Enraku Official Website
■The Appeal of Unazuki Onsen Enraku
Located in Unazuki Onsen in Kurobe City, Toyama Prefecture, “Enraku” is a long-established ryokan renowned for its spectacular views of Kurobe Gorge and premium service. Here is a detailed look at its many attractions.
1. Stunning Open-Air Baths Overlooking Kurobe Gorge
Enraku’s open-air bath “Hana no Yu” is a luxurious space crafted entirely from 400-year-old Japanese cypress. Designed by master shrine carpenters, this bath showcases the beauty of traditional wooden architecture while offering sweeping views of the majestic Kurobe Gorge — Japan’s deepest V-shaped canyon, whose sheer scale leaves visitors awestruck.
You can enjoy the changing scenery of all four seasons while soaking in the bath: vibrant fresh greenery in spring, lush forests in summer, brilliant autumn foliage, and a pristine snow-covered wonderland in winter. “Hana no Yu” uses free-flowing hot spring water directly from the source, and its gentle, silky texture warms you to the core.
2. Gorge Views from Every Guest Room
All guest rooms at Enraku face Kurobe Gorge, allowing you to enjoy its breathtaking scenery directly from your room throughout your stay. The large windows overlooking the gorge frame the landscape like a living painting, and the views at sunrise and sunset are particularly stunning.
The rooms are designed for maximum comfort, furnished with high-quality bedding and modern, tranquil decor. Each spacious room is available in both Japanese and Western styles, allowing guests to choose according to their preferences.
3. Kaiseki Cuisine Showcasing the Best of Toyama’s Seasonal Ingredients
Enraku carries on the philosophy of its founding proprietor, Takejiro Hamada, who declared “We want our guests to savor Toyama’s finest.” The kaiseki cuisine features fresh local ingredients, from the seafood of Toyama Bay to the mountain bounty of the Tateyama Mountain Range, captivating guests with every dish.
The cuisine makes the most of each season’s finest flavors: firefly squid and wild mountain vegetables in spring, sweetfish and rock oysters in summer, matsutake mushrooms and red snow crab in autumn, and winter yellowtail and white shrimp in winter. Each course is beautifully presented by skilled artisans, offering a feast for the eyes as well as the palate.
4. Hospitality Blending Tradition and Modernity
Enraku boasts a history of being visited repeatedly by prominent figures of the Showa era who came for its cuisine and gorge scenery. The inn seamlessly blends the warmth of traditional Japanese ryokan hospitality with modern comforts. Every staff member’s thoughtful attention to detail creates a truly special stay. The inn also features modern amenities including an aromatherapy salon and a spacious lobby lounge, ensuring a comfortable and relaxing time.
■Access Information for Unazuki Onsen Enraku
- Official Website: https://enraku.com/
- Access: 20 minutes by car from JR Kurobe-Unazukionsen Station
- Address: Unazuki Onsen, Kurobe City, Toyama Prefecture 938-0282
- Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/JYQ4fkBpt1hXxXax9
River Retreat Garaku
Source: River Retreat Garaku Official Website
■ The Appeal of River Retreat Garaku
Located along the Jinzukyo Gorge in Toyama City, “River Retreat Garaku” is a one-of-a-kind resort hotel where natural beauty and artistic expression converge. Here is a detailed look at its many attractions.
1. A Location in Harmony with Nature
“River Retreat Garaku” sits along the banks of Jinzukyo Gorge, surrounded by lush nature. From the guest rooms and throughout the hotel, you can enjoy beautiful scenery that changes with the seasons, with particularly spectacular views during the fresh green and autumn foliage seasons. Far from the hustle and bustle of the city, the harmonious blend of silence and nature provides deep healing to all who visit.
2. Contemporary Art Throughout the Hotel
Works by contemporary artists are displayed throughout the hotel, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of an art museum. These art pieces harmonize with the design by architect Hiroshi Naito, creating a unique spatial beauty. Guests can view diverse artworks during their stay, enjoying a special experience that stimulates the senses.
3. Uniquely Designed Guest Rooms
All 25 guest rooms feature distinct designs and concepts, offering new discoveries with every visit. The spaces blend traditional Japanese beauty with contemporary elements, combining comfort and aesthetic appeal. Riverside rooms in particular offer stunning views of Jinzukyo Gorge, providing a sense of oneness with nature.
4. Diverse Cuisine Featuring Local Ingredients
The hotel features two restaurants: “Wasai Zensho Rakumi” for Japanese cuisine and “L’evo” for French, each showcasing dishes made with fresh local ingredients. “Rakumi” offers seasonal Japanese kaiseki incorporating the finest flavors of each season, while “L’evo” presents innovative French cuisine that expresses the nature of Toyama. The dishes are visually stunning and delight the palates of all who visit.
5. Hot Springs and Relaxation Facilities
“River Retreat Garaku” offers free-flowing hot spring water from the Kasuga Onsen source. From the main bath and open-air baths, you can gaze upon the beautiful scenery of Jinzukyo Gorge while enjoying a relaxing soak. The spa facilities also offer a variety of treatments including relaxation massages and aromatherapy, allowing guests to refresh both body and mind.
■ Access Information for River Retreat Garaku
- Official Website: https://www.garaku.co.jp/
- Access: Approx. 60 minutes by car from Tateyama Station
- Address: 56-2 Kasuga, Toyama City, Toyama Prefecture 939-2224
- Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/WwyUDB4HcftBQWD3A
Shogawa Onsen Furyu Mido Zashiki Yumetsuzuri
Source: Shogawa Onsen Furyu Mido Zashiki Yumetsuzuri Official Website
■ The Appeal of Shogawa Onsen Yumetsuzuri
Shogawa Onsen “Yumetsuzuri” is a hot spring ryokan nestled along the Shogawa River in Tonami City, Toyama Prefecture — an enchanting accommodation that fuses abundant nature with the elegance of traditional Japanese aesthetics. Here is a detailed look at its many features.
1. Diverse Open-Air Baths and “Beauty-Enhancing” Hot Springs
“Yumetsuzuri” offers a variety of thoughtfully designed open-air baths. Guests can choose from a fragrant cypress bath, a rustic rock bath, an atmospheric ceramic pot bath, and a reclining bath, among others. In spring, you can even bathe while admiring cherry blossoms, experiencing the charm of each season through your skin. The spring water is sodium chloride-bicarbonate hot spring, rich in salt content for excellent heat retention and moisturizing effects, earning it the reputation as “beauty-enhancing hot springs.”
2. Elegant Japanese-Style Guest Rooms
The guest rooms come in a variety of types, including twin rooms overlooking the Shogawa River scenery and rooms featuring the “orii blue” motif inspired by Takaoka copperware, a local traditional craft. Every room cherishes Japanese aesthetic while offering modern comfort, with tatami-lined hallways and rooms where guests can relax barefoot. The “Shion” room, in particular, features a private cypress open-air bath with views of the Shogawa River and surrounding nature, along with a massage chair for the ultimate relaxation experience.
3. Seasonal Kaiseki Cuisine with Local Ingredients
“Yumetsuzuri” serves kaiseki cuisine generously prepared with local seasonal ingredients such as fresh sweetfish from the Shogawa River, firefly squid and crab from Toyama Bay. The winter-only crab kaiseki features a lavish course using tagged premium snow crab from Shinminato Port. The cuisine is as beautiful to look at as it is to taste, delighting both the eyes and palate. Breakfast is a buffet-style spread of handmade dishes featuring local ingredients, creating a refined morning experience.
4. Well-Equipped Facilities and Services
The hotel features well-appointed facilities for relaxation. The lounge “Yumekagari” is especially popular among guests. Available for use at any time during your stay, it serves premium welcome drinks accompanied by handmade warabi mochi (bracken starch sweets), allowing guests to savor traditional Japanese confections.
There is also an expansive Japanese garden where you can take a leisurely stroll while admiring the beautiful scenery of each season.
5. Heartwarming Hospitality
The greatest charm of “Yumetsuzuri” is its meticulous hospitality that extends to every detail. Upon arrival, guests are greeted in the lobby with freshly whisked matcha and artisan-made warabi mochi. This welcome service has earned a reputation for making guests feel truly special.
The hallways and guest rooms are lined with tatami, and guests are encouraged to walk barefoot. This design ensures a space where guests can relax as if they were at home.
■ Access Information for Shogawa Onsen Yumetsuzuri
- Official Website: https://yumetsuzuri.com/
- Access: Approx. 35 minutes by shuttle bus from Shin-Takaoka Station
- Address: 3531 Kanaya, Shogawa-machi, Tonami City, Toyama Prefecture 932-0305
- Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/W69CA6FAtQky1Wj36