【Report】Toyama Prefecture Promotes Food with Special Meals|Spring Tourism Coming Soon

In early February, Toyama Prefecture held an event for the media to promote spring sightseeing spots and the taste of Toyama, Toyama's charm "Actual food and feeling" Day at the antenna shop "Japan Bridge Toyamakan" in Tokyo.
This is the second time this year that Japan Bridge and Yamakan have participated in the event, following the cold buri demolition show in January. I wonder if there is a connection to Toyama Prefecture this year. On a weekday afternoon, I finished my desk work early and headed to Japan Bridge and Yamakan. During the event, which lasted about 1 hour and 30 minutes, we listened to the tourism trends in Toyama Prefecture and enjoyed the taste of Toyama.

At the beginning, Mr. Tazaki, the head of Japan Bridge and Yamakan, explained about seasonal sightseeing and food, such as the tulip event, which becomes a hot topic in spring. He also touched on the recent success of Toyama Prefecture players such as Hachimura, who was traded to the NBA's prestigious Los Angeles Lakers this season, and former Ozeki Asanoyama, who is trying to make a comeback. After that, we talked about the three sightseeing spots in the spring recommendation from the operators and tourism associations.

First of all, "National Treasure Shokoji Temple" in Takaoka City in the western part of the prefecture. Next, mountain sightseeing "Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route". Lastly, the "Firefly Squid Maritime Sightseeing" starts in March. It's been a long time ago, but I've visited all of them. I would like to introduce it in light of my memory. For basic information, please check the link in the photo heading.

"Shokoji Temple" (Fushigi, Takaoka City), which has just been designated as a national treasure

Shokoji Temple is located in Fushigi, a fisherman's town in Takaoka City. Speaking of sightseeing in Takaoka, there is an image of "National Treasure Zuiryuji" near "Takaoka Station" on the Ainokaze and Yama Railway, and "Kanayacho" and "Yamamachisuji", which are important traditional buildings preservation districts.

Fushigi needs to connect from Takaoka Station to the JR Himi Line, and many travelers go to the Amaharu Coast or Himi beyond that. Fushigi is a town with townhouses and Western-style architecture that remind us of the prosperity that was crowded with Kitamae boats in the Edo period, but there were not many tourists who visited.
"Shokoji Temple" suddenly attracted attention in October 2022, when the temple's two buildings, the "main hall" and the "large hall and ceremonial dai," were reported as national treasures by the National Council for Cultural Affairs, and officially designated in December. This is the second case in Toyama Prefecture in 25 years since "Zuiryuji" was designated as a national treasure in 1997.

Shokoji Temple is undergoing conservation and repair work under a 23-year plan from Heisei 10, but the restoration work of the two buildings designated as national treasures was completed in March 2021. "Immediately after the news of the National Treasure Report came out, the number of visitors increased six-sevenfold, and the effect of the National Treasure is clear." (Shokoji Cultural Materials Preservation and Utilization Corporation). At the moment, it seems that many people go straight to the temple and return home, but in the spring, the number of people walking the streets of Fushigi will increase. There are also several cafes in town. When I walk around the city, I am grateful that there is a place to stop.

Enjoy mountain sightseeing on the "Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route" (Tateyama Town)

The mountain sightseeing route "Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route" is the largest tourist spot in Toyama Prefecture. You cannot enter the 37.2 km long traffic route by private car. From Tateyama Station, take the cable car, the Kogen Bus, the Trolley Bus, and the ropeway to the goal you set for the day. Although it is mountainous, it is meticulously maintained, so you can travel safely and securely. But it's so vast that you need to plan your travels, walks, meals, and return trips well. In addition to researching model courses, if you are worried, you can take a tour sponsored by a travel agency.

From around mid-April, the "Snow Valley" will open to the public, where you can walk between huge snow walls that are close to 20 meters high. From this time on, it becomes lively with domestic tourists and inbound tourists.
The reporter visited in the middle of summer, when the heat wave continues. Escape the heat at the foot of the mountain. Even though I don't usually climb mountains, I stand on the side of Tateyama, a famous mountain in Japan, and enjoy the magnificent scenery and pleasant breeze that spreads out in front of me. It would also be wonderful to see the autumn leaves turning green in summer.
If you enter the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, you will spend a day. It's not a place you can visit often, so when to visit is a tricky one.

Firefly squid fishing live show "Hotaru squid sea sightseeing" (Namerikawa City)

"Firefly Squid Maritime Sightseeing" will start in March. Until May, the ban on fixed net fishing for firefly squid, which is also called the mystery of Toyama Bay, will be lifted on the coast of Namerikawa. If you take a sightseeing boat, you can observe the fishing from up close to the firefly squid fishing boat, which has been operating since early morning.

During the period, the operator of the firefly squid aquarium near the Namerikawa fishing port and the staff of the city hall will be in charge of the sightseeing boat. At this time of year, the work pattern of the person in charge changes, and he manages the operation of sightseeing boats that meet at 2:00 in the morning, depart at 2:30 in the morning, and return to port at 4:00 every day. "Something like that happened, and we are thoroughly managing the flight safely," said WAVE Namerikawa. When I get on board, I want to take care of the staff.

A grim morning awaits the passengers. In the evening, when you arrive at Namerikawa from afar, you will immediately want to enjoy a meal and local sake at an izakaya. Maybe I'll go on a second time. Finally, at 24:00 in the morning, I returned to my hotel room. You must be at the meeting point two hours later. The reporter knows a person who did not show up in the hotel lobby before heading to the meeting point. I was grateful to that person. If you can smell the sake and come to the meeting place of the tangy air before sailing... In addition, since the departure of sightseeing boats depends on the condition of the sea, it is better to consider the departure rate at about half. "Firefly Squid Maritime Sightseeing" seems to be experienced by those who have won over themselves and have the heavens on their side.

These three places, with the exception of "Shokoji Temple", are famous tourist spots representing Toyama Prefecture. "Shokoji Temple", which has become a national treasure, will also become a major spot from spring. On the other hand, there are many pleasant places in Toyama Prefecture that are not famous or popular. It is not a tourist facility with entrances and exits, but a superb view that you encounter while driving and an old town. When you go to a major tourist spot, I want you to actively take a detour. You're sure to find memorable scenery.

The appearance of a special set of seafood and local dishes from Toyama

While I was listening to the story, a large tray of food was brought to me. The tray is lined with seafood and local dishes from Toyama. It's not that the tray is small. Each dish has at least one serving. I felt the enthusiasm to have people taste the real thing, not to taste it. After the food was distributed to all of the 20 or so participants, we listened to an explanation of the menu from Mr. Jun Hamamori, the head chef of the Japanese restaurant "Toyama Hamasaku". The explanation of the ingredients is a recipe that enhances the umami flavor of the dish.

The description of each dish is a bit of a blur, but look at the pictures and names of the dishes. I think that alone will make you feel the charm of Toyama's food. This time, the set that brought together ingredients unique to Toyama was a masterpiece.

【Special set】

Chew and eat every bite. I nod my head spontaneously. One by one, the participants sit facing forward. The reporter's seat is in the middle. When I look at the people around me, I see that they are nodding yes. Nod after every bite. Some nodded with wide eyes, while others nodded their heads slowly and vertically.

This set is special. I don't think there is a restaurant in Toyama Prefecture that offers this kind of food. It's not even a standard menu here at Toyama Hamasaku. There is no doubt that it was the head chef who came up with the special meal. The rest is left to the reader's own judgment.

This time, following the cold yellowtail cuisine in January, I was able to actually eat and feel the power of delicious food in Toyama as the event name suggests. I want to go to Toyama Prefecture for the first time in a long time.

Eight years after the image of Toyama Prefecture changed

The Hokuriku Shinkansen "Toyama opened" in 2015, and next month will mark the eighth anniversary. During this period, the number of people who knew about Toyama Prefecture increased, and the image of Toyama Prefecture as a prefecture with delicious food, mainly seafood, was established as seen from Tokyo and other places of origin. In the ranking of prefectures with delicious food announced by research organizations and the media, Toyama Prefecture is Top 10 In the seafood top It also becomes. There are a variety of sources, but the results of each company are generally similar.

Before the opening of the Shinkansen, Hokuriku was said to be an isolated island on land. Poor access by train from Tokyo. The limited express train that used to go directly from Osaka took a long time. In addition, Kanazawa stands in front of Toyama Prefecture. Also, the straight-line distance from the East Sea seems to be close, but it is surprisingly far because it goes over the mountains. The people of Aichi Prefecture had gone as far as Hiba Takayama in Gifu Prefecture.

Roughly speaking, there were not enough tourists in Toyama Prefecture at that time to talk about food. The municipality was also not active in promoting tourism. I haven't seen it lately, but I have the impression that it was running a wrapping train on the Yamanote Line.

Why is the food in Toyama Prefecture so good?

Is it because we are blessed with nature and have an abundance of ingredients? Japan is surrounded by the sea and 67% forested. Every region is rich in ingredients. Every town advertises that it has abundant ingredients. However, the phenomenon of food self-sufficiency of 38% (calorie consumption) is strange. It's hard to say because it's the result of a national strategy.
Back to the story. When it comes to opportunities to recall prefectures from ingredients and dishes, it may be from travel destinations, local restaurants that you occasionally go to, or the media. I can understand the significance of the establishment of the prefectural ranking of delicious meals announced by the media.
Why do survey respondents vote for Toyama Prefecture? I thought about Toyama Prefecture with delicious food as a starting point.

Toyama Prefecture's challenges to the Hokuriku Shinkansen "Fukui-Tsuruga extension opening"

In contrast to the highly reputed food score, the tourism score is a little worrisome. Recently, Toyama Prefecture has been ranked as a prefecture where you want to go for sightseeing. 20 people in the front half of the stage is in place. After the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen, it was in the 10th place. Kanazawa in neighboring Ishikawa Prefecture is a regular in the top 10. When choosing a destination or accommodation, travelers often make decisions based on "food" as well as "hot springs" and "scenery". In this case, it seems that Toyama Prefecture has not been able to fully utilize the charm of food for tourism.

In anticipation of the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen "Fukui-Tsuruga extension" in March 2023, the focus of the Hokuriku area will shift to Kanazawa from next month, one year ago. Fukui Prefecture is a Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism that was discovered in the fall of 2020. Construction delays I licked the bitter juice that delayed the opening of the business by one year. With this as a springboard, we have been striving to promote food and tourist destinations since last year. I have heard from the relevant departments of the prefecture several times, and the morale of the staff is generally high.

In a sense, Toyama Prefecture is celebrating the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen for the second time. This time, in addition to overnight trips as the final destination of the trip, it will be necessary to disseminate short-term plans and contexts, such as day trips where you can get off at the Shinkansen stop station without passing by on the round trip. Can we make use of the charm of food for tourism?
In any case, I hope that next spring, the three Hokuriku prefectures will unite to liven up travel in Japan.