Toyama, Chūbu Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Toyama is the capital city of Toyama Prefecture, Japan, located on the coast of the Sea of Japan in the Chūbu region on central Honshū, about 200 km (120 mi) north of the city of Nagoya and 300 km (190 mi) north-west of Tokyo. As of 1 June 2019, the city had an estimated population density of 335 persons per km². Its total area was 1,241.77 square km (479.45 sq mi).

Overview The city has been designated an environmental model city by the national government for its efforts to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.

Geography Located in the middle of its prefecture, Toyama is a seaside city by the coast of the Sea of Japan. Its municipal territory borders with the Gifu Prefecture and with the municipalities of Imizu, Namerikawa, Tonami, Nanto, Hida and Takayama.

The nearest towns are Imizu (west), and Namerikawa (east), both by the sea and part of the Toyama urban area. The nearest major city is Kanazawa, the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture, which is 65 km (40 miles) away.

Demographics Per Japanese census data, the population of Toyama has recently plateaued after a long period of growth.

Surrounding municipalities Toyama Prefecture • Imizu • Namerikawa • Tonami • Nanto • Kamiichi • Tateyama • Funahashi; Nagano Prefecture • Ōmachi; Gifu Prefecture • Hida • Takayama.

History

The area of present-day Toyama city was part of ancient Etchū Province. The Toyama Plain is good farmland and historically it was a point of strategic and traffic importance since prehistoric times.

Sengoku period During the Sengoku period, it was frequently a battlefield, coming under the control of warlord Sassa Narimasa, who built a castle town around Toyama Castle and channeled rivers to bringing about a flourishing agricultural industry.

Edo period The area subsequently became part of Kaga Domain under the Maeda clan during the Edo period, during which time a positive industrial promotion policy was implemented on the production of Chinese medicine and washi (Japanese paper). Also, thanks to the improvement of kitamaebune sea transportation routes, these industries thrived and Toyama became known nationwide as the province of medicine.

Meiji period After the Meiji Restoration, with the creation of the municipalities system, the city of Toyama was established on April 1, 1889, as one of the first 30 cities in Japan. Economically, the area developed heavy and chemical industries based on abundant hydroelectric electricity. Toyama has become one of the most influential cities on the Sea of Japan with its good water supply, drainage system and thriving agricultural, forestry, fishery, commercial and manufacturing industries.

Contemporary Ages During World War II, Allied Prisoners of War (POWs) were sent to Toyama as forced labor. The city was almost completely destroyed on the night of August 1–2, 1945. At the time of the bombing, the city was a centre for aluminum, ball-bearing and special steel production. Left unscathed however, were the war-related factories just outside the city. The city during the time had a population of around 150,000 residents. The city also held Kakure Kirishitan, or "Hidden Christians" in Japan, forced from Nagasaki into internment camps after the government tried to punish them for their Christian beliefs.

2005 mergers On April 1, 2005, the towns of Ōsawano and Ōyama (both from Kaminiikawa District), the towns of Fuchū and Yatsuo, and the villages of Hosoiri and Yamada (all from Nei District) were merged into Toyama. Kaminiikawa District and Nei District were both dissolved as a result of this merger.

Government

Toyama city hall

Toyama has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 38 members.

Economy Hokuriku Electric Power Company (colloquially known as Hokuden), the regional power-supply monopoly, is based in Toyama. Bearing parts and industrial robot company Nachi-Fujikoshi and software company INTEC are also headquartered in Toyama.

Regional banks include Hokuriku Bank, First Bank of Toyama, and Toyama Bank.

Education: Universities • Toyama College • Toyama National College of Technology • Toyama Prefectural University • Toyama University of International Studies • University of Toyama

Primary and secondary education Toyama has 65 public elementary schools and 26 public middle schools operated by the city government. There is also one public elementary school and one public middle school operated by the national government. The city has fourteen public high schools operated by the Toyama Prefectural Board of Education. and one public combined middle/high school operated by the national government. There are also seven private high schools. Toyama Shogyo High School is a commercial high school.

Airways • Toyama Airport

Transport: Rail High-speed rail West Japan Railway Company (JR West) • Hokuriku Shinkansen: Toyama

Conventional lines

West Japan Railway Company (JR West) • Takayama Main Line: Inotani - Nirehara - Sasazu - Higashi-Yatsuo - Etchū-Yatsuo - Chisato - Hayahoshi - Fuchū-Usaka - Nishi-Toyama - Toyama

Central Japan Railway Company (JR Tōkai) • Takayama Main Line: Inotani -

Ainokaze Toyama Railway • Ainokaze Toyama Railway Line: - Kureha - Toyama - Higashi-Toyama - Mizuhashi -

Toyama Chihō Railway • Main Line: Inarimachi - Fujikoshi - Ōizumi - Minami-Toyama • Kamidaki Line: Inarimachi- Fujikoshi - Ōizumi - Minami-Toyama - Asanamachi - Kamihori - Kosugi - Nunoichi - Kaihotsu - Tsukioka - Ōshō - Kamidaki - Daisenji • Tateyama Line: Arimineguchi - Hongū.

Tramways Toyama Chihō Railway • Toyama Light Rail Toyamakō Line • Toyama City Tram Line.

Transport: Road Expressway • Hokuriku Expressway

Japan National Route • National Route 8 • National Route 41 • National Route 359 • National Route 360 • National Route 415 • National Route 471 • National Route 472.

Seaways Seaport • Port of Toyama.

Local attractions • Botanic Gardens of Toyama • Toyama International Conference Center • Toyama Castle • Toyamaken Gokoku Shrine • Toyama Chukyoin [ja; simple] the smallest shinto shrine • Museum of Modern Art of Toyama • Toyama Athletic Recreation Park Stadium, home of Toyama's representative in the J.League, Kataller Toyama football club • Toyama Glass Art Museum • Yasuda Castle ruins, National Historic Site • Sugusaka Site, Japanese Paleolithic period site, National Historic Site • Kitadai Site, Jomon period site, National Historic Site • Ōzuka-Senbōyama Sites, Yayoi period settlement ruins and Kofun, National Historic Site • Kurobe Dam.

Festivals and events • Toyama Chindon Contest (Toyama Band of musical sandwichmen contest) – proposed by the Toyama Chamber of Commerce in 1955 and is held annually in early April. This event has become a festival, and many bands of sandwichmen (men wearing sandwich boards for advertisements) participate, attracting many tourists every year. • Kaze No Bon – held annually on September 1 to 3, in the Yatsuo region.