Toyama vs Kanazawa: Which Japanese City Should You Visit?

Toyama vs Kanazawa: Discover which city in Japan is better for travel, food, nature, and culture in this detailed comparison.

What’s the Best City in Hokuriku? Let’s Settle This.

Toyama or Kanazawa: a choice many travelers don’t expect to have to make. When people think of Japan, they dream of Tokyo’s neon skyline, Kyoto’s golden temples, or Osaka’s chaotic food alleys. But nestled on the northern coast of central Japan lie two cities that punch far above their weight: Toyama and Kanazawa.

You’re not just choosing between two destinations. You’re choosing between experiences.

• Rugged alpine hikes or samurai-era charm?
• Firefly squid sashimi or gold-leaf ice cream?
• The hidden, unpolished underdog or the rising cultural darling?

This article breaks it all down culture, food, nature, transport, costs, with no fluff, no bias, and no generic tour-guide speak. Okay, maybe a little bias.

I’m a Toyama resident, but have visited Kanazawa many many times, since it’s only a one hour drive or 25 minute train ride away.

To summarize, Toyama is much better for seafood & nature, while Kanazawa has a rich history since it was one of the richest areas of Japan and untouched by World War 2 unlike Toyama.

Just raw info to help you decide where your next stop in Japan should be. And by the end, I’ll show you why… maybe you don’t have to choose at all.

Read this for a Guide to Toyama

And for more events and things to do in Toyama, read the best time to visit Toyama article.

Toyama and Kanazawa: Two Very Different Vibes

Toyama: Nature’s Gateway

Toyama is quieter. Less known. But it’s a nature-lover’s paradise. Think towering alpine walls, hot spring villages, ancient thatched-roof hamlets, and seafood so fresh it might still be twitching. The city itself is compact, clean, and framed by the snowy peaks of the Tateyama Mountain Range.

Kanazawa: Culture Meets Charm

Kanazawa’s the cultural heavyweight. It’s often dubbed the “little Kyoto” thanks to its preserved samurai and geisha districts.

It boasts world-class gardens, a thriving art scene, and an increasingly international crowd. Walkable, beautiful, and deeply historic.

It’s where Japan’s Edo era whispers through stone lanes and paper screens.

My Experience In Both Toyama and Kanazawa

Toyama is right there next to the mountains, much closer to Hakuba, Nagano, Niigata areas. Great for winter sports. It’s a much smaller city, and prefecture in general.

The seafood is great. Many things in Kanazawa seafood wise is brought over from Toyama Bay. Toyama doesn’t have many man-made attractions like museums and old cultural buildings. It was all bombed away in World War 2.

Kanazawa has amazing old buildings that tell a story. If you want to walk around a “Kyoto-like” museum city without the crazy crowds, Kanazawa is great.

But if you want to escape the city, Toyama has a beach, with a beautiful mountain view in Iwase.

Toyama has the mountains a short drive away. Some of the best mountains in Japan. It has the tallest waterfall in Japan.

I enjoy both, and would visit both if you have the time.

Must-See Attractions in Each City

Toyama’s Natural Wonders

• Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route: nicknamed the “Roof of Japan.” It’s the snow wall walk you’ve seen in travel magazines.
  [Read: Tateyama-Kurobe Snow Wall: Toyama]
• Gokayama: UNESCO-listed village of traditional gassho-style houses. [Read: Full Gokayama Guide]
• Shomyo Falls: The tallest waterfall in Japan, and a place where spring meltwater creates double cascades. [Read: Shomyo Falls Article]
• Toyama Bay Cruise: A surreal journey through a bay known for glowing firefly squid. [Read: Firefly Squid Season Guide]

Kanazawa’s Cultural Jewels

• Kenrokuen Garden: One of Japan’s top 3 gardens, stunning in every season.
• Kanazawa Castle: Majestic and hauntingly beautiful, right next to Kenrokuen. It makes Toyama’s castle look like a doll house.
• Higashi Chaya District: Geisha houses, teahouses, and a perfect place to wander.
• 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art: Minimalist, international, and stunningly curated.

The Food: A Showdown of Flavors

Toyama: Seafood Capital of the North

• Firefly Squid (Hotaruika): Only in spring, only in Toyama. It glows. It’s weird. It’s delicious.
  [Read: Firefly Squid]
• Shiroebi (White Shrimp): Served raw as sashimi: sweet, translucent, and melt-in-your-mouth.
• Toyama Black Ramen: A jet-black soy-based ramen invented for hungry factory workers. [Read: Toyama Black Ramen]
• Masu no Sushi: Vinegared trout over pressed rice, wrapped in bamboo leaves.

[Read: Toyama Bay Seafood Guide]

Kanazawa: Classy, Curated, and Gold-Flaked

• Gold Leaf Ice Cream: Yes, they put real gold on your cone. But Gold doesn’t really change flavor
• Kaiseki Ryori: Multi-course haute cuisine rooted in local traditions.
• Kanazawa Curry: Rich, dark, and poured over breaded pork cutlets. My favorite thing after Kanazawa’s craft beer festival is over.
• Omicho Market: A one-stop shop for seafood, street snacks, and fresh produce. Quite large and nice, but pretty touristy. Toyama’s Himi Seafood market is much more authentic.

Getting There and Getting Around

Both cities are stops on the Hokuriku Shinkansen, so access is super easy from Tokyo or Nagano.

• Tokyo to Toyama: ~2 hours by Bullet Train
• Tokyo to Kanazawa: ~2.5 hours by Bullet Train (same one, just an extra 25 minutes from Toyama to Kanazawa)
• Toyama to Kanazawa: Just 23 minutes by Shinkansen

So… if you’re trying to pick one over the other, why not do both?

If you don’t have the time, both can be a day trip. One day Tateyama nature in Toyama with a finish of some local cuisine in the city.

A day in Kanazawa is enough to visit the Ken Roku En garden and castle, 21st century museum, samurai district, and still enjoy a nice lunch and dinner.

It really is culture or nature. If you have a few more days, read up on the itinerary for each

• [Read: Toyama 1-5 day itinerary]

Where to Stay: Rustic Charm or Boutique Class?

In Toyama:

• Near the station: Clean, efficient business hotels under ¥7,000
• Mountain retreats: Ryokan stays in Unazuki Onsen
• Budget hostels for solo backpackers

[Read: Best Places to Stay in Toyama]

In Kanazawa:

• Boutique ryokan in the samurai district
• Hotels with private onsen
• Guesthouses near the market

Best Time to Visit

• Toyama: Spring for firefly squid and cherry blossoms, or Fall to hike the Alps with beautiful Autumn leaves in all different colors.
• Kanazawa: Autumn for fiery leaves and festivals; winter for snowy garden walks

[Read: Best Time to Visit Toyama] | [Read: Best Time to Visit Kanazawa]

What Travelers Say (And What Reddit Thinks)

• “Kanazawa is Kyoto without the crowds.”
• “Toyama surprised me. I went for the snow wall, stayed for the food.”
• “If you love nature, Toyama. If you love tradition and aesthetics, Kanazawa.”

Final Verdict: Which One Should You Visit?

Feature	Toyama	Kanazawa
Nature	✅✅✅	✅
Seafood	✅✅✅	✅✅
Culture	✅	✅✅✅
Art	✅	✅✅✅
Hype	Low-key gem	Rising star

My advice? Do both. But if you only have time for one… follow your soul.

• Want mountains, waterfalls, seafood, and solitude? Go Toyama.
• Want geisha lanes, gardens, gold-leaf and galleries? Go Kanazawa.

FAQs: Toyama vs. Kanazawa

Which is better for nature?

Toyama. Between the Alpine Route, waterfalls, and hiking trails, it’s unmatched.

Which has better food?

If you love seafood, Toyama. If you want traditional cuisine and variety, Kanazawa.

Is Toyama cheaper for backpackers?

Yes. Hostels, food, and attractions generally cost less.

Can I visit both in one trip?

Absolutely. They’re only 23 minutes apart by train.

Is Kanazawa too touristy?

Not yet — it’s rising fast, but still has a chill vibe compared to Kyoto.

What’s the best time to go?

• Spring: Cherry blossoms and seafood in Toyama
• Autumn: Colorful leaves and cultural events in Kanazawa