Toyama: The Antidote to Overtouristed Japan

Skip boring, touristy Japan. Find snow-capped mountains, legendary seafood, and world-class culture - free of the tourist hordes.

Unlock Toyama, a city that is tranquil but not boring, traditional but not stuffy. This book is packed with the hard-won secrets you actually need, showing you not just what to see, but how to see it smarter.

Get the real story and the smartest strategies, including:

• The Alpine Route Hack: Conquer the spectacular "Roof of Japan" by starting from Toyama to ascend against the main flow of traffic, arriving at the summit hours before the crowds.
• A Tale of Two Tastes: Navigate Toyama's two culinary souls: the legendary, delicate seafood from its "natural fish tank" bay and the brutally salty Toyama Black ramen, a dish originally designed as a condiment for rice.
• Culture Without the Crowds: See an original Picasso at the Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art and Design (TAD) without the elbows you'd find in Kyoto, then enjoy the best mountain view in the city from the museum's free rooftop playground.
• The Trolley Revolution: Learn how Toyama's sleek, efficient trolley system saved the city from decline through its "dumplings and skewers" Compact City strategy.
• Smarter Stays: Find the perfect hotel using an insider's breakdown of the "amenity arms race," from the onsen-equipped Dormy Inn with its free late-night ramen to the top-pick Toyama Manten Hotel and its stunning top-floor bath with mountain views.
• A Souvenir with a Story: Acquire the weirdest and most memorable souvenir of your life by rolling your own (probably lumpy) medicinal pills for free at a 200-year-old apothecary.

Written for the traveler smart enough to get off the beaten path, this is your map to the Japan you were looking for.

Toyama is my hideout in Japan. Let's make it yours, too.