Ignite the Soul at this Coveted Tour in Toyama, the City of Glass

On the outskirts of Toyama City lies Glass Art Hills Toyama, the very nucleus of the Glass City that houses acclaimed spots like Toyama Institute of Glass Art and Toyama Glass Studio. The studio also supports young artists, many of whom have made a name for themselves in the glass world both in and outside Japan.

The craft experience begins with a brief orientation. Here you draft your final wine glass design with samples and color swatches in hand.

Unlike other glass-making studios, this spot offers an art-forward experience that focuses on the true creation of design, alongside the artisan. Unlock your mind and explore the endless possibilities of design, even like adding color to the stem. Step into the studio for a chance to make your very own wineglass that’s fit to your tastes.

Next up you’ll head over to the studio workshop used by budding young artisans and take up the helm of wine glass making. Your preliminary sketches will inform your guide as you go. The task may take a little extra work to get used to, but rest assured as the cheery support of your attending craftsman will help you get the hang of it.

Total time to create each glass is about 45 minutes. Coupled with orientation and writing your name on the box you can expect about 90 minutes from beginning to end. From there your glass will take on a gradual cooling process overnight before the artisans apply the finishing touches in just a few hours.

Your finished wine glass is set for its final debut during the following day dinner, at DoubleTree by Hilton Toyama. Here you’ll enjoy all the perks of this special tour, raising the glass you made not too long ago in true Toyama city style.

Just as you’ve finished your own wine glass and whet your appetite for the craft, you’ll find yourself at the next stop, Toyama Glass Art Museum. This spot is located inside Toyama Glass Art Museum, a mixed-media destination crafted by world renowned artist Kengo Kuma that serves as the central hub for touting Toyama as “the City of Glass” around the world.

Inside the museum, you'll find a collection primarily featuring modern glass artworks owned by Toyama City. On the 6th floor, in the Glass Art Garden, you’ll find an installation piece crafted by the maestro of modern glass art, Dale Chihuly. The vibrant colors and dynamic nature of his works are so captivating that you'll find yourself completely immersed in their world.

Draw in near to the world of contemporary glass art at the library, lined with works made by the esteemed art friends of Toyama.

Stays are book at DoubleTree by Hilton Toyama, set just about a 3-minute walk from Toyama Station. The hotel boasts 201 spacious rooms with a modern trappings for the utmost in comfort. The hotel also keeps a large communal bath with sauna and a 24-hour fitness gym.

For dinner on the second night, I indulged at the all-day dining located on the hotel's second floor. This was the moment to unveil the wine glasses crafted the previous day. While participants were nervously anticipating their glass reveal, the results exceeded everyone's expectations, leaving all immensely satisfied.

The Hilton's select wines were poured into our original glasses. Being able to toast with our handcrafted glasses while staying in Toyama, the “City of Glass” is an utmost pleasure. The chef's special dishes, abundantly utilizing local seasonal ingredients, perfectly complement the wine.

The "Kitamaebune Kaisen Merchant Mori Residence", constructed around 1878, was the mansion of a merchant who prospered from the Kitamaebune trade. The house luxuriously incorporates materials sourced from all over Japan, conveying its past opulence. Highlights are found throughout, such as the wooden framework in the main building's open ceiling and paintings in the storage rooms. A distinct feature is the "Tooriniwa" passageway connecting the entrance to the former dock behind the residence.

Private studio of Tsutomu Iwasaki, a wood carver known around the world for his realistically crafted pieces that still keep with traditional carving techniques. Iwasaki’s works have garnered wide acclaimed across all sectors and are even featured at Michelin-starred restaurant, L'évo, in Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture. Enjoy this exclusive tour not usually available to the public where you can watch his craft up close.

Iwasaki's hometown, the Inami district of southern Toyama Prefecture (Nanto City), is renowned as a town where traditional Japanese carving techniques thrive. Born to a sculptor father, Iwasaki learned carving in Inami before striking out on his own to pursue more realistic expressions. He established his workshop in the town of Iwase, a place teeming with artists from across the board. The masterpieces emerging from this workshop transcend the framework of "traditional crafts", representing a new genre of art.

Located in Iwase, Masuda Sake Brewery is the birthplace of the famous sake "Masuizumi". At "Saseki", operated by the brewery, visitors can relish the paid tasting of their Japanese sake. Occasionally, there's the added thrill of stumbling upon exclusive sake brands not available to the general public, making it a paradise for sake enthusiasts.

In this tour, participants are ushered into the spacious area on the second floor of "Saseki". Here, they can specially experience the pairing of Japanese sweets from Hikiami Kagetsudo and sake from Masuda Sake Brewery. For this experience, five selected varieties of sake from Masuda Brewery are paired with five types of Japanese sweets. The taste sensation undergoes a dramatic transformation when one savors the sweet first, follows it with a sip of sake, and then revisits the sweet – an astonishing play on the palate.

This authentic Italian restaurant offers dishes that showcase Toyama's rich ingredients. Located just off the main street of Iwase, Oomachi Street, it's a perfect lunch spot while out exploring the area.

The chef, trained at "Piatto Suzuki" in Azabu Juban, Tokyo, a restaurant that consistently held a Michelin star for over 10 years, before opening Piatto Suzuki Cinque in Iwase in 2017. The restaurant was awarded the "Bib Gourmand" title in the Michelin Guide Hokuriku 2021 Special Edition.
The restaurant, with its wood-themed interior, has large windows that overlook a Japanese garden, creating a relaxed ambiance for guests to enjoy their meal.

Shamisen Rakuya is not only a retailer of one of Japan's traditional instruments, the Shamisen, but also offers classes on how to play it. Here, as a part of the tour, you can experience making a Shamisen replica out of paper.

The Owara Wind Bon Festival takes place from September 1st to 3rd each year in Yao, the southern part of Toyama City. The Shamisen is an indispensable instrument for this festival, underlining the deep connection between Toyama and the Shamisen.
Before the hands-on experience, visitors are treated to a Shamisen performance. From the rich emotional folk songs to dynamic fast-playing techniques, you will be instantly captivated by the delights of the Shamisen.

After enjoying the melodious sounds of the Shamisen serenade, the "paper Shamisen-making" workshop begins. The process, which involves tasks such as folding paper along creases and attaching the neck, is simple, making it an activity that everyone can enjoy. Surprisingly, this paper-made Shamisen resonates sound quite impressively.

Once the paper Shamisen is complete, it's time to play. The workshop provides original sheet music designed for intuitive play, ensuring that even those new to musical instruments can easily play. Of course, participants also get the opportunity to try out a real Shamisen, providing a full-rounded experience.

Toyama City, known as the "Medicine Town," has been a hub for the pharmaceutical industry for over 300 years. Legend has it that in 1690, when a feudal lord suffered from severe abdominal pain within Edo Castle, the second lord of Toyama domain, Maeda Masatoshi, offered him a medicine called "Hangan-tan". The pain reportedly subsided immediately, which propelled the fame of Toyama's medicine throughout the nation.

Ikedaya Yasubei Shoten was instrumental in reviving the Hangan-tan, which had swept the nation during the Edo period, shortly after World War II. They demonstrate the traditional pill-making process, allowing those interested to experience it firsthand. While molding the medicine into uniform sizes might seem simple, it’s actually quite the challenge!

The store offers a range of Japanese and Chinese herbal medicines. Depending on the symptoms or concerns, they provide appropriate prescriptions, offering a sense of reliability.

Kumiko Zaiku is a traditional Japanese woodworking technique where wood pieces are intricately assembled into geometric patterns without the use of nails. "Kumiko Zaiku Tanihata" boasts a team of skilled artisans who have achieved numerous accolades, including the prestigious "Prime Minister's Award".

As you step into the facility, you are immediately greeted by displays of their exquisite handiwork that showcases the intricate beauty of Kumiko. Originally used for decorating traditional Japanese rooms, it's unsurprising to learn that their work has recently found its way into overseas brand shops and luxury hotels, given the unparalleled artistry.

After touring the facility, visitors are offered an opportunity to try their hand at Kumiko. Assembling the wooden pieces can be likened to solving a puzzle; while it may be challenging to get the hang of it initially, the satisfaction upon completing a design is unmatched.

The art museum showcases artworks collected by the pharmaceutical company, Reed Chemical Co. Amongst the vast collection, the array of Japanese swords is particularly impressive and a sight to behold. During the Muromachi period (1336-1568), Toyama Prefecture was a major production area for swords, predominantly crafted by the swordsmith group called the "Uda-ha". Occasionally, the museum hosts special exhibitions displaying collections from Toyama swordsmiths, which is not to be missed.

Up close, the beauty of the Japanese sword is undeniable, particularly the wave-like pattern known as "hamon". More than just a weapon, the Japanese sword is a piece of art and craftsmanship that has been cherished and passed down through generations.

Kappo Ogawa offers a culinary experience that revolves around fresh seafood from Toyama and local mountain delicacies. Each dish not only tantalizes the taste buds with its profound flavors but also presents a visual feast, reflecting the chef's meticulous skills and dedication. During the winter season, you can look forward to specialties like Buri Shabu (Yellowtail Hot Pot) and crab dishes.