Toyama Countryside Cycling Route
The 富山田園サイクリングコース (Toyama Countryside Cycle Route) showcases a completely different side of Toyama from the more famous coastal route. Instead of riding beside Toyama Bay, this 199-kilometer route explores the fertile Toyama Plain, traditional villages, historic temple towns, and quiet agricultural landscapes beneath the dramatic backdrop of the Tateyama Mountain Range. The route is divided into three main sections, allowing riders to experience Toyama’s culture, history, and rural scenery at a relaxed pace.
Unlike many Japanese long-distance cycling routes that focus on mountains or coastlines, the Toyama Countryside Cycle Route emphasizes easy riding through working rural landscapes. Vast rice fields, irrigation canals, historic merchant towns, and traditional wooden architecture provide constant interest while keeping elevation gain surprisingly manageable. The route is suitable for riders of varying abilities and can easily be divided into day rides using Toyama’s excellent rail network.
The Route
The official route has about 199kms but that includes many extursions of the main route, following just the main route (below) is about 160km through the countryside of Toyama.
The route is marked throughout with blue markings on the road all the way making it easy to follow
Things to do and see
Inami Temple Town (井波)
Known as the woodcarving capital of Japan, Inami is a charming historic town centered around Zuisenji Temple (瑞泉寺). Visitors can watch master craftsmen at work in traditional workshops and browse beautifully carved wooden artwork.
Tonami Plain Scattered Villages (砺波平野散居村)
The Tonami Plain is famous for its unique pattern of isolated farmhouses spread across the countryside. Best appreciated from an elevated viewpoint, the landscape offers a glimpse into a centuries-old farming tradition found nowhere else in Japan.
Yatsuo Old Town (越中八尾)
Yatsuo’s preserved streets are lined with traditional wooden buildings and stone-paved lanes. The town is best known for the Owara Kaze no Bon Festival (おわら風の盆), but its historic atmosphere can be enjoyed year-round.
Getting There and away
While riding the course, one is never far away from the train with local railway line stations scattered all along the route.
Travelling from futher away there are severeal useful stops along the Hokuriku Shinkansen with Kurobe-Unazukionsen Station in the East, Toyama in the Middle and Shin-Takaoka to the West.
As the route ends further West than Shin-Takaoka station at Isurugi Station, one could also ride the remaining 25km to Kanzawa for some extra kilometers as well.
