Toyama Prefecture, located on the Japan Sea side of central Honshu, is a mountainous prefecture housing part of World Cultural Heritage "Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama". Blessed with magnificent Tateyama mountain range nature and abundant water resources, the prefecture name "Toyama" allegedly derives from "Sotoyama" (outer mountain).

Within "Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama" (registered 1995), Toyama Prefecture's Gokayama (Ainokura and Suganuma settlements) are included in World Heritage. Gassho-zukuri features distinctive traditional architecture with steep thatched roofs, embodying ancestral wisdom adapted to harsh natural environments of heavy snow regions. Architectural techniques and lifestyles inherited for over 400 years continue being carefully preserved by local residents today.

Zuiryuji Temple, prominent Soto Zen temple in Takaoka City, has sanmon gate, Buddha hall, and dharma hall designated as national treasures. Built as Maeda Toshinaga's family temple over approximately 20 years from 1614, it's highly valued as early Edo period Zen architectural masterpiece. Particularly, the Buddha hall incorporates Chinese elements in dignified architecture, with magnificent temple layout creating spectacular views.

Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, mountain tourism route connecting Toyama and Nagano prefectures, represents world-class mountain tourism path linking 3,000-meter peaks via various transportation. Connecting Tateyama Cable Car, highland buses, Tateyama Ropeway, Tateyama Trolley Bus, Kurobe Cable Car, and Kanden Tunnel Electric Bus allows enjoying magnificent Northern Alps scenery. Particularly, spring's Yuki-no-Otani (snow walls) reaching 20-meter heights create world-famous scenes.

Toyama Bay, called "nature's fish preserve" for rich fishing grounds, is particularly famous for firefly squid and white shrimp. Firefly squid, spring tradition, creates fantastical scenes appearing in bay waters glowing blue-white at night. Local cuisine includes firefly squid scooping, oki-zuke marinade, and tsukudani preserves. White shrimp, called "Toyama Bay jewels" for transparent beauty, can be enjoyed as tempura or sashimi.

Trout sushi represents Toyama Prefecture's nationally famous ekiben (railway lunch box). Traditional pressed sushi continuing from Edo period, made using cherry salmon caught in Jinzu River. Circular sushi wrapped in bamboo skin is beloved as travel companion. Currently often using salmon instead of trout, traditional production methods continue.

Toyama's medicine peddlers represent traditional commerce from Edo period, selling medicine nationwide through unique "sen-yo ko-ri" (use first, profit later) business methods. Currently inherited as household medicine placement business, it remains one of Toyama Prefecture's important industries. Toyama City features medicine-related facilities including Uchiyama Medicinal Herb Garden and Ikedaya Yasube-e Store, teaching medicine capital Toyama's history.

Toyama Prefecture ranks among Japan's premier hydroelectric prefectures, with industries based on power utilizing abundant water resources. Particularly aluminum smelting thrives, with major corporations like Nippon Light Metal and YKK headquartering here.