Kaiwomaru Park is a place of gathering for the communities around Toyama Bay. It’s also a wonderful place to ease one’s mind in a suburban city oasis. My first thought when my Couchsurfing host family took me here was: “how spoiled are the folks here – the view, the scenery!” Under the big blue sky we stood in the open air park with the sea glistening against the backdrop of a romantic highway bridge and the Northern Alps. My philosophy is, if you’ve got mountains and open water in sight, you’re a lucky one because not everybody can have both. The Toyama Bay is also named one of the “Most Beautiful Bays in the World” along with famous bays such as the San Fransisco Bay.
A cute flower maze by the ship
Many family and community-oriented festivals and events happen here throughout the year, such as the Children’s Day festival (May 5) that was getting set up when I visited. Though many activities can be enjoyed even without an event in place, the main act of the park is the namesake itself: The Kaiwomaru ship, nicknamed “The Lady of the Sea.” A merchant training vessel that has sailed around the world 50 times since its first launch in 1930, it now rests in the harbor for the public. There are public tours daily to learn about the ship (one of the only ones preserved to its original form) and classes for kids and adults to take. These classes provide education around the sea, ships, and ports, and some classes can even arrange for overnight stays.
One of the many ship models on display at the Japan Sea Center
Though I didn’t step onto Kaiwomaru ship, I did take a look around the Japan Sea Center, located right near the anchored beauty. This center features many replicas of ships and educates visitors about ports, bays, and vessels around the world. Again, this facility is also used for educational purposes. Why not take a course to learn more about the sea when you visit? The classes range from ¥1000 to ¥2000 even with an overnight included.
The view of the Northern Alps in the distance
A visit to Kaiwomaru Park with two little host sisters proved to be both exhausting and fun. We could never stay in one place long enough to read all the information, and all they wanted to do was run around everywhere. Thank goodness for a large park like this one! With beautiful views and lots to do, make sure to do some R&R for a few hours at Kaiwomura Park.
I highly recommend checking out the Bird Park or one of the many casual seafood dining spots in the facilities. There’s even a picnic area if you’d like to bring your own food or barbecue! There are other unique features like the big hammock-like ropes course and a digital car race way. Whether you come by car or train, it’s an easily accessible spot in Northern Toyama.
For park facilities and information in English click here.
The Japanese site also has a list of events and classes on the ship.
Access:
- Train: From Kaiwomaru Station a 5 minute walk (Manyosen Line)
- Drive: Hokuriku Expressway from Kosugi Intersection 20 minutes, National Highway 8 from Kaganomiya Intersection 5 minutes
The Kaiwomaru Ship
Hours: 9:30am – 5:00pm; closed Wednesdays, New Year’s holiday, and maintenance days twice yearly
Price: Adult ¥400, child (junior high and below) ¥200
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