富山城
Toyama Castle
Overview
Toyama Castle was originally built around 1543 by Jinbo Nagamoto on the banks of the Jintsu River. Its nickname 'Floating Castle' (Uki-shiro) comes from its appearance during floods. The castle was a focal point for power struggles among Uesugi Kenshin, Oda Nobunaga, and Sassa Narimasa. In the Edo period, the Toyama domain (100,000 koku) was established as a branch domain of the Kaga Maeda clan. Toyama became famous nationwide for its itinerant medicine sellers ('Toyama no kusuri-uri'), and the domain's heritage is preserved in the reconstructed castle tower, now a local history museum. Toyama has a rich sword culture tied to its warrior history.
Connection to Swords
Toyama's sword culture was shaped by the many great warriors who controlled the region. Uesugi Kenshin, one of history's greatest warrior-generals, owned the legendary blade Sanchōmō (a Bizen Osafune Nagamitsu tachi), recently repatriated to Jōetsu City. Sassa Narimasa, who famously crossed the Tateyama mountains in winter to reach Tokugawa Ieyasu, was also known as a sword connoisseur. The Maeda clan's cultural refinement extended to sword collecting, and the Toyama domain swordsmiths developed a practical yet aesthetically refined style. The Toyama City Local History Museum preserves domain swords, armor, and fittings.
Highlights
- Toyama Castle tower (1954 reconstruction, Toyama City Local History Museum)
- Castle park cherry blossoms with the Northern Alps in the background
- Toyama City Museum of Glass Art
- Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route
- Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art and Design (Suiboku bijutsukan)
- Itinerant medicine culture museum
* Opening hours and admission fees are subject to change. Please check the official website before visiting.