🚋 Toyama · 1–2 days
Toyama Bay Drive: Himi, the Amaharashi Coast & the Kurobe Gorge
Along Toyama Bay from the fishing town of Himi and the Amaharashi coast — where the 3,000 m Tateyama range floats over the sea — to Shinminato, Namerikawa and the Kurobe Gorge railway at Unazuki. 5 michi-no-eki.
Toyama Bay is one of the few places on earth where a 3,000-metre snow range rises straight out of the sea. From the sushi town of Himi and the pine-and-rock Amaharashi coast the Tateyama mountains float on the horizon; the bay also gives up firefly squid and some of Japan's best seafood.
The drive follows the bay east from Himi and Amaharashi, through Shinminato and Namerikawa — home of the firefly squid and a deep-sea aquarium — to Unazuki, gateway to the Kurobe Gorge and its little red railway into one of Japan's deepest ravines.
The stops, in driving order
- 1 Michi-no-Eki Himi 道の駅 氷見 · Toyama
Michi-no-Eki Himi (道の駅 氷見) is a government-designated roadside station in 氷見市, Toyama, Japan, registered in 1999 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a hot-spring (onsen) bath, a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop and EV charging. There is free parking for about 214 cars and 9 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 8:30–18:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Chubu road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Ame Sei, Orihime No Sato Nakanoto and Manyou No Sato Takaoka.
Nearby: 🏛Himi City Shiokaze Gallery (0.6 km) · 🌄忍者ハットリくんカラクリ時計 (1 km)
- 2 Michi-no-Eki Ame Sei 道の駅 雨晴 · Toyama
Michi-no-Eki Ame Sei (道の駅 雨晴) is a government-designated roadside station in 高岡市, Toyama, Japan, one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. Typical opening hours are 9:00–17:00 ※季節やイベントにより閉店時間変更あり 最長19:00まで. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Chubu road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Himi, Kamonpaaku Shinminato and Manyou No Sato Takaoka.
Nearby: 🌄雨晴海岸 (0.7 km) · 🌄もみじ姫公園 (0.8 km)
- 3 Michi-no-Eki Kamonpaaku Shinminato 道の駅 カモンパーク新湊 · Toyama
Michi-no-Eki Kamonpaaku Shinminato (道の駅 カモンパーク新湊) is a government-designated roadside station in 射水市, Toyama, Japan, one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, a tourist-information desk and a museum or gallery. There is free parking for about 259 cars and 44 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 8:00–19:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Chubu road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Ame Sei, Manyou No Sato Takaoka and Himi.
Nearby: 🏛射水市大島絵本館 (2.2 km) · 🌄富山新港展望台 (3 km)
- 4 Michi-no-Eki Ueebupaaku Namerikawa 道の駅 ウェーブパークなめりかわ · Toyama
Michi-no-Eki Ueebupaaku Namerikawa (道の駅 ウェーブパークなめりかわ) is a government-designated roadside station in 滑川市, Toyama, Japan, registered in 1998 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, a tourist-information desk and a park. There is free parking for about 156 cars and 10 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–17:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Chubu road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Unazuki, Kamonpaaku Shinminato and Ame Sei.
Nearby: 🎢ミラージュランド (4.7 km) · 🐟魚津水族博物館 (4.7 km)
- 5 Michi-no-Eki Unazuki 道の駅 うなづき · Toyama
Michi-no-Eki Unazuki (道の駅 うなづき) is a government-designated roadside station in 黒部市, Toyama, Japan, registered in 1997 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a local-products shop, EV charging, free Wi-Fi and a tourist-information desk. There is free parking for about 75 cars and 3 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–18:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Chubu road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Echigo Ichiburi No Kan, Ueebupaaku Namerikawa and Oyashirazu Piapaaku.
Nearby: 🏛黒部市歴史民俗資料館（うなづき友学館） (0.1 km) · 📸農村文化伝承館 山本家 (1.7 km)
Make this route yours — load all 5 stops into the planner, reorder or remove stops, then open the finished trip in Google Maps.
Customize this route →Route tips
- The Amaharashi Coast is the classic view of the Tateyama range over the sea — clearest on crisp winter mornings.
- The Kurobe Gorge Railway (from Unazuki) runs spring to late autumn; the autumn colour is spectacular.
- Himi is a famous winter-yellowtail and sushi town; Namerikawa has firefly squid in spring.
- This is the coastal approach to the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route.
Before you drive
- Can you drive in Japan? License rules by country
- Renting a car in Japan: the complete guide
- Can you sleep overnight at a michi-no-eki?
FAQ — Toyama Bay & Kurobe
How many days do you need for the Toyama Bay & Kurobe route?
1–2 days is a comfortable pace: roughly 70 km of driving with 5 michi-no-eki stops along the way. You can compress it, but the stops are the point.
Where does the route start and end?
It starts at Himi and ends at Unazuki (Kurobe Gorge). Load all 5 stops into the free MichiStops route planner to reorder, add or remove stops, then open the finished trip in Google Maps.
When is the best season to drive this route?
Year-round (Tateyama range over the bay clearest in winter; gorge railway spring–autumn).
Do I need to rent a car?
Yes — michi-no-eki are roadside stations, realistically reachable only by rental car or campervan. Most visitors can drive in Japan with a 1949-convention International Driving Permit; check the license rules for your country before booking. License rules by country →
Can I sleep overnight at the michi-no-eki on this route?
Resting overnight in your vehicle is tolerated at most michi-no-eki, but tents, awnings and open-air cooking are not allowed. Read the overnight-stay guide for the etiquette. Overnight-stay guide →