Toyama City, near Kanazawa, is one of my new favorite places to visit. The shinkansen 🚄 stops here on its way to Kanazawa and I highly recommend spending a night here to explore the area.

The Toyama Glass Art Museum building was designed by Kengo Kuma and has a stunning interior. The city’s public library is here.

Admission for adults is only ¥200 ($1.50) and includes energetic pieces by American Dale Chihuly. There is a separate admission for special exhibits. The gift shop has a colorful selection of glass ochoko or guinomi saké 🍶 cups and much more.

Toyama Glass Art Museum

Toyama-shi, Nishicho 5-1

Permanent Exhibition

Nearby is a fantastic kissaten retro coffee shop called Tsutaya that opened in 1923.