Toyama 富山
—  Core city  —
富山市 · Toyama City
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Location of Toyama in Toyama Prefecture
Toyama
Coordinates: 36°42′N 137°13′E / 36.7°N 137.217°E / 36.7; 137.217Coordinates: 36°42′N 137°13′E / 36.7°N 137.217°E / 36.7; 137.217
Country	Japan
Region	Chūbu
Prefecture	Toyama Prefecture
Government
- Mayor	Masashi Mori (since January 2002)
Area
- Total	1,241.85 km2 (479.5 sq mi)
Population (May 31, 2011)
- Total	417,324
- Density	336.05/km2 (870.4/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City symbols
- Tree	Zelkova serrata
- Flower	Thistle
Phone number	81-(0)76-431-1111
Address	Higashi-shinmachi 7-38, Toyama City, Toyama Prefecture (富山県富山市東新町７番38号) 930-8510
Website	City of Toyama

Toyama (富山市, Toyama-shi^?) is the capital city of Toyama Prefecture, Japan, located on the coast of the Sea of Japan in the Chūbu region on central Honshū, about 200 km north of the city of Nagoya and 300 km northwest of Tokyo.

Historically, Toyama was the capital of Etchu Province. The modern city was incorporated on April 1, 1889. As of May 31, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 417,324, with 162,663 households and a population density of 336.05 persons per square kilometer. The total area is 1,241.85 km².

Toyama is served by Toyama Airport and Toyama Station of West Japan Railway Company, with Toyama Light Rail, Toyama Chiho Railway.

History

The Toyama Plain is good farmland and historically it was a point of strategic and traffic importance. During the Feudal Age, it was frequently turned into a battlefield. Toward the end of the period of confusion, Sassa Narimasa became the governor of Etchū Province (the ancient name for present Toyama), and he accomplished the feat of taming the rampaging rivers, bringing about an even more flourishing agricultural industry in Toyama. In the early Edo Period, a positive industrial promotion policy was implemented on the production of medicine and 和紙 (washi, japanese paper). Also, thanks to the improvement of both land and sea 　transportation routes, these industries thrived and Toyama became known nation-wide as the province of medicine. After the Meiji Restoration, heavy and chemical industries developed in Toyama, based on abundant electricity which was generated in some hydro power stations in the mountains near-by. Although the streets of Toyama were devastated by an air raid in August 1945, Toyama has become one of the most influential cities on the Japan Sea side with its good water supply, drainage system and thriving agricultural, forestry, fishery, commercial and manufacturing industries.

The city was nearly destroyed on the night of August 1–2, 1945, when 173 B-29 bombers of the American 73rd Bomber Wing dropped incendiary bombs on the city. 1.87 square miles (4.8 km²), or about 99.5 percent, of the urban center was destroyed. At the time of the bombing, the city was a center for aluminum, ball-bearing and special steel production. The city during the time had a population of around 150,000 residents.

Mergers

Toyama Castle in Spring

On April 1, 2005, the former Toyama city, towns of Ōsawano and Ōyama from Kaminiikawa District and the towns and villages of Fuchū, Hosoiri, Yamada and Yatsuo (all from Nei District) merged into the city of Toyama. Kaminiikawa District and Nei District were both dissolved as a result of this merger.

Climate

Economy

Asiana Airlines operates a sales office on the eighth floor of the Toyama Daiichi-Seimei Building in Toyama, near the Toyama Airport grounds.

Morinaga Hokuriku Dairy, a dairy products subsidiary of Morinaga Milk Industry, operates a plant in Toyama.

Hokuriku Electric Power (Rikuden), bearing parts and industrial robot company of Fujikoshi and software company of Intec, which company's head-quarter place in Toyama.

Also, Hokuhoku Financial Holdings (Hokuriku Bank and Hokkaido Bank), First Bank of Toyama and Toyama Bank are regional bank, based on Toyama.

Points of interest

• Botanic Gardens of Toyama
• Toyama International Conference Center
• Toyama Castle
• Museum of Modern Art, Toyama
• Toyama Athletic Recreation Park Stadium, home of Toyama's representative in the J. League, Kataller Toyama football club
• Toyama Glass Studio

Owara Wind Bon, which held on September 1 to 3

Festival and Event

• Toyama Chindon Contest (Toyama Band of musical sandwichmen contest) - Which held in April, and this event was proposed by Toyama Chamber of Commerce in 1955. This event paticipate in festival, and many band of sandwichimen with more tourists every year. But in 2011, which event cancelled the effects of 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.
• Owara Winds Bon - which held on September 1 to 3, in Yao region.

Educational institute

• Toyama National College of Technology

Sister cities

• Durham (United States)
• Mogi das Cruzes (Brazil)
• Qinhuangdao (People's Republic of China)
• Wellington (Australia)

Sister States

• Oregon, United States

Toyama Prefecture Cities Toyama (capital) | Takaoka | Uozu | Himi | Namerikawa | Kurobe | Tonami | Oyabe | Nanto | Imizu Nakaniikawa District Funahashi | Kamiichi | Tateyama Shimoniikawa District Asahi | Nyūzen