Toyama, capital of Toyama Prefecture with 415,000 residents, sits between Toyama Bay on Sea of Japan coast and Northern Japan Alps (Hida Mountains) to south, creating dramatic landscape juxtaposing ocean and 3,000-meter peaks. Mount Tate (Tateyama, 3,015 meters), one of Japan's Three Holy Mountains, dominates southern skyline while providing spiritual significance and alpine tourism. Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, spectacular mountain crossing connecting Toyama City to Nagano Prefecture, features massive snow walls reaching 20 meters high in spring, cable cars ascending steep slopes, and engineering achievements including Kurobe Dam creating major tourist draw. The prefecture's geographic position creates heavy snowfall from moisture-laden Sea of Japan winds hitting mountains, enabling winter sports while complicating infrastructure maintenance.

The economy depends on manufacturing including pharmaceuticals, machinery, and chemicals, tourism visiting Tateyama alpine route, fishing in Toyama Bay harvesting firefly squid and white shrimp, and agriculture in coastal plains. Challenges include population decline from 1.16 million (1985) to 1.04 million (2020), aging demographics, and young people migrating to Tokyo metropolitan area. Yet Toyama maintains appeal through spectacular mountain scenery, fresh seafood from deep bay waters, accessible Alps tourism via alpine route, and livability combining urban amenities with natural access. The prefecture represents provincial Japan balancing industrial economy with tourism leveraging unique geography—dramatic elevation changes creating diverse recreational opportunities and cultural identity rooted in mountain worship traditions.