RENT & RIDE JAPANToyama, Himi & Noetsu Expressway
Toyama Bay Coast: Himi & Amaharashi
A two-day coastal ride linking the Hokuriku and Noetsu Expressways to Amaharashi, where the Tateyama Range floats above Toyama Bay, and Himi, famed for its winter yellowtail, with a look at Tonami's scattered-farmhouse plain.
- DISTANCE
- 780 km
- DURATION
- 20 h
- LEVEL
- Advanced
Starting from TASHILOG GARAGE in Hachioji, this two-day tour links the Hokuriku and Noetsu Expressways to reach the Toyama Bay coastline. You cover distance on the highway, then base yourself in Himi—the gateway to the Noto Peninsula—to chase one of the world's rarest views: a soaring mountain range seen across the sea.
Highlights
- Amaharashi Coast: On clear days, the 3,000-meter Tateyama Range appears to float above Toyama Bay—one of Japan's finest coastal vistas.
- Himi: Birthplace of the Etchu-style fixed-net fishery, offering superbly fresh seafood, including the prized winter yellowtail that begins fattening in autumn.
- Tonami Scattered Village: A quintessential rural Japanese landscape of farmhouses dotted across the plain, each ringed by protective groves.
Riding Notes
The one-way distance is around 350 km, mostly on expressways. Leave the garage early on Day 1 and settle into your Himi lodging. On Day 2, chase the Amaharashi view in the crisp morning air, then pass through Tonami on the way home. Yellowtail peaks in midwinter, but Himi's fresh fish is excellent even in early autumn. Because clouds can hide the mountains, aim for a clear early morning.
- Day 1
- 1START
Tashilog Garage
Start point. Head from Hachioji toward the Chuo and Hokuriku Expressways.
TIPSIt's a long-haul day—fuel up, rest well, and start early.
- 2FOOD~60 min
Himi Kitokito Sushi Himi Main Store
A late lunch on arrival in Himi—a conveyor-belt sushi restaurant sourcing directly from Himi and nearby ports.
TIPSAt 65 Kamiizumi, Himi. Roughly 11:00–21:00 (LO 20:45), with some Tuesday closures. Famous for morning-caught local fish; plates from ¥110. Please confirm opening days.
Open in Google Maps
Photo: くろふね / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 - 3SPOT~45 min
Himi Banya-gai (Michi-no-Eki Himi)
A seaside seafood market and food complex on Toyama Bay—browse souvenirs and Himi specialties.
TIPSOn clear days you may glimpse the Tateyama Range across the bay. A footbath helps ease the long ride.
Open in Google Maps
Photo: くろふね / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 4.0 - 4LODGING~720 min
Himi Onsen-kyo (Stay at Aonoura Onsen)
Night one. A hot-spring district facing Toyama Bay, offering fresh seafood and natural onsen.
TIPSA few minutes from the Himi-kita IC on the Noetsu Expressway. Some inns offer covered motorcycle parking, but please confirm parking and room type when booking. Some have open-air baths facing the Tateyama Range.
Open in Google Maps
Image - Day 2
- 5VIEW~50 min
Amaharashi Coast
First stop on Day 2. One of Japan's finest coastal views—the Tateyama Range and Meiwa rock across Toyama Bay.
HISTORYThe Man'yo poet Otomo no Yakamochi loved this scenery and composed many poems here. The name derives from a legend that Minamoto no Yoshitsune and the warrior-monk Benkei sheltered from a sudden rain behind a rock while fleeing to Oshu.
TIPSA clear early morning is best for photos. The classic viewpoint is just across the railway crossing in front of Michi-no-Eki Amaharashi. Toyama Bay is a member of the 'Most Beautiful Bays in the World' club.
Open in Google Maps
Photo: そらみみ / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 - 6VIEW~30 min
Tonami Scattered Village (Sankyoson Observatory)
A sweeping view over the Tonami Plain, where farmhouses ringed by groves dot the fields.
TIPSA hillside observatory overlooks the scattered village. It's especially beautiful when paddies are flooded in spring or the rice turns green and gold.
Open in Google Maps
Image - 7GOAL
Tashilog Garage
Return. From Tonami IC via the Hokuriku and Chuo Expressways back to Hachioji.
TIPSThe return leg is long too—take frequent breaks and aim to arrive early.