A vibrant craft scene in Toyama is luring travellers off of Japan’s well-travelled Golden Route

This is part of Uncovering Japan, a collection of stories that spotlight the lesser-known gems that belong on your Japan itinerary, offering everything from a wellspring of local craft and a vibrant street food culture to traditional wellness. Read more here.

I recently experienced the most memorable sunset of my life, not on a beach in Santorini but on a hilltop in rural Toyama, Japan. As the sun dipped behind forested hills into the Sea of Japan, the vast Tonami Plain spread out below me,…