Oyabe

Oyabe (小矢部) is a city in Toyama, Japan.

Understand
Oyabe is host to an interesting collection of Western-influenced buildings, which stand prominent against the surrounding traditional Japanese landscape. Oyabe is proud of its 35 "Marchen" (fairy-tale) buildings, each with its own unique architecture. Most of the buildings were designed in the style of famous locations in Europe and Japan, and some feature an interesting blend of styles. Many of these buildings are schools and community centers, and are still bustling with activity.

Oyabe is also famous for the Tsuzawa Yotaka festival, which is 400 years old and has been passed down from generation to generation in 84 different locations in Oyabe. This night event is held on the 10th and 11th of June.

Tourist Information Site
The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site.

Get in
The nearest city of any size is Kanazawa, from where you can take the IR Ishikawa Railway to (石動駅), which is on the Ainokaze Toyama Railway (25 minutes, ¥500). From Toyama it's slightly farther; take the Ainokaze Toyama Railway (35 minutes, ¥660).

Go next

 * Tonami
 * Takaoka
 * Nanto
 * Imizu
 * Himi
 * Tsubata
 * Kahoku
 * Uchinada
 * Kanazawa