Seasonal Summer Program Celebrating Toyama's Culinary Delights and Traditional Culture: Breakfast Buffet Featuring Kurobe Premium Pork and Hand-Stretched Somen, Plus Yosegi and Mizuhiki Craft Workshops [Mercure Toyama Tonami Resort & Spa]

Located atop a hill overlooking the Tonami Plain in Hokuriku, the resort hotel "Mercure Toyama Tonami Resort & Spa" (Tonami City, Toyama Prefecture / Manager: Hiroshi Otō) will host a special food and cultural experience program from July to August 2026, allowing guests to fully enjoy the summer charm of Toyama. The breakfast buffet will feature refreshing seasonal dishes such as somen noodles with summer vegetables and chilled shabu-shabu made with Toyama’s premium branded pork.

1. Hand-Stretched Somen with Seafood Broth and Simmered Vegetables

This dish features "Goshaku Hand-Stretched Somen," carefully crafted by artisans using traditional methods, served in a rich Japanese-style broth made from concentrated seafood flavors, accompanied by locally grown summer vegetables. The smooth texture of the somen, the deep umami of the seafood, and the gentle taste of simmered vegetables create a refreshing and harmonious dish perfect for summer.

2. Chilled Shabu-Shabu with Kurobe Premium Pork and Summer Vegetables

A summer-exclusive menu featuring "Kurobe Meisui Pork," a branded pork from Toyama Prefecture. Kurobe Meisui Pork is raised on a carefully formulated feed containing mineral-rich groundwater from the Kurobe River and bamboo vinegar (chikusaku), using selectively bred high-quality pig breeds. It is known for its tender texture and juicy flavor. The pork’s exceptional quality has been recognized with the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award.

This dish highlights the rich flavor of Kurobe pork, served in a chilled shabu-shabu style with seasonal summer vegetables. Guests can enjoy a light and refreshing taste that enhances the natural umami of the pork and the crisp freshness of the vegetables.

In addition, the breakfast buffet will also serve local specialties such as "Nasubi no Yogoshi" (mashed eggplant with miso) and "Chilled Yellowtail Marinated Dish" made with Toyama miso. "Yogoshi" is a beloved regional dish in the Tonami Plain area, where boiled vegetables are finely chopped and stir-fried with miso, offering a simple yet comforting flavor. For dinner, a new dish, "Chilled Tororo Soup," will be introduced. With light and refreshing options like chilled yellowtail and tororo soup, guests can enjoy seasonal flavors even during the hottest days.

[Period] July 1, 2026 (Wed) – August 31, 2026 (Mon)

[Hours] 7:00–9:30 (last entry at 9:00)

[Location] Buffet Restaurant "Locavore"

[Price] Included in all-inclusive plan

About the Local Menu

Summer Daily Rotating Workshops: Experiencing Japan’s Traditional Crafts

1. Yosegi Woodcraft Workshop

Learn from master artisans and create your own intricate geometric woodcraft

In collaboration with "Kajima Kiguten," a long-established joinery shop founded in 1933 in Tonami City, Toyama, this limited-time workshop offers guests the chance to experience "Yosegi," a traditional Japanese woodworking technique. Yosegi is a classic Japanese architectural method that creates geometric patterns by precisely cutting and interlocking thin wooden strips without using nails or metal fittings. Used in traditional elements like shoji screens and transom windows, this craft has been passed down by artisans from the Asuka period to the present day.

During this workshop, participants will learn from skilled craftsmen, understand the auspicious meanings behind Yosegi patterns, and create their own one-of-a-kind Yosegi artwork. Completed pieces can be taken home as souvenirs or used as home décor.

[Dates] July 18 (Sat), July 19 (Sun), July 25 (Sat), August 12 (Wed) – August 15 (Sat), 2026

[Time] 16:00–17:00

[Location] 1st Floor, Local Discovery Corner

[Price] 3,000 JPY (tax and service included)

[Instructor] Kajima Kiguten Co., Ltd.

[Reservation] Available through experiential stay packages or on-site at the hotel

[Details] https://mercure-toyamatonami-resortandspa.jp/plan/all-inclusive-summer-2026/

2. Sasara Weaving Workshop

Create sound by gently bending the arched instrument

"Sasara" is a traditional musical instrument used in the folk song "Kokiriko Bushi," passed down in the Gokayama region of Toyama Prefecture. Made by weaving 108 wooden slats together with string, the instrument produces a unique, light sound when flexed, causing the slats to gently strike each other. As a symbol of the "Kokiriko Bushi" that has been preserved alongside Gokayama’s history, the sasara remains an important cultural icon in the region.

This workshop welcomes Mr. Ōse, a craftsman from Gokayama who runs an ancient instrument workshop and is the only person in Toyama Prefecture producing sasara. Guests will learn about the instrument’s history, cultural significance, and how to play it, while creating their own original sasara.

The sasara made in this workshop is a compact 72-slat version, easy to carry home. Suitable for beginners, this experience is enjoyable for children and adults alike, offering a hands-on connection to Gokayama’s traditional culture.

[Date] August 8, 2026 (Sat)

[Time] 16:00–17:00

[Location] 1st Floor, Local Discovery Corner

[Price] 3,000 JPY (tax and service included)

[Instructor] Mr. Ōse, Kokiriko Mingei

[Reservation] Advance reservation required at the front desk

[Details] https://mercure-toyamatonami-resortandspa.jp/plan/all-inclusive-summer-2026/

3. Plum Knot Hair Accessory Making Workshop

Create plum-shaped knots one by one and attach them to hairpins

Mizuhiki, the traditional Japanese decorative cord, has long been part of Japan’s gift-giving culture. Its techniques have evolved over time, and in the Hokuriku region, particularly Kanazawa, it is known as "Kaga Mizuhiki" and cherished as a traditional craft.

This workshop focuses on creating hair accessories using "Ume Musubi" (plum knot), a mizuhiki design shaped like a plum blossom. The plum knot symbolizes "strong bonds," "warding off evil," and "improving fortune." Using colorful mizuhiki cords, participants will create plum knots of various sizes, then attach them to hairpins to take home a unique, one-of-a-kind accessory.

[Dates] August 9 (Sun) – August 11 (Tue), 2026

[Time] 16:00–17:00

[Location] 1st Floor, Local Discovery Corner

[Price] 500 JPY (tax and service included)

[Instructor] Hotel Staff

[Reservation] Advance reservation required at the front desk

[Details] https://mercure-toyamatonami-resortandspa.jp/plan/all-inclusive-summer-2026/

Details on Summer Vacation Events

Recommended Nearby Summer Spots

The Kaiwo Maru, designated as a "Ship Heritage" in 2018

Kaiwo Maru Park

Located about 40 minutes by car from the hotel, Kaiwo Maru Park is a popular bay area centered around the sail training ship "Kaiwo Maru." Visitors can learn about maritime history through onboard tours, and the park also features open lawns and playgrounds, making it ideal for families with children.