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Prefectural Symbols
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Bird, Tree, Animal, and Flower
Prefectural Bird: Snow grouse (designated on November 3, 1961)
The snow grouse is a mountain bird commonly found in Japan's Northern Alps. Toyama Prefecture is home to the largest number of such birds in Japan. Snow grouse have been revered since ancient times as the messengers of the gods.
Prefectural Tree: Tateyama Cedar (designated October 1, 1966)
Tateyama cedar grow naturally in high country around Mt. Tateyama. These trees are known for their ability to endure severe cold and snow. The sight of their tall, straight trunks reaching up toward the sky convey a sense of hardiness and an irrepressible will to live.
Prefectural Animal: Japanese Serow (designated October 4, 1975)
The serow, an antelope-like animal, inhabits forests and rocky areas at altitudes of between 500 and 2,000 meters. In Toyama Prefecture, these animals can often be seen in the Tateyama ranges and Kurobe Gorge.( the serow was designated a "special natural monument" by the Japanese Government in 1955.)
Prefectural Flower: Tulip (designated March 22, 1954)
At the end of April, large stretches of the countryside, particularly around the Tonami region, are transformed into a carpet of flowers. Tulips are a specialty of Toyama Prefecture, which grows more varieties than any other region in Japan, and is the country's top exporter of tulip bulbs.
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