Crossland tower – Toyama
Standing at a modest 118 meters Crossland tower oversees the surrounding town of Oyabe, it was completed in 1994, it was designed with tourism in mind, and the grounds include a multipurpose park. The tower was built in the shape of a cross hence its name and opened in 1994 with the goal of promoting the local area and its observation deck. From here guests would be able to view the surrounding area at 100 meters of the ground. The tower has a view of the shinkansen line which links Ishikawa to Toyama and provides train enthusiasts with a timetable of when the shinkansen will be visible.
The surrounding park has numerous activities for all ages. Such as a miniature railway, lovers’ sanctuary a small island shaped like a heart which juts out into the lake and a golf course. The surrounding buildings can be hired by the public and when I visited there was an art exhibition underway. The tower is built at an intersection of two expressways making it easily accessible by car. For those reliant on public transport however the journey is not fun. Buses do not go to the tower and the area is rural. When I visited, I had to use a taxi one way and walked twenty-five minutes in the rain to the nearest train station.
The tower is part of the All-Japan tower’s federation meaning it is included in the nationwide stamp rally. When I visited there were no other visitors, the tower was empty and the sound of rain was my soundtrack. The empty car park felt overly enthusiastic with only one car in it. Crossland is one of the smaller towers on the list and you can complete the tower and grounds within an hour, for those reliant on public transport you will spend more time travelling.
It reminded me of Tojimbo tower, there is a small gift shop on the first floor, but the area felt abandoned. Perhaps the rain was keeping people away or the tower was built in an odd location. The observation deck was small; there is a vending machine and small shrine which is usual for towers in Japan. People believe you are closer to heaven and the Gods, praying higher means your wish has a higher chance of being heard and granted.
It was an interesting experience visiting Crossland and unless you are completing the tower stamp rally, interested in seeing the shinkansen from a distance or live in the area with a car I wouldn’t actively put this on your must-see list. There is plenty to do in Toyama and the local area that would fill in more hours.
