Gokayama Gassho-style village

An unspoiled landscape stretches out before you at the Ainokura Gassho-style village, which is located in the Gokayama region in Nanto City, at the southwestern tip of Toyama Prefecture, where the traditional thatched-roof houses are called “Gassho-zukuri (Gassho-style).” The Gassho-style village is registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site along with Shirakawa-go. The village is lit up every season and is not to be missed! This fantastic scenery is sure to captivate you and be a fulfilling experience.
Ainokura Gassho-style Village is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with Suganuma Village and Shirakawa-go.

In Gokayama, you will also find Suganuma Gassho-style village. This is a small settlement of just nine Gassho-style houses, but it sits on the banks of a river, and unlike Ainokura Village, you can relax and stroll around, taking in the natural Japanese landscape.
15 minutes by World Heritage Bus from Ainokura-guchi bus stop to Suganuma bus stop.

Things to See in Gokayama Gassho-style village

Taking in the entire view of Ainokura from the observation area overlooking the village, you know you want to visit there. The thatched roof houses built in the Gassho style has a very precious design of traditional houses which can only be found in this part of Japan, with 20 Gassho-style buildings in existence in Ainokura Gassho village. There are some traditional cultures in Gokayama Gassho-style village that you can experience such as folk dance and music (*reservations required). Why not forget about daily life and spend some quiet time taking in a traditional lifestyle in a small village in the mountains?

There are some traditional cultures in Gokayama Gassho-style village that you can experience such as folk dance and music.

How to Get to Gokayama Gassho-style village

Take the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Shin-Takaoka Station. Take the World Heritage Bus from platform 4 in front of Shin-Takaoka Station for an hour to the Ainokuraguchi bus stop. It's a 5-minute walk from the Ainokura Gassho Village. From the Ainokuraguchi bus stop, take the World Heritage Bus for 15 minutes to Suganuma Gassho Village.