A world heritage site in Toyama! Not just Shirakawa-go, but Ainokura and Suganuma gassho-zukuri villages! Shirakawa-go is a gassho-zukuri village. Shirakawa-go is a gassho-style village that became world-famous after it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. As a result, many tourists have come to visit. However, it has now become a tourist destination and is losing its value as an original Japanese landscape. However, there is a gassho-zukuri village where you can enjoy the relaxing scenery of the original scenery, which is not as touristic as Shirakawa-go. They are the Ainokura Gassho-zukuri Village and the Suganuma Gassho-zukuri Village. The two gassho-zukuri villages still maintain their traditional lifestyle. This time, we will introduce in detail not only Shirakawa-go, a world heritage site in Toyama, but also Ainokura and Suganuma gassho-zukuri villages.
First of all, what is Gassho-zukuri?
What kind of gassho-zukuri style is built in Shirakawa-go in Gifu Prefecture and Gokayama in Toyama Prefecture? Gassho-zukuri is a large Japanese-style private house for areas with heavy snowfall that can accommodate a large family with a steeply pitched thatched triangular roof. It is a very reasonable house with a large workshop in the attic where silkworms are raised. It looks like an old folk house with a somewhat nostalgic atmosphere.
① 【Ainokura Gassho-zukuri Village】 The old-fashioned way of life is still alive‼︎
Ainokura Gassho-style village is a gassho-style village located in Ainokura, Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture. Unlike Shirakawa-go in Gifu Prefecture, which is famous for its gassho-zukuri style, this is a gassho-style village in Gokayama, Toyama Prefecture.
❶What kind of village is Ainokura Gassho-style village?
The Ainokura Gassho-zukuri village is located on a long, narrow plateau on the gentle terraces of the mountain on the west side of the Shogawa River, about 30 km due north of Shirakawa-go in Gifu Prefecture, and about 40 minutes by car. Of the 27 houses in the village, 20 are gassho-style houses. Ainokura gassho style private houses were built approximately 350 to 100 years ago, from the Edo period to the Meiji period. The Ainokura Gassho-zukuri village is located on a long, narrow plateau and is large in size, with a variety of buildings including gassho-zukuri houses, temples, shrines, storehouses, and wooden storehouses. People still live in the village, and the old way of life is still alive and well. Therefore, compared to Shirakawa-go, it has not become a tourist destination.
②【Suganuma Gassho-style village】 You can see the Gassho-style village from the observation plaza‼︎
About 5 minutes up the terraced fields from the parking lot of the Ainokura Gassho-zukuri village, you will find the Ainokura Observation Deck, which offers a panoramic view of the village. On clear days, you can see not only the village but also the Hakusan mountain range from Ainokura Observation Deck. It is especially recommended in early autumn when the leaves change color.
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❶What kind of village is Suganuma Gassho-style village?
Suganuma Gassho-style Village is a gassho-style village located in Suganuma, Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture. Suganuma Gassho-style village is located between Shirakawa-go and Ainokura Gassho-style village, about 11 km from Ainokura Gassho-style village, about 15 minutes by car. The Suganuma village in Gokayama is located on a flat area surrounded by steep slopes covered by the Shogawa River in three directions (north, east, and west) and snow forest in the south. There are nine gassho-zukuri houses. There are also storehouses and storehouses built using traditional construction methods, as well as the Shiotsu no Yakata and Gokayama Folk Museum, where you can learn about the main industries of the Edo period. The Suganuma Gassho-zukuri village has not become a tourist destination, so it is recommended if you want to experience the original Japanese landscape.
❷An observation plaza with a panoramic view of the village‼︎
The Suganuma gassho style village has an observation plaza that offers a panoramic view of the village. From the observation plaza, you can see the residents going about their daily lives and enjoy the simple, peaceful scenery.
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➂【Gokayama Gassho no Sato】 You can stay overnight and experience the local area‼︎
Gokayama Gassho no Sato is an accommodation facility located in Suganuma, Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture. It is built adjacent to the Suganuma Gassho-zukuri village. The exterior of the building is a gassho style private house. Gokayama Gassho-no-Sato is made up of a total of 13 relocated Gassho-zukuri houses. It is possible to experience traditional life in the Gokayama area.
❶About accommodation.
Gokayama Gassho no Sato offers the following two accommodation options.
① Self-catering and individual accommodation (up to 3 families in 3 buildings)
②Group accommodation (up to 250 people in 4 buildings)
At Gokayama Gassho no Sato, you can enjoy traditional local cuisine with advance reservations.
▲scenicOtsukawa’sthe scenerywishthing iscan.
④Access information to Ainokura Gassho-zukuri village.
Here you will find detailed information about access to Ainokura Gassho-zukuri Village. The address of Ainokura Gassho-zukuri Village is “Ainokura, Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture.”
❶Route by car to Ainokura Gassho-zukuri village
| Gokayama IC (Kaminaka, Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture) ⇒ Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway ⇒ Fukumitsu IC ⇒ National Route 304 ⇒ Ainokura Gassho-zukuri Village |
Summary (It might be more recommended than Shirakawa-go because you can sightsee at a slower pace.)
This time, we introduced not only Shirakawa-go, a world heritage site in Toyama, but also Ainokura and Suganuma gassho-zukuri villages. For those who want to experience the original Japanese scenery that cannot be experienced in Shirakawa-go, which has become a tourist destination, Ainokura Gassho-zukuri Village and Suganuma Gassho-zukuri Village are recommended. You can experience a simple and peaceful time. When you visit Toyama Prefecture, why not visit Ainokura Gassho-zukuri Village and Suganuma Gassho-zukuri Village?
▲Official site
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