Stay in Gokayama, a World Heritage Site

"Gokayama" is a World Heritage site that many people visit as one of Toyama's tourist attractions. It’s, in fact, a World Heritage site where you can stay overnight. Wouldn’t you like to have the valuable experience of staying someplace like that?
 

Gokayama consists of two villages, the Ainokura Gassho-zukuri Village and the Suganuma Gassho-zukuri Village, and it’s dotted with Gassho-zukuri houses built with Toyama's snowy climate in mind. People still live out their lives there.

Gokayama, which retains the original scenery of Japan lets you enjoy the scenery of each season throughout the year. This is especially true of winter when the snow piles up, and a spectacular white world spreads out all around.

Let's experience the extraordinary by staying in a historical building full of life!
 

Here’s what you can experience when staying overnight at Ainokura Gassho-zukuri Village and Suganuma Gassho-zukuri Village in Gokayama. When you open the sliding door, everyday life seems different from usual.

The guest rooms are Japanese-style with tatami mats, and the smell of rush used to make them is soothing. The rooms are also separated by sliding doors. Also, rockfish will be grilled in the hearth, signaling that preparation for dinner has begun. This mixture of the hearth and the Japanese-style room creates a rich atmosphere.
 

Let's have dinner once the char (a species in the trout and salmon family( is grilled!

For dinner, you’ll get the chance to enjoy local cuisine. Many colorful dishes are lined up in small bowls, such as wild vegetable dishes using vegetables grown in Gokayama, along with rockfish, sashimi. There may be some ingredients you’ve never tried before, such as Gokayama tofu, a Gokayama specialty known for being so hard that it won't fall apart even when tied with a rope, and wild vegetables, but please give it a try. All of them are exquisite and you can eat them with chopsticks.
 

Once you're full, it’s time to take a bath and get ready for bed.

When you soak in the warm bathtub and crawl into the futon, you’ll find there are hot water bottles to warm your feet. In Gokayama, where it gets cold in the winter, you can also enjoy an aspect of Japanese culture – hot water bottles. Even those who are sleeping on a futon for the first time will find themselves sleeping soundly.

You’ll be exposed to Japanese culture and the culture rooted in the land in many different ways, making this a valuable experience. Please enjoy your time and an experience that can only be found here.
 

There are a variety of facilities around Gokayama. At “Roadside Station Taira Gokayama Washi no Sato,” located about 15 minutes by car from the Ainokura Gassho-zukuri Village, you can try your hand at making washi paper. You can complete it in about 20 to 30 minutes, so if you don't have much time but want to have a unique experience, please give it a try.
 

It would also be a good idea to participate in a festival to get to know Gokayama more deeply. At the “Gokayama Mugiya Festival” and “Kokiriko Festival” of Gokayama which are held in autumn, you can enjoy Japanese folk songs and various dances.
 

Gokayama is a treasure trove of souvenirs made from the blessings of the mountains. "Pickled red turnips" are beloved by people of all ages for their bright colors and timeless taste. They have just the right amount of salt paired with just the right amount of sweet and sour tastes, making it a perfect snack to accompany rice and alcohol. “Tochimochi” is a rice cake filled with horse chestnuts. There are two types; the “Daifuku type” wrapped in red bean paste, and also the "Noshimochi type," which can be easily stored. Why not take some memories of Gokayama home with you?