Dreamy Gassho Villages and Delicious Grilled Hida Beef

⛰️ Gokayama, located in Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture, Japan, is a gassho-style village registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site along with Shirakawa-go.

It consists of two main settlements: Ainokura and Suganuma, characterized by steeply thatched "gassho-zukuri" houses. This architectural style was designed to withstand heavy snowfall in winter. Compared to the larger Shirakawa-go, Gokayama is less crowded with tourists, offering a more tranquil experience.

Key Features
World Heritage Site: In 1995, the Gokayama gassho villages, along with Shirakawa-go in Gifu Prefecture, were listed as UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites.

❄️⛰️ Gassho-zukuri Architecture: Featuring many historic thatched-roof houses with steep, hand-clasped shapes, this design effectively sheds snow, adapting to the snowy climate.

Two Main Settlements:
Ainokura: The larger settlement with about 23 gassho houses, making it the biggest gassho village in Gokayama.
Suganuma: A smaller settlement with about 9 gassho houses, offering a quieter atmosphere.
Relaxed Ambiance: With fewer tourists, Gokayama provides a more serene travel experience.
Seasonal Scenery: Each season offers unique beauty, such as lush greenery in spring, vibrant autumn foliage, and snowy landscapes in winter.

Recommended Attractions
Ainokura Folklore Museum: Learn about the daily life in the village.
Iwase Family Residence: With a history of about 300 years, it is one of the largest gassho-zukuri buildings in Gokayama and Shirakawa-go, registered as an Important Cultural Property of Japan. Visitors can explore its interior to learn more.
Murakami Family Residence: Preserves the early style of gassho-zukuri architecture, with its exterior open for viewing.

"Gassho Village" typically refers to the "Shirakawa-go Gassho-Zukuri Minka-en" located in Shirakawa Village, Ono District, Gifu Prefecture, Japan.

This village is renowned for its unique "gassho-zukuri" architecture and was registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in 1995, along with the gassho-style villages of Gokayama in Toyama Prefecture.

Key Features
Architectural Style: "Gassho-zukuri" is a unique form of Japanese residential architecture, characterized by thickly thatched, steeply sloped roofs resembling hands clasped in prayer.
Functional Design: This distinctive roof design adapts to the heavy snowfall in winter, efficiently shedding snow and providing attic space for sericulture. The thatched roofs require replacement every 30 to 40 years.
World Heritage Site: The Ogimachi area of Shirakawa-go preserves a large number of gassho-zukuri buildings, making it the largest and most famous gassho village in Japan.
Seasonal Scenery: The village offers different charms in each season, from fresh greenery in spring, cool summers, vibrant autumn leaves, to snowy winter landscapes that attract many visitors.

💡❄️⛰️ Winter Illumination: A limited-time event held every winter, where the snow-covered gassho houses are illuminated, creating a dreamy, fairy-tale-like scene. This popular event requires advance reservations.

🚌 Transportation
To visit Shirakawa-go Gassho Village, buses are the most common mode of transport. Transfers from Chubu Centrair International Airport in Nagoya or Komatsu Airport are convenient, and it is recommended to book bus tickets in advance.