Gokayama Gassho-style Houses

Nanto City

A World Heritage Site! Visit the original landscape of Japan.

"Gokayama", located in Shogawa basin, is a mountain village consisting of five valleys. The area experiences heavy snowfall and two to three meters of snow can pile up during winter. The unique Japanese houses built to survive this climate are called "Gassho-style" houses. "Gassho" is the pose Japanese people assume when they bring their hands together to pray to the gods, and the houses were named "Gassho-style" houses because the shape of the large roofs resemble this pose. The two settlements of Ainokura and Suganuma were registered as World Heritage Sites in 1995.

Gassho-style housing born from the wisdom of people who live in the snow

The biggest feature of Gassho-style housing is the steep thatched roof that comfortably covers the house. The roof is designed this way to ensure space for sericulture as well as provide ventilation and daylighting. Another important feature of the design is that the snow piled up on the roof will easily slide down. Some of the Gassho-style houses in Gokayama are over 400 years old. How have these wooden buildings survived for so long? Gassho-style housing always features an Irori hearth used to create fires for cooking and warmth. The smoke rising from these fires repels insects and prevents the aging of the building. The ingenuity and wisdom of Gassho-style housing really represents the lives of the Japanese who have lived in harmony with nature.

You can also stay in an inn in this World Heritage area

"Shoshichi" is a popular inn for domestic and international tourists located in the Ainokura Gassho-style housing village. It is a great place to give yourself up to the relaxed elegance of the village after exploring Gokayama. This beautiful and warm inn is limited to two groups of guests per night. The dinner served in a Japanese-style room with a sunken hearth is exceptional, and it is possible to enjoy seasonal dishes such as freshwater fish slowly cooked for 2 hours in the sunken hearth.

For reference

Syoshichi

Address

421 Ainokura, Nanto-shi, Toyama-ken
Telephone

0763-66-2206
Open

5:30 P.M. to 12:00 A.M. (last order at 11:00 P.M.)
Price

One-night stay with two meals (2+ occupants/room): 12,000 yen (weekdays), 15,000 yen (days before a national holiday)
Website

http://www.syo-7.jp/e/index.html