[Departing from Takayama to Kanazawa] World Heritage Sites and a spectacular drive! Experience the healing and traditions of Gokayama in winter

Duration: Approximately 6 hours and 30 minutes

Transportation: Car/rental car

Course: ① Hida Takayama ⇒ ② World Heritage Site Suganuma Gassho-style Village ⇒ ③ Gokayama Washi no Sato ⇒ ④ Restaurant Hyotan (Yu-raku) ⇒ ⑤ Shogawa Water Memorial Park Wood Plaza ⇒ ⑥ Inami Yokamachi Street ⇒ ⑦ Kanazawa

9:00 Depart Hida Takayama

It takes about an hour from Takayama to Suganuma Gassho-style Village via the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway. In winter, snow accumulates and the roads freeze, so it is essential to have studless tires. There can be sudden weather changes and chain regulations, so be sure to check road information in advance. Make sure to plan your trip with plenty of time to enjoy the snowy scenery.

(Approx. 60 minutes by car)

10:00 World Heritage Suganuma Gassho Style Village

Experience the local culture

First, head to the World Heritage Site, Gokayama's Suganuma Gassho-style Village. The contrast between the snow-capped Gassho-style houses and the silent mountains is stunning. It's so beautiful it's like stepping into the world of a Japanese folktale. Nine Gassho-style houses remain today, and people still live there. At the restaurants and shops in the village, you can enjoy Gokayama specialties such as Gokayama tofu and Gohei mochi. Enjoy the local flavors.

Stopover spots

We recommend the Gokayama Folk Museum, where you can tour the inside of a Gassho-style house and learn about architectural techniques and the ingenuity of life in a snowy region. If you're lucky, you might even get the chance to try playing the "Sasara," an instrument used in the traditional folk song "Kokiriko Bushi"!

(Approx. 20 mins by car)

Suganuma gassho style village

939-1973 Suganuma, Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture

``Suganuma Gassho-zukuri Village'' is a calm and idyllic village where the scenery soothes the soul. It is a beautiful village that is also registered as a World Heritage Site. Nine gassho-zukuri houses still exist in this village surrounded by rich nature, and people still live there today. Although it is a small village, there are plenty of facilities where you can not only enjoy the original scenery of Japan, which is rich in nature, but also experience history and tradition. Gokayama Folk Museum, where about 200 everyday tools that tell the story of traditional life in Gokayama are on display, and Gokayama Folk Museum, where you can learn about the process and history of salt salt making, Gokayama's major industry, and try out matchlock guns. There are many things to see, such as the restaurant, an elegant gassho-style cafe, and a souvenir shop.

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11:30 Gokayama Washi Village

Find your favorite souvenir

Gokayama is also famous for its traditional craft, Gokayama washi paper. Here at Gokayama Washi no Sato, you can purchase washi products made using traditional methods. Gokayama washi paper is made using a generous amount of kozo paper, making it strong and flexible. It is characterized by a white finish using a technique called "yuki-sarashi," which uses snow.

Recommended Point 1

In addition to the standard washi products, the "FIVE" series with its modern design is also popular. There are stylish items for everyday use such as pouches and letter paper sets. Tapestries depicting zodiac and seasonal motifs are especially popular among overseas visitors. Why not pick one up as a memento of your trip?

Recommended Point　2

By making a reservation in advance, you can experience making postcards under the guidance of a craftsman. Make your own original postcard and send it to someone special as a memento of your trip.

(Approx. 5 mins by car)

Gokayama Washi no sato

939-1905 215 Higashinakae, Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture

Various types of washi paper made from Gokayama-produced mulberry and carefully handcrafted washi accessories are popular as souvenirs for overseas visitors due to their excellent color and durability. We also have a wide selection of materials for crafts.

12:00 [Lunch] Restaurant Hyotan

Enjoy a trout bowl while taking in the spectacular view!

We had lunch at the restaurant "Hyotan" inside the Gokayama Onsen "Yuraku". The highlight is the new menu item, the trout bowl! This dish was created with the idea of "making trout more accessible and delicious to eat", and the savory kabayaki-style trout goes perfectly with fluffy rice. What's more, the head and bones are deep-fried until crispy, allowing you to enjoy the whole trout. Enjoy this new way to eat trout raised in the pure waters of the Shogawa River.

Recommended points

After lunch, we also recommend a day trip to the hot spring. The view from the open-air bath on the hill overlooking the Shogawa River is spectacular. You can relax while watching the seasonal scenery and the calm surface of the river.

(Approx. 30 mins by car)

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13:30 Shogawa Water Memorial Park Wood Plaza

Relax with a foot bath and yuzu ice cream

Refresh yourself in a foot bath while admiring the natural scenery of the Shogawa River. You can enjoy a free foot bath at the Wood Plaza in Shogawa Water Memorial Park. Warm up your tired feet and spend a luxurious time reminiscing about your trip.

Recommended spots

Along with the foot bath, we also recommend the "Yuzu Soft Serve Ice Cream" made with yuzu, a specialty of Shogawa! The refreshing sweetness fills your mouth, creating a moment of bliss. Shogawa yuzu is characterized by its uneven surface due to the influence of the "Shogawa oroshi" wind, its thick skin and strong fragrance. Its strong sourness makes it a perfect match for sweets.

(Approx. 5 mins by car)

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14:30 Inami Yokamachi Street

Enjoy a stroll through the city with all five senses

To conclude your trip, take a stroll through Inami's historic townscape, Yokamachi Street. Inami carving, which has been a tradition for over 250 years, is characterized by its three-dimensional, dynamic woodcarving technique. In particular, the intricacy of the openwork carvings on both sides of the transom, which are carved using more than 200 carving knives, is a representative woodcarving technique of Inami carving. On Yokamachi Street, you can visit carving studios where the craftsmanship of the artisans shines and Japanese confectionery shops beloved by locals.

Stopover spot 1

The street is dotted with workshops, such as the Inami Woodcarving Crafts Museum, where you can see many woodcarvers at work up close. When you step inside the shop, the gentle scent of wood fills the air, relaxing your body. You may even be given some scraps of wood to take home as souvenirs.

Stopover spot 2

At "Inaka Manju Yoshimura," the gentle sweetness of the "Inaka Manju" made with rock sugar is popular. Conversations with the shop owner, an old man, are also a fun part of the trip.

(Approx. 50 mins by car)

Inami Betsuin Zuisenji Temple

932-0211 3050 Inami, Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture

Zuisen Temple was built in 1390 by Hongan Templeʼs 5th leader Shakunyo of the Hokuriku Pure Land Sect of Buddhism. It has a proud 600-year history, but sadly burnt down over 100 years ago. To rebuild the temple, a famous woodcarver named Maekawa Sanshirou was dispatched from Kyoto, and it was his skills that were passed on through the generations as the groundwork for modern Inami woodcarving. The reconstruction of the temple was completed in 1885 and is currently the largest wooden temple in the Hokuriku area. The temple is filled with beautiful woodcarving both in its massive gate and the buildings.

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16:30 Arrive Kanazawa

It's sure to be a heart-warming day experiencing the beautiful winter scenery of Nanto, as well as food, traditional culture, and hospitality. Be sure to take a winter driving trip and enjoy it to the fullest!