[Day trip from Kanazawa] Experience World Heritage Sites and craftsmanship. How to walk around Gokayama and Inami.

The World Heritage Site of Gokayama Gassho-style Village, where Japan's original landscape unfolds, and Inami, the town of sculpture. This is a recommended course that allows you to visit two areas where tradition lives on in one day and fully experience the charm of culture, skills, and lifestyle. By using the "Nanto-Kanazawa World Heritage Bus Free Pass," you can tour efficiently!

Written by

Nanto City Tourism Association

We are promoting the charm of Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture, both in Japan and overseas. Nanto City, located in the southwest of Toyama Prefecture, is blessed with abundant nature in all four seasons, and is a place where the original Japanese landscape and good old traditional Japanese culture remain strong to this day. Gokayama, known for its Gassho-style villages, is a "living World Heritage Site" where people live with their own unique culture. The scattered villages spread across the countryside are also one of the special landscapes unique to this region. Johana, which flourished in silk weaving from the Middle Ages to the early modern period, and Inami, known for woodcarving, are filled with fragrant history and culture. Fukumitsu, where Munakata Shiko lived, Fukuno, which flourished as a market town, Iguchi, the village of camellias, and Toga, a town of theater and urban exchange, are always full of travel attractions, and the people welcome you with warm smiles.

This service includes sponsored advertisements.

Required time

Day trip, 7.5 hours [Kanazawa → Gokayama → Inami → Kanazawa]

Transportation

directions_bus_filled Bus

Location

9:20 Board the bus from Kanazawa Station West Exit (Platform 2)

©Kanazawa City

directions_bus_filled

The Nanto Kanazawa Line (operated by Kaetsuno Bus) operates six buses daily from bus stop number 2 at the west exit of Kanazawa Station. *Some buses may not pass through Johana. [Kanazawa Station West Exit → Johana Station] Fare: 870 yen

Kanazawa Station

View spot details

Arrived at Johana Station at 10:21

10:30 Depart from the bus stop in front of Johana Station on the World Heritage Bus

directions_bus_filled

To get from Kanazawa to Gokayama, you will need to change buses at Johana. Once you arrive at the bus stop in front of Johana Station, change onto the "World Heritage Bus" (operated by Kaetsuno Bus) and head towards Gokayama. The World Heritage Bus also runs every day.
[Johana Station → Ainokura Exit] Fare: 740 yen

Johana Station

View spot details

11:00 Arrive at Gokayama Ainokura Gassho-style Village

Ainokura Gassho-style Village is a World Heritage Site that sits quietly in the mountains. Over 20 steeply sloping thatched-roof Gassho-style houses remain, and traditional Japanese lifestyles and the original Japanese landscape still thrive. The scenery changes with the seasons, making for excellent photos. Take a stroll and experience the wisdom and culture that has been passed down in the snow country.

Recommended Spot ① Matsuya Teahouse

This set meal is packed with the delights of Gokayama cuisine, including tempura made with fresh locally harvested mountain vegetables.

Matsuya, a rest area and tea shop

Business hours: 9:00-17:00

Closed: Open daily

Matsuya, a rest area and tea shop

View spot details

Recommended Spot ② Yusuke Exhibition Hall

The museum provides an easy-to-understand display of what the sericulture industry was like back then. Reproductions of silkworms made from Gokayama washi paper are also on display, along with tools and implements that evoke the days of the time.

There are many photos that convey the atmosphere of that time, taken by the owner himself, a former photographer.

Yusuke Gokayama

Opening hours: 9:00~16:30 (last admission 16:00) *Winter period: 9:00~16:00 (last admission 15:30)

Closed: Tuesdays, New Year's, Obon, family and village event days, etc.

Admission fee: Adults (high school students and above) 500 yen (tax included) Elementary and junior high school students 300 yen

Exhibition Hall Yusuke

View spot details

Recommended Spot 3: Gokayama Washi Papermaking Experience Center

You can experience traditional papermaking in a charming Gassho-style house.

Gokayama washi paper is a traditional craft with a history of approximately 500 years. It is made by hand and carefully crafted from materials such as kozo (paper mulberry) grown in the snowy mountain villages.

Its durability and beautiful texture make it popular for a wide range of uses, including lighting, letter paper, and interior decoration, and its simple yet elegant appearance is highly acclaimed both at home and abroad.

They sell a variety of dolls made from washi paper. Each one is handmade. They're all adorable and make perfect souvenirs!

Gokayama Washi Papermaking Experience Center

Business hours: 9:00~16:00

Closed: Tuesdays, irregular holidays, and winter (December to April)

Papermaking experience fee: 800 yen

Gokayama Washi Papermaking Experience Center

View spot details

12:30 Depart from Ainokuraguchi bus stop on the World Heritage bus to Johana

directions_bus_filled

The Ainokuraguchi bus stop is about a 5-minute walk from the Ainokura Gassho-zukuri Village. Get off in front of Johana Station and transfer to the Nanto-Kanazawa Line bus heading towards Inami.
[Ainokura → Johana] Fare: 870 yen

13:00 Arrive at Johana Station (11 minutes until transfer)

13:11 Depart from the bus stop in front of Jōhana Station on the Nanto-Kanazawa Line towards Inami

directions_bus_filled

It takes about 20 minutes from Jōhana Station to the Zuisenjiguchi Kotsu Hiroba bus stop.
[Johana Station → Zuisenjiguchi Transportation Plaza] Fare: 200 yen

13:29 Arrive at Zuisenjiguchi Kotsu Hiroba bus stop

There is a tourist information center right next to the bus stop, so stop by and pick up a pamphlet.

Inami Yokamachi Street

Inami Yokamachi Street is a historic street that flourished as a temple town for Zuisenji Temple during the Edo period. Woodcarvers who gathered here to rebuild Zuisenji Temple took root in the area, and it eventually became known as " Japan's No. 1 woodcarving village ." Even today, woodcarving workshops and townhouses line the cobblestone streets, and the sounds of craftsmen wielding chisels and mallets echo through the air, strongly retaining the atmosphere of the past. Cafes and souvenir shops are scattered throughout, making this a spot where you can experience traditional crafts and local life while strolling through the historic streets.

You can see the sculptors at work up close, so feel free to take a peek inside the workshop.

Have fun searching for wooden cats!

We will search for wooden cats hiding in the shops along Yokamachi Street from Inami Transportation Plaza to Zuisenji Temple. There are 31 cats in total, including cats sleeping, cats reading newspapers, and cats serving alcohol. Let's try to find the expressive wooden cats. We also recommend making use of the "Map to Find Wooden Cats in Front of Zuisenji Temple," which can be obtained at the Inami Tourist Information Center.

Yokamachidori Street

View spot details

Recommended Spot 1: Wakakoma Brewery

Wakakoma Sake Brewery, located on Yokamachi Street, was founded in 1889. Its flagship brand, "Wakakoma," was named so that Wakakoma sake would be widely loved and familiar, just like Tenkoma, a mountain that soars up to the heavens.

Making use of tradition and techniques, this sake is handcrafted using underground water from the upper Shogawa River. Currently, the brewery is committed to using locally-sourced rice. The sake, painstakingly crafted with each and every paddle, has many loyal fans, and the small-batch production that only a small brewery can offer, with meticulous management and lovingly cultivated sake, has delighted the palates of connoisseurs for many years. In addition to purchasing local sake, you can also sample it in a sake cup that you have carved yourself.

Wakakoma Sake Brewery Partnership

Business hours: 8:30~17:00

Closed: New Year's holidays

Wakakoma Sake Brewery Partnership

View spot details

Experience carving in the town of woodcarving! Making a wooden sake cup (experience plan)

Recommended Spot 2: Inami Betsuin Zuisenji Temple

Zuisenji Temple was built approximately 600 years ago. Its gorgeous mountain gate and main hall are filled with beautifully detailed carvings, making it a tourist attraction representative of Inami, a town of artisans. You can enjoy the historic building and the scenery that changes with the seasons, making it a must-see spot when you come to Inami.

Inami carving combines advanced techniques to create three-dimensional expressions with depth, resulting in impressive figures that look as if they could come to life at any moment.

Carving from both sides of the material creates a contrast between light and shadow, resulting in a delicate and beautiful piece.

Inami Betsuin Zuisenji Temple

Visiting hours: 9:00~16:30

Admission fee: Adults (high school students and above) 500 yen

Inami Betsuin Zuisenji Temple

View spot details

15:22 Depart from Zuisenjiguchi Kotsu Hiroba bus stop towards Kanazawa

directions_bus_filled

Return to Kanazawa by bus on the Nanto-Kanazawa Line.
[Zuisenji Exit Transportation Plaza → Kanazawa Station West Exit] Fare: 870 yen

16:45 Arrive at Kanazawa Station West Exit

The simple, unspoiled scenery of Gokayama and the beautiful townscape of Inami, where craftsmanship is alive and well. Why not take a bus ride on your next day off and spend some time experiencing the "real Japanese atmosphere"?

Use the Nanto Kanazawa Free Pass to enjoy great deals on sightseeing!

If you're planning on sightseeing using the Nanto-Kanazawa Line bus, we recommend the convenient and economical "Nanto-Kanazawa Free Pass." The "Nanto-Kanazawa World Heritage Bus Free Pass" also allows unlimited rides on the World Heritage Bus, making it even more economical!

Can be used on all sections of the Nanto-Kanazawa Line bus

●Valid for 2 days from the date of issue

Adults: 1,600 yen (tax included) [Children: half price]

Can be used on all sections of the Nanto-Kanazawa Line bus and World Heritage Bus

●Valid for 3 days from the date of issue

Adults: 3,800 yen (tax included) [Children: half price]

For more information on the Nanto Kanazawa Free Pass, click here

Spots introduced in this itinerary

Written by

Nanto City Tourism Association

Toyama

The information presented in this article is based on the time it was written. Note that there may be changes in the merchandise, services, and prices that have occurred after this article was published. Please contact the facility or facilities in this article directly before visiting. Some of our articles contain affiliate links. We kindly ask our readers to exercise careful judgement when making a purchase or booking a service online.

The contents on this page may partially contain automatic translation.