AISC Japan » Toyama.Nanto City

Toyama.Nanto City

A piece of living history

Nanto (南砺市, Nanto-shi) is a city in Toyama Prefecture, Japan. It is in a mountainous area in the south-west corner of the prefecture just north of Gifu Prefecture. It is home to the Gokayama UNESCO World Heritage site.

With more than 20 well-preserved gassho-zukuri thatched-roof buildings, Ainokura is a piece of living history that offers a rare glimpse at pre-modern Japan.

Don’t Miss

Many of the buildings of Ainokura are UNESCO certified
Viewing the wealth of crafts at Ainokura’s museums, as well as unique musical instruments displayed by local artisans
A chance to stay the night at a gassho-zukuri lodging
Seasonal light-up ceremonies that make the already impressive village truly magical

Scenic gateway to Gokayama

A smaller-scale version of the Ainokura experience, Suganuma Village shares its neighbor’s mountainside setting and rich historical background. The compact nature of the village also makes it easy to see some key features of Gokayama in a short time.