Gokayama is an area in Toyama Prefecture, comprising of 40 small villages, two of which (Ainokura and Suganuma) are registered as World Heritage Sites along with Shirakawa-go in Gifu Prefecture. While much smaller than Shirakawa-gĹŤ, the villages in Gokayama see less tourist footfall and are often thought to provide a more intimate experience. The two areas are only a 30-minute drive from either other and so it is easy to visit both in the same day.

Gokayama is a 60-minute drive from the cities of Kanazawa and Toyama. While renting a car is by far the most convenient way to visit the villages (access is poor and the only other option is to join a bus tour), care needs to be taken during winter when the roads become icy and visibility poor due to frequent snowfall.

You May Also Like

Sugamo

Sugamo Jizo-dori (巣鴨地蔵通り) is a bustling shopping street near JR Sugamo Station popular with the older generations that…

Shibuya

Shibuya (渋谷) encapsulates the stereotypical image of Tokyo better than any other area. No self-respecting travel documentary would…

Tsukiji Fish Market

Until its relocation in 2018, Tsukiji Fish Market was the largest fish market in the world with a…

Kichijoji

Given the task of designing the ideal middle-class town in Tokyo, one would probably come up with something…