Gokayama Japan Travel Guide: Toyama’s Hidden UNESCO Village

Discover Gokayama with Me — The Barefoot Surfer

Meta Title: Gokayama Japan Travel Guide: Toyama’s Hidden UNESCO Village

Discover Gokayama in Toyama, Japan — a peaceful UNESCO World Heritage village with thatched-roof homes, handmade crafts, and local food. Explore everything you need to know before visiting Ainokura and Suganuma with tips from a local guide who lives in Toyama.

Hey, I’m William, the Barefoot Surfer. I have lived in Toyama, Japan, for a few years and I want to show you a place that most travelers never see. It’s called Gokayama. It’s right above the more famous Shirakawago. It has the same small roads, old homes with thatched roofs, and beautiful nature that makes you feel like you’ve gone back in time. Gokayama is quiet, real, and full of deep Japanese tradition. It is one of the best places in Japan to slow down and feel peace.

If you are looking for a true Japanese countryside experience, this is the village you need to visit.

What Is Gokayama

Gokayama means Five Mountains. It is a group of small mountain villages in Toyama Prefecture. The most famous two villages are:

Ainokura Village

Suganuma Village

They are both part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The homes in these villages are called Gassho-zukuri houses. They have tall triangle-shaped roofs made with thick thatch. These houses are built strong to handle heavy snow in winter. Some are over 300 years old.

Unlike other popular destinations like Shirakawa-go, Gokayama is quieter and more traditional. The people still live here and take care of their culture every day.

Read this for a Guide to Toyama

And for more events and things to do in Toyama, read the best time to visit Toyama article.

What Makes Gokayama Special

Gassho-zukuri Architecture

The roofs are steep and thick to help snow slide off. The homes are made of wood and tied together with rope.There are no nails used like many traditional buildings in Japan.The attics were used to raise silkworms.

These homes are warm in winter and cool in summer. You can stay in some of them overnight.

What Makes Gokayama Different from Shirakawa-go?

Feature	Gokayama	Shirakawa-go
Number of Visitors	Low	Very High
Atmosphere	Quiet, Intimate	Crowded, Commercial
Village Size	Small	Large
Accessibility	Slightly harder (but worth it)	Easier
Authenticity	100% Real	Still authentic, but touristy

Gokayama is for travelers. Shirakawa-go is for tourists.

There’s a huge difference, and you’ll feel it the moment you arrive.

 

Things to Do in Gokayama

1. Stay Overnight in a Minshuku (Traditional Guesthouse)

Staying in a Gassho-zukuri home is the best way to feel the village. These are not hotels. These are family-run guesthouses.

You will sleep on a futon on the floor, eat dinner with the host family, and warm up by the fire in the middle of the room.

The meals you’ll be eating are also traditional Japanese dishes of fresh caught fish, rice, veggies in a hot pot called nabe, with miso soup.

The dinner is different in every season. It is healthy, warm, and full of flavor. Breakfast is also fresh and filling.

2. Make Traditional Japanese Crafts

Gokayama is known for washi paper, a strong and beautiful Japanese paper. You can visit a workshop and make your own.

Other craft experiences:

• Bamboo weaving
• Playing the kokiriko instrument
• Learning traditional mountain songs and dances

These activities are great for kids, couples, and travelers who want to learn by doing.

3. Explore Ainokura and Suganuma Villages

Both are pretty small and accessible within the day trip.

Ainokura has more houses, small museums, gift shops, and tea cafes.

Suganuma is smaller and even quieter. Good for morning or sunset walks.

Both villages are easy to walk around. You can take your time, take photos, and relax. There are signs in English and maps at the entrance.

4. Visit the Local Museums

The small folk museums show how people lived 100 to 300 years ago. You can see the traditional farming tools, silk-making tools and attic rooms, and clothing and daily items

These museums are inside old Gassho-style homes. You can feel the old way of life.

5. Eat Local Toyama Food

Toyama is known for clean mountain water and good rice. In Gokayama, you can enjoy:

• Gokayama soba noodles
• Grilled trout
• Yuba tofu skin
• Mountain vegetables
• Local sake and pickles

The food is cooked by hand, with love. The flavors change with the seasons.

You might also enjoy Toyama Black Ramen in the city. It is rich and full of flavor.

When to Visit Gokayama

Spring (March to May): Snow melts and flowers bloom

Summer (June to August): Green forests and cool evenings

Autumn (September to November): Red and gold trees

Winter (December to February): Heavy snow and quiet beauty

Gokayama looks different in every season. I recommend autumn or winter for the best atmosphere.

How to Get to Gokayama

From Toyama Station or Takaoka Station:

• Take the World Heritage Bus to Ainokura or Suganuma
• Ride time: About 90 minutes

From Shirakawa-go:

• Take a 40-minute bus ride

From Kanazawa:

• Bus or train to Takaoka, then the World Heritage Bus

Want more Toyama travel ideas? Read my post about Firefly Squid Season — one of the best seasonal events and foods in Japan.

Travel Tips from a Local

• Bring cash for food and crafts
• Book early if you want to stay overnight
• Wear walking shoes for stone paths
• Take time to talk with locals
• Go slow, breathe the fresh air

Gokayama is best when you are wanting to experience old countryside Japan without all the tourism.

Final Thoughts: Why You Should Visit Gokayama

I live in Toyama. I guide people. I write. But most of all, I share stories.

Gokayama is not just a village. It is a place full of stories. The homes tell stories. The food tells stories. The wind in the trees tells stories.

When you visit Gokayama, you are not a tourist. You are a guest.

You will leave with more than pictures. You will leave with a new feeling. A slow feeling. A full heart.

So come visit Gokayama. I will be here, ready to show you.

– Barefoot Surfer, your guide to Toyama