Strolling through the Gassho-zukuri in Suganuma

Gokayama is located in Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture, and consists of two villages: Suganuma Gassho Village and Ainokura Gassho Village. The steeply thatched houses are called 'Gassho-zukuri,' and such precious traditional houses can only be found in this mountainous and snowy region of Japan. In 1995, the Gokayama Gassho Villages and Shirakawa-go in Gifu Prefecture were simultaneously registered as World Cultural Heritage sites. There are 9 Gassho-zukuri houses in Suganuma, and 23 in Ainokura, which is a 15-minute drive away. The unique feature of the Gokayama Gassho-zukuri houses is that their roofs are steeper than those in Shirakawa-go. Both areas experience heavy snowfall, but the snow in Shirakawa-go is lighter than in Gokayama because the snow in Gokayama has a higher moisture content. The steep roofs are designed to allow the snow to slide off easily.