Day Trip from Nagoya | Hida Takayama & World Heritage Gokayama Gassho Village

[Gifu, Hida-Takayama]

Located in the northern part of Gifu Prefecture and surrounded by mountains, Hida-Takayama is known as the Little Kyoto of Hida for its well-preserved traditional buildings and streets from the Edo period.

The most iconic spot in Takayama is the Sanmachi Suji District. The streets are lined with historic merchant houses, sake breweries, Japanese confectionery shops, and traditional craft stores. Walking through this area feels like stepping back into the Edo period hundreds of years ago.

Visitors can also explore Takayama Jinya, the only remaining regional government office from the Edo period in Japan, or visit the Miyagawa Morning Market to experience the simple and vibrant local market culture.

When in Takayama, do not miss the local delicacies: melt-in-your-mouth Hida beef, fragrant hoba miso, soy sauce-glazed dango, Takayama ramen, and various dishes prepared with local ingredients.

[Toyama, Gokayama]

Located in the southern part of Toyama Prefecture within the Hida-Takayama region, Gokayama is famous for its gassho-zukuri villages and is a UNESCO World Heritage site, along with Shirakawa-go.

Due to heavy snowfall in winter, villagers built houses with steep, thatched roofs to cope with the snow and facilitate sericulture. These houses resemble hands pressed together in prayer. Compared to Shirakawa-go, it is quieter and less crowded, offering a more authentic glimpse into mountain village life.

The main attractions are the Ainokura and Suganuma gassho-zukuri villages. They can be explored on foot and are perfect for a one-day trip combined with Takayama: visit the old streets of Takayama in the morning and head to Gokayama to see the gassho-zukuri houses in the afternoon. The gassho-zukuri villages in Toyama are officially known as Gokayama, primarily consisting of the Ainokura and Suganuma settlements, and are as famous as Shirakawa-go in Gifu Prefecture. The villages were jointly designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995. Depart from Nagoya Station to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Gokayama gassho-zukuri villages. Stroll through the ancient villages filled with autumn atmosphere and admire the traditional gassho-zukuri architecture and mountain scenery. The area is composed of traditional settlements such as Ainokura and Suganuma. Having been isolated from the outside world for a long time, it has perfectly preserved its ancient mountain village landscape and traditional lifestyle. The iconic gassho-zukuri houses in the village are named after their steep thatched roofs, which resemble hands pressed together in prayer. This unique structure was designed to withstand the heavy winter snowfall in the region, and the spacious attics were historically used for sericulture, reflecting the wisdom of the snow-country residents in adapting to their natural environment. Compared to the bustling Shirakawa-go, Gokayama is smaller, quieter, and less crowded. Walking among the ancient houses, rice paddies, and mountains allows you to enjoy the tranquil scenery of a traditional Japanese satoyama landscape at a more leisurely pace.

[Local Specialties]

• Gokayama Tofu

The texture is much firmer than regular tofu, leading to the saying that it can be tied with a rope. It is perfect for grilling, stewing, or making tofu dengaku.

• Salt-Grilled Iwana (Char)

Iwana fish from the clear mountain streams are skewered whole and slowly grilled with salt. The skin is crispy and fragrant, while the meat is tender, making it a representative local mountain dish.

• Gokayama Soba

Made with clear mountain water, it has a refreshing taste and can be enjoyed with mountain vegetable tempura.

• Mountain Vegetable Dishes

Ingredients such as bracken, bamboo shoots, and mushrooms are prepared seasonally as tempura, simmered dishes, or side dishes.

• Red Turnip Pickles

Made from local red turnips, these pickles are tangy, crunchy, and refreshing. They are a traditional Gokayama side dish and also make a great souvenir.

• Tochi Mochi and Tochi Senbei

Made from the nuts of the horse chestnut tree found in the mountains, these traditional snacks have a subtle nutty flavor.

In winter, you can also taste the Toyama specialty kabura-zushi, which consists of fish sandwiched between turnip slices and fermented with rice koji for a rich and unique flavor.