Feel Japan.
Discover NANTO.
About NANTO
Blessed by nature through the changing seasons, and with Gokayama’s Gassho-style Villages, scattered villages with expanses of fields and rice paddies, and districts living and breathing with the history of silk textiles and wood carving, Nanto City is a special place where Japan’s unspoiled landscapes and traditional culture still live. Travel to Nanto, where warm people await you.
Gokayama Area
Gokayama has the two Gassho-style Village World Heritage Sites of Ainokura and Suganuma. It’s a “living World Heritage Site” where unspoiled Japanese landscapes remain and it’s kept alive by the people living there even now.
Inami Area
The main street in the wood carving district of Inami, Yokamachi Dori street echoes with the sound of mallets. The entire district is enveloped in works of wooden sculpture, ansd the allure is getting to see the historic Inami carving techniques up close.
Johana Area
Called “Etchu’s Little Kyoto”, Johana still has picturesque streets and buildings from when it prospered from silk textiles. It’s famous for the Hikiyama Festival, which is designated a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Toga Village Area
It has an international theater festival held out in beautiful nature and the famous “Home of Mediation” power spot. A special place to refresh your body and spirit.
Inokuchi Area
Inokuchi in Nanto City has an abundance of nature. Fish or BBQ at Akasofu Pond, and enjoy the Camellia Festival at the Camellia Center.
Fukumitsu Area
The world-renowned woodblock artist Shiko Munakata lived in Fukumitsu. Follow in his footsteps, and enjoy the history of folk crafts and wooden bat production.
Fukuno Area
A historic market district. The streets are enlivened by large paper lanterns and the sound of taiko drums in the Fukuno Yotaka Festival held every May. Tradition lives on in this district.
How to Enjoy
Nanto
In addition to the Gokayama Gassho-style Village World Heritage Site, Nanto City is a charming area of abundant nature and historic building-lined streets where traditional culture lives and breathes. With changing scenery and local cuisine year round, local festivals, and more, you can get a sense of Japan’s unspoiled landscapes. And meeting the warm local people is another way to enjoy a special trip to Nanto.
Stay
From old Japanese farmhouses surrounded by undeveloped woodlands to traditional hot spring inns, make a selection that suits the style of your trip from the diverse accommodations. You can also stay in one of Gokayama’s Gassho-style homes and experience traditional living. We hope you’ll enjoy a pleasant stay in an area unique to Nanto City.
Hot Springs
Nanto City is dotted with hot springs surrounded by an abundance of nature. There are hot spring baths looking out on gorgeous undeveloped woodland scenes, hot springs where the charm is open-air baths with a stunning view of Shogawa Gorge, and facilities where you can enjoy day-trip bathing, allowing you to leisurely and fully enjoy Japan’s hot spring culture as you soak away any weariness from your travels.
Auberge
Sample delicious dishes incorporating an abundance of local ingredients, and enjoy a relaxing stay. Being surrounded by the beautiful scenery of the village forest and interacting with the local people is also part of the charm. Experience the nature, culture, and wealth of food in Nanto during your stay.
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Experience Tours
As you travel around this World Heritage Site, learn about traditional arts and the local people’s way of life, and be satiated by local cuisine using seasonal ingredients. What awaits you is a special experience discovering the profound charm of Japan you’ll only find here.
Zuisenji Temple Night Museum
View the illuminated wood carvings inside the temple. The shadows accentuate their minute details. Explanations by craftspeople can give you deeper insight into the beauty of their meticulous work.
The Kokiriko Experience: One-on-one Tour of Gokayama (Kaminashi) with a Local Guide
Called Japan’s oldest song, “Kokiriko” still lives and breathes in Gokayama. You can see the traditional dance and Gassho-style houses in the snowy village forest, and can also enjoy making Gokayama tofu.
Life in a Gassho-style Village: One-on-one Tour of Gokayama with a Local Guide
Discover a facet of little-known life in the Gassho-style Village of Suganuma, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. Learn the origins of the Gassho-style houses and sample local ingredients.
Where Woodcarving Comes Alive: One-on-one Tour of Inami with a Local Guide
Take a trip around Inami, a district of wood carvers, and get a deep taste of Japan’s traditional beauty. Visit historic Zuisenji Temple, try your hand at carving wooden sake containers, and thoroughly enjoy Japanese cuisine at a quaint house.
Nanto Bike Tour “Embark on an E-bike ride around the World Heritage sites GOKAYAMA”
Stroll around Ainokura Gassho-style Village, and visit stunningly scenic spots in Gokayama that can’t be reached by public transportation on a guided e-bike tour. Even beginners can take part with peace of mind as they enjoy the scenery at their leisure.
Private “Gokayama Gassho-zukuri Stay & Watch Traditional Performing Arts Kokiriko” for 1 group only
Rent one of the Gassho-style houses at the Gokayama World Heritage Site to stay in. This special experience plan is limited to one group per day.
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Special Products &
Foods
Delicious special products and foods nurtured by the abounding nature. Enjoy local cuisine using fresh ingredients, as well as traditional tastes not to be found anywhere else. Be sure to thoroughly enjoy the seasonal flavors along with some locally-brewed sake.
Broiled Loach
Local cuisine broiled to savoriness in a sweet and spicy sauce. Rich in nutrients, it features a taste that can be habit-forming.
Dried Persimmons
A traditional special product concentrating the fruit’s sweetness, dried persimmons are a beloved staple of wintertime.
Gokayama Tofu
A traditional food characterized by being tough enough to resist crumbling due to reduced water content. Made from crystal clear water and locally grown soy beans, it’s rich in flavor.
Gokayama Washi Paper
Gokayama washi paper is a traditional craft going back some 600 years. Strong but beautiful, it’s also used in restoring cultural properties and making washi products.
Inami Wood Carvings
Characterized by high-level woodworking skills and a dynamic, three-dimensional feel. “Openwork carving” is characterized by three-dimensional works of art.
Johana Silk Textiles
Shike silk and the traditional silk textiles that have continued more than 400 years have been passed down to the present day for use in interior decorating and apparel.
localsake&beer
Enjoy these flavorful and unique tastes brewed from pure local water and choice ingredients.
Red Turnips
A preserved food for getting through Gokayama’s winters. Vividly colored, it’s moderately salty with just enough sweet and sour taste that you’ll never tire of the flavor.
Rice Crackers
This charming traditional Japanese snack made from local rice has a rustic, roasted flavor.
Taro
This tuber is characterized by its soft and fluffy texture and sweet taste. It’s often used in the local cuisine of Nanto City, such as in simmered foods or miso soup.
Tochimochi (horse-chestnut mochi)
Daifuku rice cakes of red bean paste wrapped in mochi with horse-chestnut seeds. The simple, slightly bitter taste of the horse-chestnut seeds is perfectly balanced by the anko bean paste.
Wooden Bats
Using resilient yet supple wood from Gokayama, these works of art have been scrupulously crafted with traditional techniques. They’re quite popular with baseball fans or as presents.
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Local Festivals &
Events
In Nanto City, you can enjoy traditional festivals and unique events all year round. These range from the lively events of living, breathing local culture to the special festivities in each of the seasons. You can have a unique experience here you’ll never forget.
SCOT Summer Season
National and international theatrical productions presented on a stage integrated into the nature of Toga Village. Enthralling theater fans from around the world every summer.
Kokiriko Festival
The flute and taiko drum music and refined dancing of Hakusangu Shrine’s Kokiriko Festival are captivating. Onlookers dance along with it, and this festival allows you to come in contact with Gokayama’s traditions and feel a part of them.
Inami Yoiyasa Festival
A festival to pray for prosperity in business and safety at home. There’s a procession of 6 portable shrines (both large and small), shishi (guardian lion-dogs), and floats, with the Inami wood carving of the lion-dog heads being one of the highlights.
Gokayama Gassho-style Illumination
Fantastical illumination of the Gassho-style Villages. It’s held in May, September, and February for Ainokura Village, and in May and February for Suganuma Village. You’ll want to visit time and again to see the way it changes with the seasons.
Gokayama Mugiya Festival
The Gokayama Mugiya Festival has powerful yet refined dancing to the melancholy Mugiya folk song. The onlookers also become part of this autumn tradition.
Johana Mugiya Festival
In autumn, the scenic Johana district is taken over by Mugiya song and dance. The strains of the kokyu ring out, and a powerful dance spreads through the district. The competitive performances at Zentokuji Temple and other places are also a sight you must see.
Johana Hikiyama Festival
A UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, Johana Hikiyama Festival is a traditional festival that has continued for 300 years. The gorgeous dashi floats and elegant ioriuta songs are enchanting.
Nanto Fukumitsu Snow Illumination Festival
About 50 gigantic paper lanterns are launched into the wintry sky in a winter tradition in Nanto City that paints a fantastical tableau.
Fukumitsu 1000 Cherry Blossom Illumination
Enjoy surreal cherry blossom viewing at night in Fukumitsu with the “Fukumitsu 1000 Cherry Blossom Illumination” on early April evenings.
Fukuno Yotaka Festival
The evening festival is held on May 1 and 2. Large paper lanterns are paraded around, and the highlight is the “float battle” that begins around 11:00 p.m. on May 2.
Access
- From Tokyo
- Tokyo(Hokuriku Shinkansen) > Shin-Takaoka(JR Johana Line) > Fukuno > Fukumitsu > Johana (3.5 hrs)
- From Osaka
- Osaka (Thunderbird Express ) > Tsuruga(Hokuriku Shinkansen ) > Shin-Takaoka(JR Johana Line) > Fukuno ⇒ Fukumitsu > Johana (Approx. 4.5 hours)
- From Nagoya
- Nagoya(Shirasagi Express) > Turuga(Hokuriku Shinkansen) > Shin-Takaoka(JR Johana Line) > Fukuno > Fukumitsu > Johana(Approx. 5 hours)
Near by Sightseeing
Spot
Inquiry
Nanto City
Tourism Association
| TEL | 0763-62-1201 |
|---|---|
| Address | 206-22 (Inside JR Johana Station), Koreyasu, Nanto City,Toyama Prefecture, 939-1852, Japan |
| Hours | 8:30 - 17:30 |
| Regular Closing Days | The week of New Year’s |