Nanto is a city located in the southwest of Toyama Prefecture. Here, visitors can appreciate the authentic Japanese landscape in this city famous for the “Ainokura gassho-style Village” and “Suganuma gassho-style Village,” both of which are registered World Heritage sites alongside Shirakawa-go in Gifu Prefecture. The “Johana Hikiyama Festival,” a 300-year tradition practiced in the Johana area, is registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. Without a doubt, Nanto is a city rich in both history and culture.
From JR Tokyo Station, take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Shin-Takaoka Station (about 3 hours), then take the Johana Line from Shin-Takaoka Station to Johana Station (about 50 minutes).
From JR Nagoya Station, take the Shirasagi express train to Kanazawa Station (about 3 hours), transfer to the Hokuriku Shinkansen bound for Shin-Takaoka Station (about 15 minutes), and from Shin-Takaoka Station take the Johana Line to Johana Station (about 50 minutes).
From JR Osaka Station, take the JR Thunderbird limited express train to Kanazawa Station (about 2 hours and 40 minutes), transfer to the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Kanazawa Station to Shin-Takaoka Station (about 15 minutes), then from Shin-Takaoka Station take the Johana Line to Johana Station (about 50 minutes).
Undeniably, Nanto's most widely-acclaimed tourist spot is the World Heritage Site — Gokayama Village. Of the 40 small villages in Gokayama, Ainokura Village and Suganuma Village are registered World Heritage sites. These gassho-style abodes, which can only be found in Shirakawa-go, Gokayama, and surrounding areas in Gifu Prefecture, offer an intriguing sense of history and tradition.