Suganuma Village

The Suganuma village is located in Nanto city of southernwest Toyama prefecture. Nine gasshō-style homes stand firm in this village. Suganuma village was registered as an UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with the nearby Ainokura village and Gifu prefecture’s Shirakawa-gō village, because of its historical significance and its preservation of traditional culture. The gasshō style (gasshō-zukuri) is a style of dwelling that has been modified to withstand the extreme snowfall of the area with steeply sloped roofs. They were built in the Ainokura village as a place to live and work with silkworms. In the village, there are gasshō-style lodging and cafeterias where diners can enjoy the mountain food while having a Japanese cultural experience. The Suganuma village is lit up with illuminations in the winter and early spring.  The fairytale-like sight of the mountain village lit up by 50 lights has captured the hearts of many.