Murakami House

The Murakami house can be found in the Gokayama settlement of Nanto city in Toyama prefecture. The gasshō-style home was built around 350 years ago at the beginning of the Edo period. It is registered as an Important Cultural Property as a rare and precious example of the old gasshō architectural style. Visitors can tour inside the Murakami house, and see folk custom documents on saltpaper and washi paper production that were major industries in Gokayama. Here, visitors can get a deeper understanding of the history and culture of Gokayama.  The current head of the Murakami household may give explanations to visitors while everyone is gathered around an irori sunken hearth. It is also possible to make a reservation to hear the traditional folk song, “Kokiriko Odori(Dance)”, for a separate fee. A snow camellia tree estimated to be 300 years old stands in the yard of the Murakami house. The tree's flowers bloom beautifully every year from late April to early May.