Ainokura Gassho-zukuri Village

Compared to the villages of Shirakawa-go and Suganuma, the charm of Aikura lies in its hidden location in the mountains. There is a perfect photo spot where you can capture this charm. At the first parking lot, there is a small sign that says "Aikura Village Panoramic Photo Spot". After a five-minute walk up a slope, you will arrive at a small bench. From here, you can take pictures of the peaceful village, but if you go down a little further, you will finally arrive at the Aikura Observation Plaza, the main photo spot. Why not try to capture the scenery of Japan's original landscape here?

This facility uses actual houses to display tools and items from the Edo period in Gokayama. It is divided into two buildings: Building 1 (Aikura Folk Museum) displays folk materials such as tools and farming equipment used by the indigenous people, while Building 2 (Aikura Traditional Industry Museum) displays materials related to traditional Gokayama industries such as washi paper and saltpeter. Inside, you can closely observe the framework and internal structure of the gassho-style houses, and from each exhibited item, such as the actual folk tools used by the village residents, you can vividly feel the lifestyle of the time.

This facility allows you to experience the traditional paper-making process that was once carried out in the gassho-style houses of Gokayama. Gokayama washi paper is made by mixing fibers taken from the bark of Gokayama-grown paper mulberry trees with a large amount of neri extracted from tororoaoi, and then pouring and making it. Its high quality was recognized, and during the feudal era, it became a gift to the Kaga domain. This reliable technique has been passed down as a tradition to this day. When sightseeing, why not try the easy-to-do "handmade washi paper experience (700 yen)" or "tumbler making (1,500 yen)"?

"Yusuke" is a rare guesthouse where you can stay at a World Heritage site for one group per day. It has one of the largest scales in the Gokayama Ainokura Gassho-style village and can be visited as an exhibition hall by non-guests. On the second floor of the exhibition hall, tools and daily necessities used for sericulture are displayed, and the lifestyle of the time is reproduced. In addition, various panels explain Gokayama Washi paper and saltpeter, traditional crafts, and photos are displayed that look back on the history of the village. The third floor is preserved in the state it was when sericulture was conducted.

A 5-minute walk from the first parking lot will bring you to a spot called "Tengu no Ashiato" (Tengu's Footprints) in front of the entrance of Minshuku Choyo-mon. There has been a Tengu legend in Gokayama since ancient times, and it is said that the Tengu who lived around here once touched down on this rock when jumping from one mountain to another. The rock does indeed have hollows that look like footprints. Although they are not much different in size from human footprints, the way they are deeply indented gives you a sense of the power of the Tengu.

While the famous Shirakawa-go Gassho-style village has its own upside-down Gassho spot, there is also an "Upside-Down Gassho Photography Spot" in Aikura that will inspire your inner photographer. The upside-down style refers to the reflection of buildings or landscapes on ponds, lakes, rivers, rice paddies, and other bodies of water. The famous Uyuni Salt Flats are a prime example. Both Shirakawa-go and Aikura have residents who grow rice, so you can see upside-down Gassho styles using the rice paddies. Aikura has fewer tourists compared to Shirakawa-go, making it an easier environment for photography. If you happen to visit during the time when the rice paddies are filled with water, why not try taking some photos of the upside-down Gassho style and feel like a professional photographer?

The illuminations event is held with the cooperation of local residents. The timing of the event varies depending on the year, but it is held in autumn and winter throughout the year, and you can see the beautifully illuminated village from dusk until 9 pm. It's a popular event where you can experience a fantastic primitive landscape. It shows a completely different expression during the autumn leaves season and when covered with snow, so you'll want to visit many times.