Muslim Friendly Japan
Gokayama Ainokura Gassho-style Village

Gokayama Ainokura Gassho-style Village

UNESCO World Heritage

相倉合掌造り集落

Ainokura is a small mountain village in the Gokayama area of Nanto City. It has about 20 gassho-style houses, set among farmland, stone walls and snow-protection forests. The village became a World Cultural Heritage site in 1995, and people still live in the old houses. Visitors can walk the village, visit a traditional crafts museum and a paper-making hall, and take a short trail for a view from above.

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Visitor information

Opening hours

The village visitor hours are 8:30 to 17:00.

Admission

Parking for a regular car or kei car costs 1,000 yen.

Getting there

From the Ainokuraguchi bus stop, walk uphill about 5 minutes to the village.

Time needed

Plan at least 1 hour for your visit.

Hours and fees can change. Please check the official website before you go.

Good to know

  • Buses need a reservation to park. Coin lockers are at the Ainokuraguchi bus stop (toward Shirakawa-go) and at the parking office.

Tips for Muslim visitors

  • Most buildings in Ainokura are private homes where people live; a few operate as traditional guesthouses (minshuku).
  • The bus from Shin-Takaoka Station to the Ainokura stop takes about an hour.
  • Old streets are lined with small shops and food stalls. Ask about pork and alcohol before buying snacks.
  • Many old houses are private homes. Do not enter them or take photos of residents without permission.
  • Plan your visit around prayer times. Below are today's prayer times for Toyama and the verified places to pray nearby.

Prayer times in Toyama

Today (5 Nov 2026)

  1. Fajr04:40
  2. Sunrise06:18
  3. Dhuhr11:37
  4. Asr14:28
  5. Maghrib16:51
  6. Isha18:19

Times are calculated for Toyama City. Times may differ elsewhere in Toyama.

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Places to pray near Gokayama Ainokura Gassho-style Village

We have not verified a place to pray near here yet. Many large stations, airports and department stores in Japan have prayer rooms.

How to find a place to pray in Japan →

All places to pray in Toyama →

Halal food near Gokayama Ainokura Gassho-style Village

We have not verified a halal restaurant near here yet. Until then, these guides can help you choose food safely:

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Map

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Photo: minque, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Sources (Checked 5 Nov 2026): gokayama-info.jp, japan.travel