Nanto

Visit Nanto, the southernmost part of the commercial and residential development of Toyama. The city itself has fine restaurants, shops and shrines worth visiting. One noteworthy spot is the Kotokuji Temple, which features the practice of Pure Land Buddhism and the woodcut art of Shiko Munakata. The area’s primary appeal is the opportunity to escape urban congestion. View green rice fields extending for miles and venture just a few minutes from the center of the city to be in the mountainous terrain.

Northwest of central Nanto is Inami, a mountain town known for its woodcarving. See this craft displayed elegantly at the Inami Betsuin Zuisenji Temple, a large wooden temple originally built in 1370 and reconstructed in the 1800s. Note the detailed hand carvings of dragons and other real and mythical creatures.

Nanto’s top attraction is south of the city in the UNESCO-listed Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama. Drive just 20 minutes from Nanto to the Ainokura Gassho-zukuriVillage. Here traditional homes and cultural activities have been preserved because of the area’s remoteness in the Japanese Alps. Participate in the craft of making washi paper, hand-processed paper made from the bark of local mulberry bushes. Photograph the unusual A-frame farmhouses with steep and very thick thatched roofs that protect the structures from the region’s heavy snowfall. Look for the Ainokura Observatory deck at the north end of town to get an iconic photograph of the farmhouses and rice fields in front of tall mountains.

The mountains of Nanto are great for hiking. Notice the cloudy blue-green color of streams carrying silt from melted runoff. In the winter, spend a day skiing, boarding or sledding at Takanbo ski resort.

Drive to Nanto in 1 hour from Toyama or ride the train in about 2 hours. Find accommodations in Nanto City or choose a guesthouse in the countryside or mountains. Make advance reservations if you want to stay in a traditional Gassho-zukurifarmhouse, as available spaces are very limited.