Suganuma

Ainokura vs Suganuma: Which Gokayama Village to Visit If You Only Have Time for One

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Gokayama is home to two UNESCO World Heritage gassho-zukuri villages: Ainokura and Suganuma. Both sit in the same valley along the Sho River, both have those iconic steep thatched roofs, and both are far quieter than Shirakawa-go. But if your schedule only allows for one — and for most travelers on public transport, it should … Read more

How to Get to Gokayama & Ainokura: The Honest Access Guide from Tokyo, Kanazawa & Takayama

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Getting to Gokayama is more complicated than getting to Shirakawa-go. The bus companies are split, the stops have quirks that catch first-time visitors out, and the limited timetable means one wrong move can leave you stranded. I’ve watched travelers step off the wrong bus at the wrong stop more times than I can count — … Read more