🏘️ Toyama · 1 day
Gokayama & Nanto Drive: World-Heritage Gasshō Villages & Woodcarving Towns
Inland Toyama into the mountains of Nanto — the tulip fields of Tonami, the Shōgawa gorge, the woodcarving town of Inami and the World-Heritage gasshō-zukuri villages of Gokayama. 5 michi-no-eki.
South of Toyama's plain, the roads climb into Nanto and the Shōgawa valley, a region of steep forests and thatched farmhouses. Its Gokayama hamlets — Ainokura and Suganuma — are UNESCO World Heritage, their great A-frame gasshō-zukuri roofs built to shed the heavy Hokuriku snow.
The drive runs from Tonami, famous for its spring tulip fields, through the Shōgawa gorge with its sightseeing boats, the woodcarving town of Inami with its ornate temple gate, and Toga's soba-and-theatre valley, to the thatched village of Ainokura in Gokayama.
The stops, in driving order
- 1 Michi-no-Eki Tonami 道の駅 砺波 · Toyama
Michi-no-Eki Tonami (道の駅 砺波) is a government-designated roadside station in 砺波市, Toyama, Japan, registered in 1993 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a local-products shop, free Wi-Fi, a tourist-information desk and a baby room. There is free parking for about 75 cars and 4 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–18:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Chubu road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Shougawa, Inami and Meruhen Oyabe.
Nearby: 🏛砺波郷土資料館 (0.3 km) · 🏛砺波市美術館 (0.4 km)
- 2 Michi-no-Eki Shougawa 道の駅 庄川 · Toyama
Michi-no-Eki Shougawa (道の駅 庄川) is a government-designated roadside station in 砺波市, Toyama, Japan, registered in 1997 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a local-products shop, a tourist-information desk, a baby room and an accessible restroom. There is free parking for about 43 cars and 15 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–18:00 （定休日 毎週火曜日）. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Chubu road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Inami, Toga and Tonami.
Nearby: 🏛松村外次郎記念庄川美術館 (1.4 km) · 🏛庄川水資料館 (1.4 km)
- 3 Michi-no-Eki Inami 道の駅 井波 · Toyama
Michi-no-Eki Inami (道の駅 井波) is a government-designated roadside station in 南砺市, Toyama, Japan, registered in 1993 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a hot-spring (onsen) bath, a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop and free Wi-Fi. There is free parking for about 156 cars and 11 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–17:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Chubu road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Shougawa, Toga and Tonami.
Nearby: 🏛池波正太郎ふれあい館 (0.6 km) · 🏛井波美術館 (0.6 km)
- 4 Michi-no-Eki Toga 道の駅 利賀 · Toyama
Michi-no-Eki Toga (道の駅 利賀) is a government-designated roadside station in 南砺市, Toyama, Japan, registered in 1993 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a cafe, a local-products shop, a tourist-information desk, an observation deck and a park. There is free parking for about 20 cars and 3 large vehicles. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Chubu road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Inami, Shougawa and Taira.
Nearby: ⛰Mt. Ushidake (1.9 km) · ⛰Mt. Yaotome (4.3 km)
- 5 Michi-no-Eki Taira 道の駅 たいら · Toyama
Michi-no-Eki Taira (道の駅 たいら) is a government-designated roadside station in 南砺市, Toyama, Japan, registered in 1996 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, free Wi-Fi and a tourist-information desk. There is free parking for about 79 cars and 10 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 8:30–17:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Chubu road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Toga, Kamitaira and Inami.
Nearby: 🏛南砺市そばの館 (3.9 km) · 📸Ainokura village (4 km)
Make this route yours — load all 5 stops into the planner, reorder or remove stops, then open the finished trip in Google Maps.
Customize this route →Route tips
- Ainokura and Suganuma (Gokayama) are the World-Heritage gasshō villages — smaller and quieter than Shirakawa-gō over the ridge.
- Inami is Japan's woodcarving capital; you can watch carvers at work along the temple street.
- Tonami's tulip fields peak in late April, and the Shōgawa gorge boats run most of the year.
- Gokayama is snow country — the thatched roofs under snow are the winter highlight.
Before you drive
- Can you drive in Japan? License rules by country
- Renting a car in Japan: the complete guide
- Can you sleep overnight at a michi-no-eki?
FAQ — Gokayama & Nanto
How many days do you need for the Gokayama & Nanto route?
1 day is a comfortable pace: roughly 30 km of driving with 5 michi-no-eki stops along the way. You can compress it, but the stops are the point.
Where does the route start and end?
It starts at Tonami (Tulip Country) and ends at Taira (Ainokura Gasshō Village). Load all 5 stops into the free MichiStops route planner to reorder, add or remove stops, then open the finished trip in Google Maps.
When is the best season to drive this route?
Year-round (tulips late April, gasshō villages beautiful under winter snow).
Do I need to rent a car?
Yes — michi-no-eki are roadside stations, realistically reachable only by rental car or campervan. Most visitors can drive in Japan with a 1949-convention International Driving Permit; check the license rules for your country before booking. License rules by country →
Can I sleep overnight at the michi-no-eki on this route?
Resting overnight in your vehicle is tolerated at most michi-no-eki, but tents, awnings and open-air cooking are not allowed. Read the overnight-stay guide for the etiquette. Overnight-stay guide →