A small town nestled up next to the mountains, Inami punches far above its weight. This town is famous for being the center of traditional woodcarving in Japan. There are over 100 workshops throughout the village and as you walk around you can pop into most of them at your own pleasure. If you’re interested in learning a bit of the art yourself, there are a few workshops where you can try your hand. One of the ‘masterpieces’ of the woodcarvers of the town is Zuisenji Temple, where you can see the amazing techniques on full display. A hidden gem in western Toyama, Inami is perfect for those searching for some place unique in the slower pace of the Japanese countryside.

The history of village goes back into the 1200s when a monk was sent here to build a temple on the orders of the Emperor in Kyoto. Over time this became one of the centers of Buddhism in western Toyama. Since it was first built in the 1200s it has burned down multiple times, similar to other temples in Japan, but the most significant was in the middle of the 1700s. After this accident the wealthy Maeda daimyo in Kanazawa decided to go all out in the reconstruction. They hired a famous woodcarver from Kyoto to work on it and as he worked, the local people learned from his high-level techniques. From the original few families to the hundreds today, woodcarving has been ingrained into the village since that moment. Today you can walk along the main street and see master woodcarvers practicing their trade, as well as trainees learning their techniques.

Woodcarving can be found everywhere in the town, with workshops and stores on the main street as well as at the Michi-no-Eki Inami nearby. There are a few where you can actually try it for yourself. The main street isn’t just interesting for the workshops though, there is a bit of a game you can play there as well. There are dozens of wooden cats hidden throughout the town. Sometimes you have to go inside shops or even off the main street. Some of the back streets are really cool with traditional buildings and narrow alleyways. Don’t forget to check out the traditional sweets shop that specializes in manju red bean buns or the antique shop that sells all kinds of interesting period items. Inami is a town look over by many, but it is definitely worth a stop to get a feel of specialized traditional town.

Inami can be difficult to access, even from the major cities in the region. If you are interested in this town as well as the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Gokayama and Shirakawago, join us for one of our tours! You will have the chance to see Zuisenji Temple’s woodcarvings in Inami, make traditional Japanese paper in Gokayama and go into one of the thatched roof houses in Shirakawago. Check below for more information!

SHIRAKAWA-GO, GOKAYAMA TOUR FROM KANAZAWA / all year round

1 Day Tour

1 Day Tour from Kanazawa: Shirakawa-go, Gokayama and Wood Carving Village
Period	All Year Round
Time	09:00 – 18:00
Meeting Place	Kanazawa Station
Adult Rate	¥23,800 / 25,800
Child Rate	¥15,000 / 17,000

One of the most visited attractions in the region is the thatched-roof houses of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama. On this tour you will hop on one of our charter buses and on the way there stop at a hidden gem of the area, Inami. This small town is famous for wood-carving, something you can see on display throughout the main thoroughfare that lead to Inami’s crown, jewel, Zuisenji Temple. The carvings on this temple were done by a master carver over 200 years ago. We will then continue on to Gokayama to see some of the thatched-roofed house and get an excellent view of the small town. A paper-making experience is also waiting for you, using materials harvested in the town and techniques perfected over centuries. The last stop is Shirakawa-go where you can see the beautiful townscape and go into one of the homes to learn about the townspeople’s way of life. There are also plenty of shops and stalls to enjoy!