Ainokura Traditional Industries Museum

Located in the village of Ainokura, with its gassho-zukuri (steep thatched roof) houses, the Ainokura Traditional Industries Museum features information and artifacts related to Gokayama’s principal industries, some of which were protected by the Kaga domain. These industries included washi papermaking, sericulture, and the production of saltpeter. One of two folk museums in Ainokura, the museum is housed in the traditional gassho-style residence of the Nakatani family and offers visitors a closer look at the tools and instruments used in each of the industries that helped sustain the village. The museum also highlights Gokayama’s folk music, including songs such as the Kokiriko Bushi, through exhibits of indigenous instruments, lyric sheets, and other items relating to local music traditions.