A top destination for many visitors to Japan, Gokayama is a group of Japanese style village houses which is surrounded by steep mountains where winter brings heavy snowfall up to 2 meters high. However, Gokayama is not just special because of its village houses. The overall scenery, which also includes rice fields and stone walls, is a rare sight in Japan. It is believed that the oldest existing village in this location had been constructed all the way back in the 17th century.

Photograph provided by Toyama Tourism Organization