Overview: This time we visit Toyama Prefecture in the Hokuriku region. Toyama is about 2 hours from Tokyo by Hokuriku Shinkansen. Bordered by the Sea of Japan to the north and the 3,000-meter Tateyama mountains to the south, this has been a fertile and prosperous area since ancient times. We'll climb into the deep mountains to visit villages that preserve the old ways of life, adapted to surviving and prospering in a harsh environment. The Gokayama region was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995, they are famous for their traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses, some of which are more than 250 years old. The climax of the trip is a festival in Yatsuo that's been held continuously for over 300 years. Slow, graceful dancing that will touch your heart.