Gokayama is an area in Nanto City on the southwestern edge of Toyama Prefecture including what were once the villages Taira and Toga. This region is considered a snow belt with annual snowfall among the heaviest in the world. This kind of environment gave birth to the Gassho-zukuri (praying-hands structure) style steeply angled thatched roofs. To the present day, traditional Gassho-zukuri houses remain in the nationally recognized heritage sites in areas like Ainokura in Taira and Suganuma in Kamitaira. Furthermore, together with the neighboring Ogimachi area of Shirakawa Village in Gifu, these sites are recognized as a UNESCO world heritage site. This area is also famous for the folk music style called, "Kokiriko."