Shiroyone Senmaida, Terraced rice fields in Wajima, Japan
Shiroyone Senmaida comprises more than 1000 rice paddies arranged in narrow strips that descend the steep slopes toward the sea. The tiny parcels follow the natural topography and create a pattern of green and golden surfaces that shifts with each season.
The fields emerged in the 1700s when farmers in the region began making the steep slopes usable for rice cultivation. This solution became necessary because flat arable land was scarce and the population had to be fed.
The rice paddies represent a way of farming that local families have maintained across generations in this mountainous region. Visitors can see the same cultivation methods that have shaped this landscape for centuries.
A dedicated parking area provides convenient access to the site, and an observation deck in the adjacent park offers views across all the fields. It is advisable to wear sturdy footwear if you wish to explore the paths between the paddies, and the clearest views come on bright days.
In winter, the fields are illuminated at night by 25,000 LED lights that cast colored patterns across the slopes from October through March. The display transforms this working landscape into a light sculpture and draws many visitors during the darker months.
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