Kamikatsu, town in Katsuura district, Tokushima prefecture, Japan
Kamikatsu is a small town nestled in the mountains of Tokushima Prefecture with fewer than 800 households. The landscape is covered by dense forests interspersed with mountain ridges and river valleys, featuring rice terraces built into the hillsides that have been farmed for generations.
The town was formed in the 1950s when two small villages merged in an area that historically belonged to the province of Awa. During Japan's Edo period, the land was controlled by the Hachisuka family from their nearby castle.
Kamikatsu's name reflects its mountain setting in Tokushima Prefecture. The residents, particularly elderly community members, actively participate in local crafts and farming, shaping daily life through their visible work in traditional businesses and rice paddies.
The town has no train station or major highway access, so a car is needed for longer journeys. Most local travel is done on foot or via small rural roads, though exploring the central area is straightforward and manageable.
The waste center is visible from above in the shape of a question mark and was constructed using 540 recycled window and door frames assembled like patchwork. Within the facility sits Hotel Why, where guests stay in rooms furnished from repurposed materials and experience sorting trash as part of their visit.
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