Terraced Rice Fields & Japanese Culture Tour In Shikamachi, Sasebo City
The Charm of Terraced Rice Fields and the Quintessential Japanese Landscape
All across Japan, you can find terraced rice fields, shaped by steep terrains and rich climates, forming a truly quintessential Japanese landscape.
Sadly, these beautiful fields have been rapidly decreasing in recent years.
Even so, Kuchinori’s terraced rice fields still preserve a long-standing history, culture, and a profound connection between nature and people.
Around these fields, you’ll discover communities that have long revered nature as divine—loving, respecting, and sometimes fearing it, all while living in harmony.
The local shrine stands as a place of worship, festivals, and community gatherings dedicated to celebrating and honoring the gifts of nature and the spirits believed to reside within it.
Terraced Rice Fields Transformed by the Seasons
The best way to appreciate terraced rice fields is to explore them on foot. Each season paints the landscape in its own unique colors and ambiance:
- Spring: Vibrant blossoms abound, and birds fill the air with their joyful songs.
- Summer: The fields turn lush and green, and the chorus of insects resonates like a festive symphony.
- Autumn: A golden sea of rice plants stretches across the terraces, symbolizing harvest time and gratitude for nature’s bounties.
- Winter: Crisp, clear air intensifies the fields’ beauty, and at night, the sky unveils a magnificent spread of stars.
Enjoying Farm Work
Terraced rice fields are essential for growing rice and vegetables. Here in Kuchinori, you can try your hand at rice cultivation and vegetable farming throughout the year.
Depending on the season, you can even try operating a tractor (staff members ride along to ensure safety).
Plus, any fresh vegetables you harvest go straight into the lunch menu. There’s nothing like savoring the produce you’ve grown with your own hands on the very same day.
Experience Year-Round Farm Work
From spring planting and summer weeding to autumn rice harvesting and winter maintenance of field ridges, each season in the terraced fields reveals a new facet of rural life. It’s a hands-on way to feel the warmth of the soil and witness the vibrancy of growing crops—an experience unique to terraced rice fields. You may find new reasons to return each season, as every visit brings fresh discoveries.
Firewood Splitting
Get started by preparing the firewood needed to cook the locally grown rice for lunch. Don’t worry if you’re new to using these tools—our staff will guide you. There’s an indescribable sense of accomplishment when you see the pile of firewood after your efforts.
Cooking with a Traditional Kamado Stove
Once your firewood is ready, light a fire in the old-style kamado stove to cook rice. Balancing the heat is tricky, but the fluffy, sweet-tasting rice that results is truly rewarding. Using the wood you split yourself to cook local rice adds an extra layer of flavor and satisfaction.
Bamboo Crafting
Bamboo is a symbol of Japan and has long been used to create everyday tools and playthings. Try making your own bowl for lunch, or if you’re feeling adventurous, make your own chopsticks or cup. The items you craft become unique souvenirs you can take home as a memento of your visit.
After working up an appetite, the meal that follows tastes all the better.
After working up an appetite, the meal that follows tastes all the better.
- The star of the show is rice from the terraced fields, cooked to perfection over a wood fire in the kamado stove.
- Enjoy a warm soup packed with freshly harvested seasonal vegetables.
- An assortment of local dishes is served in a bento box, featuring mountain produce, vegetables from nearby fields, and fresh catch from the nearby sea.
With a collective “Itadakimasu!” you’ll relish this terraced field lunch that engages all five senses, letting you fully savor the bountiful gifts of Japan’s countryside.
Embark on a New Encounter
In Kuchinori’s terraced rice fields, nature and humanity intertwine to create a story all their own.
What you take away from your time here is the wisdom of days gone by and the unchanging vitality of the natural world.
Spending a single day in this setting will immerse you in Japan’s culture, leaving you with memories that are both meaningful and unforgettable.
