Beyond Japan’s busy cities lies a quieter world of rice fields, traditional houses, mountains, and peaceful villages. For many Japanese people, these landscapes evoke nostalgia and a connection to rural life.
One beautiful example is the Hoshitoge Rice Terraces in Niigata Prefecture. Around 200 rice fields cover the hillsides. In spring and late autumn, water-filled terraces sometimes reflect the sky like mirrors.
Another destination is Miyama Kayabuki no Sato in Kyoto Prefecture, a village known for its traditional thatched-roof houses. Of its 50 houses, 39 have thatched roofs. Residents continue to preserve this historic landscape while living their everyday lives.
For a different experience, the Yamanami Highway in Kyushu offers a scenic drive connecting Beppu in Oita Prefecture with Aso in Kumamoto Prefecture. The route passes through beautiful highlands, with views of the Kuju Mountains and vast grasslands maintained through traditional farming practices.
These landscapes show different relationships between people and nature, from rice cultivation to the preservation of rural architecture and grasslands.
Exploring the Japanese countryside offers a chance to slow down, enjoy the changing seasons, and appreciate the beauty of regional Japan.
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