See the Beautiful Ingenuity of Rice Terraces

Walk among gorgeous rice paddies in a picturesque town, and learn to make a Japanese staple with locally produced rice

Rice plays an integral role in Japanese culture, and rice terraces are a key farming technique. On this tour, offered by the Ena-shi Sakaori Tanada Preservation Association in Gifu Prefecture, an English-speaking guide will show you breathtaking terraced hillside rice paddies, literally and figuratively walking you through the irrigation and cultivation techniques preserved in this village for 400 years. In May or September, you may even be able to join in on planting or harvesting, respectively.

After your terrace tour, enthusiastic local residents will teach you how to make onigiri, or rice balls, using locally produced rice and seasonal fillings. They will also share with you the legends that surround Mt. Gongen, a mysterious peak rising above the town.

From Tokyo Station, take the Shinkansen bullet train to Nagoya Station (about 1 hour and 40 minutes). From Nagoya Station, take the train to Ena Station (about 1 hour and 10 minutes), then a bus to Nose (about 30 minutes).

Ena-shi Sakaori Tanada Preservation Association