Oura Terraced Rice Fields 大浦の棚田

A trip to see terraced rice fields might not sound enticing at first, but those at Oura combine agriculture and art.

From Karatsu Station, take the bus to Magarikawa bus stop. The ride is approximately 25 minutes. From there, it's only a 10-minute walk to the fields.

Terraced rice fields are usually found in mountainous regions and are carefully divided into tiers using stones and/or mud. Oura, in particular, is recognized as one of Japan's top 100 terraced rice fields.

Although Oura is beautiful throughout the year, spring is the best time to go, when the fields are filled with water, creating a mirror effect. The observation deck is popular with photographers, presenting some amazing views at various times of the day and year.