Have you ever wondered about the stories behind Japan’s stunning rural landscapes?
When you step outside the bustling cities of Japan, you’ll be greeted by expansive rice fields, often visible from train windows.
These landscapes, shaped by human hands over centuries, blend so seamlessly with nature that they are recognized as one of Japan’s most iconic natural sceneries.
In this article, let’s explore the rice fields, the rice itself, and the rich culinary culture they support—integral elements of Japan’s satoyama, or traditional rural landscapes.
Rice: The Lifeblood of Japanese Cuisine
Since rice cultivation was introduced to Japan around 3,000 years ago, rice has remained a staple food for most Japanese people.
While the diversification of diets has slightly reduced rice consumption in recent years, its role as a vital staple food remains unchanged.
Personally, there’s nothing quite like a steaming bowl of freshly cooked rice!
Interestingly, the majority of rice consumed in Japan is domestically grown, and even today, over half of Japan’s farmland is devoted to rice paddies.
Beloved dishes such as sushi, gyūdon (beef bowls), curry rice, and mochi would not exist without rice.
Rice also plays a crucial role in Japanese sweets, including dango, sakura mochi, daifuku, senbei, and arare.
And of course, no visit to Japan would be complete without tasting sake, which is brewed from rice.
Rice is truly a special agricultural product that is deeply woven into the fabric of Japan’s culinary culture.
Japonica Rice: A Unique Variety
Globally, rice comes in many varieties, with about 70% of the world’s rice consumption being indica rice.
However, Japan’s rice is primarily japonica—a minority variety.
Indica rice is long and slender, with a dry, non-sticky texture.
In contrast, japonica rice is short, oval-shaped, and renowned for its sticky, chewy texture.
Among japonica rice varieties, the most glutinous is mochigome, or glutinous rice, used to make mochi and celebratory dishes like sekihan (red rice).
I think this preference for japonica rice is one of the defining characteristics of Japanese food culture.
A Rice-Based Economy in the Edo Period
During the Edo period (17th to 19th century), when the Tokugawa samurai governed Japan, rice was at the center of the economy.
This era could almost be described as a “rice standard” economy.
For example, the Kaga region (modern-day Ishikawa Prefecture) was measured as a “one million koku” domain (koku being a unit of volume, approximately 180 liters of rice).
Similarly, taxation was collected in rice or its equivalent, and the government and local authorities earned revenue by selling rice received as tax.
I believe this rice-centered economy of the Edo period is one of the reasons rice holds such a special status in Japan to this day.
Enjoying Japan’s Rice Field Scenery
Japan’s rice fields offer picturesque views throughout the year:
• Spring: Reflections of blue skies and surrounding mountains in freshly flooded fields.
• Summer: Green stalks of rice swaying gently in the breeze.
• Autumn: Golden ears of rice ready for harvest, with farmers busy in the fields.
• Winter: Snow-covered rice paddies, creating serene white landscapes.
Rice production is widespread across Japan, but the regions of Niigata, Akita, Yamagata, and Miyagi are particularly well-known.
The Joetsu, Akita, Yamagata, and Tohoku Shinkansen lines run through these areas, offering breathtaking views of the vast rice fields from the train windows.
In Hida-Furukawa, Gifu Prefecture, a nature tour called the “Satoyama Experience” allows visitors to cycle through the rice fields and enjoy the idyllic rural landscapes.
Because of its importance, rice was even cultivated in mountainous areas with limited flatlands by creating terraced rice fields.
These tanada (terraced fields) are now beloved as iconic Japanese landscapes.
Some of the most famous locations include the Shikamura terraced fields in Yamagata, Hoshitoge terraced fields in Niigata, and Maruyama Senmaida in Kumano, Mie.
In my hometown of Nakanojo, the Isama area features small but charming traditional rice field landscapes.
I particularly enjoy cycling through these fields on my road bike—it’s a peaceful and refreshing experience.
When you visit Japan, be sure to savor delicious Japanese cuisine, sake, and sweets, while also taking the time to appreciate the rice fields that nurture these culinary treasures.
The stories and beauty behind these fields are truly worth discovering.
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