The Matsudai-Matsunoyama area of Niigata, famous for its rice production, is hilly and dotted with many terraced rice paddies, creating a beautiful rural landscape.
The Hoshitoge terraced rice paddies are the largest of the Echigo-Matsudai terraced rice paddies, located in Tokamachi City’s Toge.
They have been selected as one of the “100 best places in Japan” and “100 most beautiful and unexplored places in Japan,” and the mirrored scenery was featured in the opening scene of the 2009 historical drama “Tenchi Jiten.
Depending on the amount of snowfall, the snow melts in April and paddy fields gradually become visible.
From late April to mid-June is the spring paddy mirror season.
After that, rice planting takes place and the green terraced rice paddies can be enjoyed.
Rice harvesting takes place from mid-September to early October, after which the paddies are flooded once again and the autumn paddy viewing season begins in late October and lasts until early November.
In autumn, a sea of clouds can be seen when the temperature difference between daytime and nighttime is large.
A parking lot and observation deck are available.
Visitors to the rice terraces should be aware of the following
The terraced rice field area is not a tourist attraction, but important farmland (private property) where farmers grow rice.
When visiting the terraced rice paddies, please be sure to behave in a manner that includes not entering roped-off areas or farmland, not parking your car anywhere but in designated areas, and taking your garbage home with you.
20 minutes by car from Matsudai Station on the Hokuhoku Line