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Shiromai Senmaidan

石川県

4.2

Tourist Information of This Area

general.prefecture.

Terraced rice fields leading to the sea create a mesmerizing art piece

One of "Japan's Top 100 Terraced Rice Fields". The sight of 1004 small terraced rice fields overlapping each other and stretching out to the sea within an area of about 4 hectares is truly breathtaking. The eco-friendly illumination using luminous devices held from mid-October to mid-March every year is also a must-see.

Features & How to Enjoy

Classic IlluminationNature

Highlights

Point 1

Scenic Views for Every Season

The Shiroyone Senmaida is a tourist spot that represents Oku-Noto, featuring small rice paddies arranged in a geometric pattern. You can enjoy a healing landscape here. In spring, preparations for planting rice begin, and the water-filled paddies reflect the sky like a mirror. In summer, you can enjoy the competition between the lush green rice and the sea, seeing a different beauty with the change of seasons. Especially during the autumn rice harvest, the entire terraced rice paddies shine in golden colors, creating a breathtaking beauty. Furthermore, even in winter, when covered with snow, there is a striking beauty that touches the heart.

Point 2

Recognized as a World Agricultural Heritage Site

Originally, rice cultivation in Shirakami was done on a small scale. However, in the first year of the Tenna era (1684), a large-scale landslide occurred, causing most of the rice paddies to be lost and left as uncultivated land. It is said that the land was gradually redeveloped during the Meiji period and transformed into its current form. The surrounding area is characterized by the unique undulating terrain of landslide areas, with small plots of rice paddies cultivated on steep slopes with a height difference of about 50 meters, creating a distinctive landscape. The Shirakami Senmaida is a historical heritage of the water development of Okunoto, which has coexisted with the extremely limited natural environment of flat land.

Point 3

Connecting the Future of Terraced Rice Fields with the "My Rice Paddy" System

The "My Rice Paddy" system allows people to borrow unused rice fields from farmers and lend them to those who wish to use them. By registering as an owner member, you can put up your own signpost in a field you like and enjoy farming. The system's unique feature is that the seven annual farming activities (field preparation, ridge making, planting, weeding three times, and harvesting) are not mandatory, and you can participate according to your own schedule. There is no lease or ownership, and the farming management is carried out by the Shirakami Senmaida Aiko-kai. Currently, participants from all over Japan, including the Tokyo metropolitan area, are helping to spread the importance of rice cultivation.

Point 4

Fantastical Illumination

The event "Azeno Kirameki" illuminates the Shiroyone Senmaida rice terraces with beautiful lights. Hosted by the Tourism Division of the Wajima City Exchange Policy Department, the event has been held every year from autumn to winter since 2011 with the aim of attracting tourists during the winter season. About 25,000 LED lights with solar panels, installed by volunteers along the rice paddies, change colors every 15 minutes for four hours after sunset, creating a breathtakingly beautiful scene. In 2012, it was recognized as the "largest display of solar-powered LED lights" by the Guinness World Records.

Point 5

Connecting with Traditional Farming Methods

Shiromai Senmaidan is well known as a place where the traditional Japanese farming method of "nae-shiro" has been revived. Even now, traditional methods are used from planting to harvesting, with people carefully planting each rice seedling and cutting each stalk one by one during the appropriate season. You can enjoy the best time to see rice cultivation according to each season. Visiting multiple times and observing how the rice grows and what kind of work is being done during each season is one way to enjoy the changing scenery.

Access

A Relaxing 2-Hour Drive from Kanazawa

By car, it takes about 2 hours from Kanazawa via the Noto Satoyama Kaido and national roads. From Noto Airport, it's about a 40-minute drive via national roads. If you take the highway and exit at the Noto Satoyama Airport IC, you'll arrive at the Chirihama Pocket Park in about 40 minutes. If you're using the bus, take the Wajima Express Bus from JR Kanazawa Station to "Wajima Ekimae" and transfer to the Kitetsu Okunoto Bus "Machino Line" and get off at "Shiroyone Senmaida". If you're coming by train, use the Noto Railway and get off at Anamizu Station. From there, take a bus or other transportation to Wajima Station. During the popular illumination event "Azeno Kirameki," temporary buses are also available.

Parking

Use the Parking Lot at the Michinoeki

If you're coming by car, please use the parking lot at the Michinoeki "Senmaidapocket Park" right next to it. There is space for 5 large vehicles and 49 (2 for disabled) regular vehicles. The opening hours are from 8:30 to 17:30. It was renovated a few years ago, and the promenade and stairs to Senmaidai were improved, making it safe for children and others to enjoy sightseeing.

Basic Information

	Address	99-5 Ha, Shiromai-cho, Wajima-shi, Ishikawa 928-0256
	Business Hours	24 時間営業
	TEL	0768-23-1146
	Web Site	https://wajima-senmaida.jp/

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