A Journey Through Japan’s Top 100 Terraced Rice Fields: The Scenic Beauty and Culture of Nakayama Senmaida on Shodoshima

One of Japan’s Top 100 Terraced Rice Fields: The Scenic and Cultural Charm of Nakayama Senmaida on Shodoshima

Nakayama Senmaida, located in the central Nakayama area of Shodoshima, is one of Japan’s top 100 terraced rice fields and the first in Kagawa Prefecture to be included in the list. Unlike some abandoned terraced fields, this area remains an active farmland. But why visit terraced rice fields? In both Taiwan and Japan, the land available for rice cultivation is limited. When the terrain, soil, water sources, and even climate are suitable for rice farming, terraced fields emerge as a striking landscape.

After descending from the famous Kankakei Gorge, our family drove toward Nakayama Senmaida. We found a small parking space near the rice terraces that could accommodate three cars, so we stopped to explore. It was around 4:30 PM, and although the sun had not yet set, the golden hues of the terraces shone brightly. It was summer, yet the heat was not overwhelming.

As we moved forward, we noticed the narrow roads, with limited temporary parking spaces. Some areas had signs prohibiting parking due to the narrow roads. Above the terraced fields stood the Nakayama Kabuki Stage, an Important Tangible Cultural Property. This stage serves as the venue for Nakayama’s rural kabuki performances, held during the harvest season. The area is home to approximately 800 terraced rice paddies, creating a cultural space where traditional festivities take place.

A short walk from the stage leads to stone monuments and gentle slopes, including a commemorative monument marking an imperial visit by the Japanese emperor and empress. The kabuki stage itself is set within a traditional thatched-roof house, preserving the rural kabuki heritage. The stone-built audience seating and stage remain intact, keeping the cultural legacy alive.

Explanatory boards display historical artifacts and tools, along with over 600 preserved kabuki scripts. Nakayama Rural Kabuki is performed annually in October, celebrating the harvest season.

Nakayama Senmaida offers a picturesque landscape with layers of rice terraces blending harmoniously with the distant mountains and blue sky. If you take the time to relax, it’s an ideal place to soak in the tranquility and perhaps even paint a beautiful oil painting.