Japan is a country of great beauty, from its bustling cities to its tranquil villages. Although many people enjoy the excitement of urban life, sometimes a change of pace is needed. In Japan's villages, visitors can experience a slower pace of life, enjoy fresh air, and take in a natural beauty that surrounds them.
One such village is Biei Town, located in the center of Hokkaido near Furano City. The village is full of hills, and the colorful flowers planted on them create a unique scene. In the spring, patches of green seedlings cover the hillsides with a mix of dark and light greens reaching up to the sky.
In the summer, the village is at its most beautiful as sunflowers, lavender, anemones, beauty cherry, cosmos, sage, and other various flowers compete for attention, covering the hillside with a layer of colorful blooms.
Another picturesque village is Shirakawa-go, situated in the foothills surrounded by mountains on all sides. The village's most striking feature is the 110-odd houses, named "Hapo-zuk," which have roofs that resemble closed palms.
This unique design was created to prevent the roof from collapsing under heavy snowfall, and it has been praised by German architects. In December 1995, it was even registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Tadanosha Village Art Rice Field is an ancient village with a history of over 2,000 years of rice cultivation. In 1993, in an effort to revitalize agriculture, farmers planted amazing works of art on 15,000 square meters of fields using different colors and varieties of rice.
The annual number of visitors has exceeded 300,000, driving the spread of rice field art in all prefectures in Japan. Every April, an artist designs the pattern, marks the different areas, and the villagers collaborate to sow the seeds.
The rice fields start to grow in May, and the pattern gradually emerges. The best viewing season is in July every year.
Yoshino Town, located in the central part of Nara Prefecture, has a famous mountain called Mount Yoshino, which has been recorded in the ancient chronicles and books of Japan. The mountain is not particularly high, but it is famous for its 30,000 cherry trees that have been there since ancient times.
Every spring, the mountain is covered in cherry blossoms, and the romantic scene created by the pink and white blossoms is a sight to behold.
Shizuoka is another village that offers stunning landscapes. This village is not only satisfied with the scale of planting but also attaches great importance to the landscaping of planting. Mechanized planting is used, and a uniform pattern is applied to ensure neat and beautiful planting.
The Shizuoka Tea Museum is another must-visit destination in the village. It covers an area of 18,900 square meters and offers unique green tea dishes, such as tea salt made from sencha, tea soba, and tea-scented rice.
The restaurant that serves these dishes is popular with visitors, as well as the skincare products.
Japan's villages offer a chance to experience a different way of life, immerse oneself in natural beauty, and savor unique culinary experiences. From the colorful blooms of Biei Town to the unique architecture of Shirakawa-go, visitors can take in a wealth of beauty in these tranquil settings.
The Tadanosha Village Art Rice Field and the cherry blossoms of Mount Yoshino are two more examples of the stunning natural beauty that Japan's villages have to offer. In Shizuoka, visitors can enjoy not only beautiful scenery but also unique green tea dishes and skin care products.