Shiroyone Senmaida

Shiroyone Senmaida is a terraced rice-field landscape in Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture. It’s called “Senmaida” (thousand rice paddies) because of the large number of terraces, and in fact there are 1,004 paddies. Designated as a National Place of Scenic Beauty under the name “Shiroyone Senmaida,” the tightly packed terraces lining the seashore create a breathtaking scene. Located on a narrow cliffside between National Route 249 along the northern coast of the Noto Peninsula and the Sea of Japan, it offers a walking path where you can feel the scenery change with the seasons. It’s also remembered that Junichiro Koizumi visited and remarked, “It’s a superb view—an absolute superb view.” An owner program is available: the “Senmaida Owner Trust” lets you hold one paddy for 20,000 yen per year, with additional paddies at 3,000 yen each. Benefits include 10 kg of harvested rice (hazaboshi Koshihikari), local wild vegetables, and an owner nameplate at the paddy—recommended for those who want to take part in rice cultivation. Because the terraced fields are entirely worked by hand, volunteers are also recruited during planting and harvest seasons. Access: from Roadside Station Wajima ‘Furatto Homu,’ take the Machino line bus for about 20 minutes, get off at Shiroyone Senmaida, and it’s right there.