[Niigata, Tokamachi] Enjoy the spectacular view of the Hoshi Pass rice terraces all to yourself! Tokamachi Rice Terrace Trekking along the ancient path with a private guide

Trek through a picturesque, historically and culturally rich landscape that evokes authentic Japan. Accompanied by a private guide, you'll walk from village to village, occasionally enjoying warm interactions with the villagers. This tour will stop at a special spot overlooking the Hoshitoge Rice Terraces, one of Japan's most famous rice terraces. Enjoy a leisurely stroll and admire the scenery from an area off-limits to regular tourists. [Schedule] Walk approximately 3.5 hours from Hokuhoku-Oshima Station to the Hoshitoge Rice Terraces with your private guide. Meet your guide at Hokuhoku-Oshima Station at 9:15 AM for morning itineraries (6:30 AM from July to mid-September), or 1:15 PM for afternoon itineraries, to begin your trek. *Please inquire about the meeting time. The old trail has ups and downs, but you'll enjoy beautiful mountain views as you trek. Along the way, your guide will share stories about the history of the old trail and local life. You'll also have the opportunity to interact with the villagers, sharing stories of the village's past and history, as well as life in a snowy country. Along the way, you will take a break at a spot that is off-limits to regular tourists, offering a panoramic view of the Hoshitoge rice terraces. We will provide you with seasonal snacks traditional to the region and delicious tea. You can relax and enjoy the scenery in a private setting. After the trek, you will be taken back to Matsudai Station or Hokuhoku Oshima Station by car. *Only Japanese and English are available.

Beautiful rice terraces have been cultivated since ancient times and passed down through the generations. Satoyama lifestyle, centered around rice terraces, still thrives in Tokamachi. Rice terraces are a legacy from a time when rice was the center of world value and are one of the symbols of Japanese culture. Rice terraces are not simply a place to grow rice; they also fulfill various essential roles for the region, including flood control functions like dams, water purification, and an ecological environment that provides a habitat for diverse living creatures. Tokamachi City in Niigata Prefecture is said to be one of the nation's leading rice terrace meccas, and the beautiful rice terraces scattered throughout the region attract many visitors. Famous for its heavy snowfall, the rice terraces of this region can be seen as the culmination of the efforts of our ancestors, who continued to face the forces of nature with strength and resilience.

Satoyama is a place where the lives of people and plants intersect. A local outdoor guide will share with you the intricate details of nature, which can only be experienced in a region with such a gradation of natural beauty. During the tour, you'll likely see footprints and other traces of raccoon dogs, badgers, and serows, cedar trees bent under the weight of snow, beech trees growing wild on low mountains, and wisteria and akebia vines intertwined with various other plants. Take a peek at the unique workings of nature and the people involved in them. As you tour the mountains, listening to stories about the lives of the people who live in snowy regions, you might even have a chance to chat with villagers working on their farms along the way.

The rice terraces and satoyama landscapes that captivate so many people have always been maintained through the constant involvement of people. In fact, this requires the continuous and enormous work of many people, but the satoyama communities that have played this role until now are aging, making it difficult for them to generate such a huge amount of energy. On the other hand, when the rice terraces are filled with water and the "water mirror" becomes visible, the area around the rice terraces becomes crowded with many visitors who come to enjoy the view free of charge. To be honest, this is a complicated feeling for the community and the rice terrace farmers. In this way, rice terraces can also give us a glimpse into the universal issues facing Japan today. We hope that this tour will give you an opportunity to think a little about these issues.