Kehara Rice Terraces

Overview

The Kehara Rice Terraces, located in Kehara, Oe-cho, Fukuchiyama City, Kyoto Prefecture, are stunning rice terraces selected as one of Japan's Top 100 Rice Terraces. Stretching across the southern slopes of Oe-yama Mountain, known for its oni (ogre) legends, these 600 terraces create a magnificent landscape. The history of these terraces dates back to the Nara and Kamakura periods, when settlements are believed to have been established, with the terraces gradually forming around that time. Once, the terraces extended along the former Fukōdō road leading to Maizuru City, covering the entire slope almost to the ridgetop. However, the 1960s rice reduction policy led to the gradual abandonment of cultivation from the summit, with a shift to cedar forests. While there were plans for land improvement in the 1980s, strong local opposition due to concerns about soil changes and water security prevented their implementation. As a result, agricultural efficiency lagged behind neighboring areas. However, from 1997 onwards, the preservation of the remaining rice terraces, untouched by land improvement, became the focus of community revitalization efforts. In 1999, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries selected the Kehara Rice Terraces as one of "Japan's Top 100 Rice Terraces," along with only one other location in Kyoto Prefecture, the Sode-shi rice terraces. Today, active preservation efforts are underway. Local residents organize agricultural experience tours and maintain walking paths and observation decks, preserving the landscape while leveraging it as a tourism resource. When visiting the Kehara Rice Terraces, you can enjoy the scenery by strolling along the paths, enjoying panoramic views from the observation deck, or participating in agricultural experience tours to learn about life in the rice terraces. The changing seasonal landscapes are another attraction; from the budding spring greenery to the lush summer foliage, the autumn harvest, and the winter snow, there's something to see year-round. Kehara Rice Terraces offer a glimpse into Japan's traditional countryside. Visit and experience the beauty of these stunning rice terraces for yourself.