Obasute Rice Terraces
姨捨の棚田
Thousand-year-old terraces overlooking the Zenkōji Plain, famous for the “moon in every paddy,” where the moon is reflected in each flooded field. It is an Important Cultural Landscape of Japan.
Obasute Rice Terraces lies at the foot of Mount Kasagi in Chikuma City. About 1,500 small paddies are stacked up the slope, overlooking the Chikuma River and the Zenkōji Plain. Since ancient times it has been famous for moon-viewing, and Matsuo Bashō came here to write poetry. The “Tagoto no Tsuki” (the moon in every paddy) is a famous Shinshu scene. The terraces have been designated a National Place of Scenic Beauty and an Important Cultural Landscape. The best viewpoint is at JR Obasute Station, one of Japan's three great train-window views, where you can enjoy the night view from the platform. Getting there: from Nagano Station, take the JR Shinonoi Line about 40 minutes to Obasute Station, then walk about 10 minutes to the terraces. The luxury sightseeing train Shiki-Shima also stops at this station.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Matsushiro Underground Imperial Headquarters
- Matsushiro Castle & Sanada Treasure Museum
- Kawanakajima Battlefield (Hachimanbara Park)
- Bessho Onsen & Anraku-ji
- Ueda Castle Ruins Park
- Zenkō-ji
- Nagano Prefectural Art Museum
- Togakushi Shrine