It has grown on me!

Thursday, January 22, 2026

Summer Countryside in Yame, Japan: A Visit to the Hirouchi–Uebaru Terraced Rice Fields in Hoshinomura

As I mentioned in my previous entry, my husband and I visited Japan in the summer of 2025. After exploring Cha no Bunkakan (茶の文化館), the Tea Culture Museum, we decided to visit the Hirouchi–Uebaru Terraced Rice Fields (広内・上原の棚田).

A Large Illustrated Wall Map at Cha no Bunkakan (茶の文化館)

Near the entrance of Cha no Bunkakan, my husband and I noticed a large illustrated wall map showcasing Yame’s scenic and cultural highlights. It featured photos of terraced rice fields, temples, tea spots, and forested mountains. That’s where I first saw the name “Hirouchi–Uebaru Terraced Rice Fields,” and it immediately caught my attention. We decided to visit, and it took us only about ten minutes by car to reach the observatory, Hirouchi Road Park.

It was a sweltering summer day, the kind of heat that makes the air shimmer and the cicadas sing louder than usual. Even with the intense heat, the area felt peaceful and quiet, tucked away in the countryside like a forgotten page from a storybook. As I listened to the cicadas, I was reminded of what summer in the Japanese countryside truly feels like.

The terraced fields were breathtaking—lush green tea trees cascading down the hillside in perfect harmony with the land. At the base of the slope stood a traditional Japanese house, its tiled roof and wooden frame blending seamlessly into the scenery. It felt like something out of a Studio Ghibli film—a place where time slows down and nature whispers its stories.

Before visiting Japan this summer, I had completely forgotten about nyūdōgumo (入道雲), those towering summer clouds that are such an iconic part of the season. Seeing them again after many years, along with the loud chorus of cicadas, became one of my strongest memories of summer 2025.

The rice fields stopped being cultivated after the 2012 flood, but local volunteers continue to care for the landscape. Because of their work, the terraces remain intact, and spider lilies bloom beautifully in autumn.

I really enjoyed the beautiful countryside scenery that day. It was very hot, the fields were bright green, and the sky was a deep blue with big, strong nyūdōgumo rising above the mountains. The loud sound of cicadas filled the air, and it all reminded me of how special summer in Japan feels.

If you come to Hoshinomura, I suggest visiting Cha no Bunkakan (茶の文化館), Tea Culture Museum too. Visiting both places lets you enjoy Yame’s culture, landscape, and peaceful atmosphere.

These are my entries related to Fukuoka.