I live in countryside Japan, in Japanese – the inaka. The scintillating cityscapes, neon glow and electronic toilets you may imagine are flipped on their head – glinting skyscrapers exchanged with meandering rice paddies; the neon glow with twinkling stars; the electronic toilets with… normal toilets.
Rice planting season is a big deal in the inaka. Rice fields crop up everywhere you can imagine – behind the local supermarket, at the local schools… around most corners.
Some friends of ours offered us the chance to join in, allowing us to hand plant some rice at their local farm. The next few posts document the experience – this one just concentrates on the view.
snow monkey photography 
michaelmulholland July 14, 2013
Beautiful, it reminds me of Gifu
winegums July 19, 2013
Thanks! It is in Hagi city, Yamaguchi prefecture. It is one of the most agricultural parts of Japan – so lots of rice fields to go around!
Broken Light: A Photography Collective July 14, 2013
Wow, color! Gorgeous!!
winegums July 19, 2013
Thank you! I’ve been working on my landscape editing and think I have cracked a look I like 🙂
Broken Light: A Photography Collective July 19, 2013
Yes, you have! Beautiful look. In case we didn’t mention it before, if you are a match for our gallery, we’d love for you to submit this or other photos! It’s mental health related, but the photos do not have to be. We would be happy to feature you if you are interested. Just email and let me know.
wahmcat July 14, 2013
Fantastic pictures! Thank you for sharing!!
winegums July 19, 2013
Thank you! I really appreciate it and I am glad you like my pictures 🙂
Vividhunter July 15, 2013
Gorgeous shot – I especially like the last one.
winegums July 19, 2013
I think my favourite is the first. Rive fields are beautiful to photograph – there is just lits of visual interest with the rolling hills, the green and the mirrored reflections
astonishedxpression July 15, 2013
I love the reflected rice fields photo! It reminds me of the rice fields we saw in Vietnam.
winegums July 19, 2013
Thank you 🙂 Rice fields are such a great photo subject. Mirrored skies, hills and twilight stars are always a good recipe for a photo! How did you enjoy Vietnam?
astonishedxpression July 19, 2013
Loved it! Particularly Sapa (and trekking through the valleys to small villages) and cruising on Halong Bay!
soniajonestravel July 16, 2013
I agree with Michael, looks like countryside around Takayama and Gifu-ken. Where is it? Great shots!
winegums July 19, 2013
Thank you Sonja! As I said to Micheal, it is in Hagi City, Yamaguchi prefecture. Its a very rural part of Japan and lots of pretty photos to be taken 🙂 When were you in Gifu?
PositiveBit July 16, 2013
I like the third photo. The water reflections contrast with the straight lines of the paddy fields.
winegums July 19, 2013
Thank you! Rice fields always make for a good photo – the rolling hills, gorgeous greens and mirrored reflections are a good recipe!
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