DIFFICULY
★☆☆☆☆
2 hours and 30 minutes
1-10 people
From
From ¥55,000 (tax included)
田んぼ, ウェルネス, 農業
OVERVIEW
Festival of Life
~ “Rice Planting”: A Ritual of Sowing Life. Collaborative Work Guided by the Spirit of “Yui” ~
[Prologue: From the Water Mirror to the Stage]
A special season has arrived in the rural hills of Akiruno.
The rice paddies, which we carefully leveled and prepared last time, now resemble “water mirrors.” Today is the day we breathe vibrant green life into them.
“Rice Planting (Taue)”—it is the greatest festival of rice cultivation, and at the same time, a solemn ritual.
Nishikawa, a guide and former monk, hands you rice seedlings—still small, yet full of vitality.
He says, “These are not just plants. Please treat them as if they were babies.”
With those words, the seedling in your hand begins to carry the weight of a “life” to be protected.
[Chapter 1: Fingertips That Create Order]
As you step into the mud, a lukewarm sensation envelops you.
The essence of rice planting lies in creating “order” within the chaotic world of mud.
Using the string stretched by the guide as a guide, you plant the seedlings at equal intervals using your thumb, index finger, and middle finger.
This uniform spacing (Ma) improves airflow and protects the rice plants from disease. It may feel difficult at first.
However, as you move your fingertips with a clear mind, your movements become refined, and you enter a state of meditation.
[Chapter 2: The Synchronicity of “Yui”]
When you look up, you see fellow participants on either side, equally covered in mud.
Rice planting cannot be completed alone.
With a shout of “Ready, set, go!”, everyone takes a step back and plants the seedlings simultaneously.
The ancient Japanese spirit of community, “Yui,” is being recreated right here and now. You cannot be too fast, nor can you be too slow.
You synchronize your breathing with the person next to you and help one another.
In that moment when your movements synchronize, transcending the language barrier, a bond of “team” is born—one that goes beyond a mere tour group.
It is a moment when you can physically feel the excitement of the communal work that villagers once undertook together.
[Epilogue: A Green Carpet and an Ode to Life]
When you finish planting the last seedling, climb up onto the ridge, and look back, you’ll be left breathless.
The rice paddy, once a solid brown, has been transformed into a beautiful “green carpet.”
When the wind blows, the young rice plants rustle gently, and at your feet, frogs and water striders scurry about as if celebrating the completion of their new home.
As you wash the mud off in the cool water of the irrigation ditch and are enveloped in a pleasant sense of fatigue, you will realize something.
What you have planted is not merely food.
It is the very embodiment of Japan’s sustainable landscape—one that has continued for over 10,000 years—and a prayer for the future.
The climax of rice cultivation has finally arrived: rice planting.
This is not merely farm work, but a sacred ritual that brings order to the chaos of the mud. The sight of participants lined up in a row, planting seedlings in unison, embodies the spirit of "Yui," the ancient Japanese concept of mutual assistance.
You will plant new life with your own hands in a 10,000-year-old cycle of life. Welcome to this one-of-a-kind "festival of life," where heat and tranquility intersect.
HIGHLIGHTS
Fingertips that create “order.” The Japanese concept of “Ma” (space) and the three-finger technique**
Planting seedlings in mud is not merely a task; it is a ritual that brings “order” to the chaotic world of mud. The technique of gently holding a seedling with the thumb, index finger, and middle finger and planting it at regular intervals is simple yet profoundly challenging. Using the string stretched by the guide as a guide, you will experience the Japanese aesthetic sense that pursues functional beauty through your fingertips as you arrange all the seedlings at uniform “Ma (Interval).”
The origin of community: "Yui" (結). Synchronized planting tackled in a single line**
Rice planting cannot be completed alone. All participants line up in a single line, moving step by step in sync with those around them, embodying the ancient Japanese spirit of mutual assistance, "Yui" (結). This "collaborative work," which progresses in harmony with neighbors rather than at one's own pace, fosters consideration for others and, in the latter half of the work, creates a sense of unity (flow state) that transcends words.
10,000 Years of Sustainability: An Experience of Biodiversity – Creating a Cradle for Tiny Life**
Water-filled rice paddies are vast biotopes where water striders, frogs, dragonfly larvae, and other creatures gather. Hand-planting agriculture, which relies little on chemical fertilizers or machinery, is also a practice of the most sustainable system (SDGs) that has continued for over 10,000 years. Through interaction with the creatures at our feet, we learn that the seedlings we plant ourselves will eventually become a hiding place for diverse organisms, a "cradle" that supports the cycle of life.
ITINERARY
TOKYO Yamagawa Rice Farming Vol. 3
Festival of Life: The “Rice Planting” Ceremony—Planting Life—and the Spirit of Yui
Theme: “Order and Harmony.”
The Japanese aesthetic of planting seedlings at regular intervals and the sense of unity fostered by working together.
[Detailed Schedule (2 hours 30 minutes)]
• 09:10 - 09:30
Check-in & Changing (Preparation for the Ritual)
◦ Location: On-site or at Musashi-Itsukaichi Station.
◦ Attire: Wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. For an authentic experience, wear “Jikatabi” (traditional Japanese tabi socks) or go barefoot to prepare to connect directly with the earth.
• 09:30 - 10:00
Orientation & How to Handle Seedlings (Respect for Life)
◦ Introduction: Today, we will plant green seedlings on the water surface that was empty just one month ago (Vol. 2). As stated in the source, seedlings are “babies.” We will learn the proper etiquette and respect for handling these small lives from a guide who is a former monk.
◦ Technical Instruction:
▪ “Three-Finger Technique”: We will practice the technique of gently holding the seedlings with the thumb, index finger, and middle finger, and planting them into the mud with the fingertips.
▪ “Posture”: We will learn a posture—similar to a “pelvis-upright squat” from a chiropractor’s perspective—to prevent back pain even during long hours of work.
• 10:00 - 10:50
Activity 1: Rice Planting “Creating Order”
◦ Experience: Everyone lines up in a single row, following the markers of the “guide string” set up by the guide.
◦ Deep Culture Point:
▪ “Yui (Community Spirit)”: Rice planting cannot be done alone. You will experience the traditional Japanese spirit of mutual aid, “Yui,” by matching your pace with the person next to you and moving forward in a single file.
▪ “Ma (Interval)”: Maintaining equal spacing between seedlings ensures proper airflow and sunlight. You’ll practice Japanese aesthetic and functional beauty right there in the mud. Enjoy the challenge of planting at consistent intervals with a playful, game-like approach.
• 10:50 - 11:00
Satoyama Green Tea Break
◦ Content: Stretch your back and gaze out at the rice paddy, about half of which has been planted. Enjoy the contrast between the green of the seedlings lining the water’s surface and the blue of the sky.
• 11:00 - 11:50
Activity 2: Rice Planting “Flow Experience” (Rice Planting: Flow State)
◦ Experience: This is the second half of the session, when participants become accustomed to the work. As described in the source, even participants who were initially afraid of the mud are now fully engrossed.
◦ Deep Culture Point:
▪ “Immersion”: Their planting motions become smooth, conversation diminishes, and they enter “the zone” where only the sound of water echoes. They find meditative peace within the simple task.
▪ “Biodiversity”: While planting, participants observe water striders, tadpoles, and frogs swimming at their feet. They realize they are creating a “home” for these creatures.
• 11:50 - 12:00
Completion & Cleansing
◦ Details: The moment all the seedlings are planted, the once-brown rice paddy transforms into a “green carpet.” After sharing a sense of accomplishment, participants wash off the mud using irrigation channels and provided brushes.
◦ Closing: We conclude by explaining that these seedlings will grow until the next session (in the fall) and disperse with high hopes for the vitality of nature.
DETAILS
[Tokyo Mountain Side Authentic Rice Paddy Experience Tour: Important Notes, Attire, and What to Bring]
1. Attire
Since you will be entering the rice paddies, comfortable clothing that can get dirty is essential. It gets very hot.
We recommend moisture-wicking, quick-drying fabrics.
You will get covered in mud, so be sure to bring a complete change of clothes and a towel. Children may participate in swimwear.
Footwear: Rice-planting boots (or similar) are best for rice planting and leveling the field.
Please note that regular rubber boots can get stuck in the mud and are prone to slipping off.
2. Packing List
Change of clothes (a full set, including underwear), towels (bring plenty), drinks (bring plenty as the muddy work will make you thirsty), rain gear (required as work continues even in light rain), sunscreen, hat, mud-scrubbing brush (if needed).
3. Costs
Included in the tour fee:
Activity participation fee
Not included in the tour fee:
Transportation to the site, parking fee (1,000 yen per day, payable in cash on-site), personal beverages and snacks. Please bring cash for shopping.
4. Rainy Weather Policy
As a general rule, the tour will proceed even in the rain.
Work in the rice paddies must proceed regardless of the weather.
However, if we determine that the event cannot be held due to severe weather such as a typhoon, we will contact you by the evening of the previous day to arrange an alternative date.
5. Other Important Notes
Safety: Please follow the guide’s instructions and handle all equipment carefully to avoid injury.
Respect for Wildlife: There are many living creatures in the rice paddies. Please participate in the spirit of “Leave No Trace” and treat nature with care.
6. Meeting Place & Contact Information
Meeting Place: Itsukaichi District, Akiruno City, Tokyo (A detailed map will be provided via email after registration).
By Train: A 15-minute walk from JR Musashi-Itsukaichi Station.
By Car: You may use a nearby paid parking lot (1,000 yen/day).
Organizer & Inquiries:
Tokyo Yamagawa DMC Co., Ltd.
(Email: info@fwness.com)
Get in touch with our team for quotes and advice,
including tour content not included on this site.