# Michi-no-Eki Inakadate

> A Route 102 bypass stop in the village that started Japan's rice paddy art. From the viewing tower you look down on the second art field in summer; the rest of the year it is a farm shop and a bowl of ancient-rice ramen.

- Prefecture: Aomori
- Type: Michi no eki
- Address: Inakadate, Aomori, Japan
- Hours note: The produce centre closes earlier from December to March, and the shop and restaurant close on 1 January. The rice paddy art viewing season and rides are seasonal; check current dates.
- Official site: https://www.tohokukanko.jp/attractions/detail_1003325.html

Inakadate began growing pictures in its rice fields in 1993, using rice varieties with different leaf colours. The village now plants two fields, and the second one lies beside this station. Its viewing tower puts you about 14 metres up, which is enough to see the picture come together instead of a blur of green.

The art is a summer thing. It usually peaks from mid-July to mid-August and comes down with the harvest in early autumn, so check this year's dates before planning around it. The rest of the year, come for the produce centre, stocked mainly with rice, vegetables, fruit and miso from Inakadate and the rest of Aomori. Restaurant Jaigo (local dialect for "the countryside") serves Yayoi ramen made with ancient rice and Yayoi udon with nuts worked into the dough.

The nickname Yayoi no Sato comes from the Yayoi-period rice paddy remains found around the village, and a buried cultural property centre on site shows some of the finds. The station is on the Route 102 bypass, about 3 km from Kuroishi IC towards Hirosaki. Children's rides and putting golf cost extra and close in winter.

---
Source: Michi-no-Eki Inakadate — Japan Voyage