Perhaps this fall, the Obasute terraced rice fields will once again reflect the harvest moon!

戸倉上山田温泉の近くの姨捨の棚田は「田毎の月」って、お月様が田んぼ毎に映る事で有名です。しかし、お月様が田んぼに映るとは、田んぼにお水が入っている必要がある。従って、５月の田植えの時期。

しかし、一番綺麗なお月様が…　中秋の名月。

昔は棚田の側の長楽寺で秋にいくつかの田んぼを早く収穫して、水を入れ直したという言われがある。最近はそんな贅沢な事があまり考えられない。

その中で、今年は特別かもしれない。戸倉上山田と姨捨は１市２村の合併で千曲市となり、今年が合併１０周年となる。市の観光課の情報によると、その記念イベントで、姨捨の棚田のある農家団体が田んぼ何枚かに秋月に合わせてお水を入れ直す計画しているそうです。

取り敢えずは計画中だそうですが、詳しい情報が入ればまた報告します。まだ冬が終わっていないのに、既に秋を楽しみにしています。

Nearby our onsen town of Togura-Kamiyamada are the famous moon-reflecting terraced rice fields of Obasute. In order to reflect the moon, the fields need to have water in them. That means May, when the fields are flooded for planting. However, the prettiest moon is the fall Harvest Moon.

According to legend, the temple next to the fields, Choraku-ji, used to arrange to have certain paddies harvested early in the fall, and to re-fill them with water, just to enjoy seeing the reflection of the harvest moon in them.

Of course, in today's modern age, it's impractical to re-flood the fields in the fall.

But this year may be special. The onsen area and Obasute are now part of Chikuma City after being merged together 10 years ago. According to the city's Tourism Bureau, a group of Obasute farmers are planning on re-flooding some fields this fall in celebration of the city's 10th anniversary.

As we get more details, we will be sure to pass them on. But for now, even though it is still winter, we are already looking forward to this autumn!