【公式】みやざき観光ナビ 宮崎県公式観光サイト

日本三大秘境、椎葉村
Shiiba Village, One of Japan's three most secluded regions

The rice paddies seem to float in the air here, at one of the three most secluded regions in Japan

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Shiiba Village is a mountain village surrounded by nature and mountains exceeding 1,000 meters in altitude. Approximately 96% of the village area is covered in mountain forests and there are many slopes, and the area is called one of the three most secluded places in Japan.
The homes and fields nestled in the mountains embody the wisdom and ingenuity required to live among steep slopes. Tonegawa Village is noted for the beautiful stone walls and Shiiba-style long and narrow homes found there, and there are buildings at the top of the village that you can look inside. There, you can join a yoga session while enjoying the beautiful mountain views, or try your hand at making Nadofu, a traditional food of Shiiba. There are many other workshops and events you can join to experience the mountain village lifestyle, including making Konyaku, trekking, mushroom and wild vegetable gathering, and e-mountain bike riding.
Another highlight of the village is the nearly 100 stepped rice terraces along the Kyushu mountain ridge at an altitude of 450 meters. A sight you can only see in Shiiba, they are known as the Rice Terraces of Sennin, as well as the Machu Picchu of Shiiba, because they seem to float in the sky.
Traditional customs and culture have also long been carefully preserved here. Among them is the Shiiba Kagura dance, a performance that is designated as a Japanese important cultural heritage. Incidentally, Shiiba Village uses a localized version of slash-and-burn agriculture on a small, sustainable scale, unlike the way the method is applied elsewhere in the world. Here, the slash-and-burn approach leads to higher yields of such crops as buckwheat, without the use of fertilizers and pesticides, and ultimately leads to revitalization of the forest over the long term rather than damage to it. This method can only be seen in Shiiba. 
In recognition of this novel approach to farming and cultural tradition, Shiiba was designated a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System in 2015 along with the neighboring communities of Takachiho Town, Hinokage Town, Gokase Town, and Morotsuka Village.

Area #Shiiba Village
Category #Nature and Scenery #Mythology and History #Outdoor Sports
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Basic Information

Address 宮崎県東臼杵郡椎葉村
Telephone Number 0982-67-3139（Shiiba Village Tourism Association）
Fax no. 0982-67-3155
Contact 0982-67-3139
（Shiiba Village Tourism Association）
Transport ■ About 1 hour and 50 minutes by car from JR Hyuga Station.
■ About 1 hour and 25 minutes by car from the Hyuga Interchange on the Higashi Kyushu Expressway.
■ About 3 hours by car from Miyazaki City.
■ About 1 hour and 10 minutes by car from Takachiho Town.
■ About 1 hour and 45 minutes by car from Nobeoka City.
■ About 2 hours and 15 minutes by car from Kumamoto City.
Related website Shiiba Village Tourism Association website
Shiiba Village website
Shiiba Village Tourism Association Facebook page
Shiiba Village Tourism Association Instagram account

＊Information on facilities is subject to change. Please check each official website for the latest information.

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