Tokamachi, Niigata / 星峠の棚田
Hoshitoge Rice Terraces
About 200 paddies spread like fish scales over a hillside, the most popular of Tokamachi's rice terraces; in spring and autumn the flooded fields become "water mirrors". Recognised as a Tsunagu Tanada heritage site in 2022.
Last official check
25 Sept 2026
Traveler reports
0
Reports open in Phase 2
Next scheduled check
24 Dec 2026
Decide before you go
A short summary made from the official facts below. Check the rows for details.
- Getting there
- Train / Car
- Closing days
- Closures change with the season
Before you go
Only facts we confirmed on official sources are shown. Anything else is marked “Not checked yet”.
- Opening hours
Not checked yet — we have not confirmed this on an official source yet. Check with the spot before you go.
- Closed
In winter the car park and viewing deck are not cleared of snow and cannot be used (reopening may be after Golden Week, depending on snowmelt).
Checked 25 Sept 2026 on the official site- Admission
Not checked yet — we have not confirmed this on an official source yet. Check with the spot before you go.
- Getting there
About 20 minutes by taxi from Matsudai Station (Hokuhoku Line); about 1 hour by car from Echigo-Kawaguchi IC, Shiozawa-Ishiuchi IC or Joetsu IC.
Checked 25 Sept 2026 on the official site- Parking
20 car spaces and 1 large-vehicle space; from spring 2026 buses pay an entry contribution (5,000 yen large/medium, 3,000 yen small, per vehicle per visit).
Checked 25 Sept 2026 on the official site- Payment
Not checked yet — we have not confirmed this on an official source yet. Check with the spot before you go.
- Accessibility
Not checked yet — we have not confirmed this on an official source yet. Check with the spot before you go.
Found wrong or outdated information? Let us know
Address: Tokamachi, Niigata (Japanese address: 新潟県十日町市峠)
Official site: https://niigata-kankou.or.jp/spot/10051
Location
Smaller pins are other spots nearby.
Nearby spots
- No photo yetEchigo-Tsumari Satoyama Museum of Contemporary Art MonETNiigata20 km away (straight line)
Photo: Cp9asngf / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)Takada Castle Site ParkNiigata24 km away (straight line)
Distances are straight-line distances, not travel distances.
Crowds
- Crowd level
Not checked yet — no official source yet, and not enough traveler reports.
- Best time to visit
Not checked yet — no official source yet, and not enough traveler reports.
- Peak time
The car park gets crowded in the water-mirror seasons, especially early in the morning.
Checked 25 Sept 2026 on the official site- Busiest days
Not checked yet — no official source yet, and not enough traveler reports.
- Busiest season
The water mirrors appear in spring (from snowmelt to rice planting) and autumn (from late October until the snow).
Checked 25 Sept 2026 on the official site- Latest traveler report
- None yet
Traveler crowd data by time of day appears after 5 traveler reports (0 so far).
You can check typical busy hours in Google Maps ("Popular times" on the place's page). Open this spot in Google Maps
Visiting respectfully
- Residential areaVisitors are asked not to come on their own in winter: driving and walking in are dangerous and disturb local residents.Checked 25 Sept 2026 on the official site
- Local etiquetteFrom August 17 to September 30, 2026, the public toilet is being renovated (temporary toilets planned).Checked 25 Sept 2026 on the official site
Verification log
- 25 Sept 2026First check · Tourism board · https://niigata-kankou.or.jp/spot/10051Access, parking, description and coordinates read from a tourism organization's site.