Fairfield by Marriott Michi-no-Eki Project: Experience Traditional Rice Planting in Maruyama Senmaida, Selected as One of Japan's Top 100 Terraced Rice Fields
Fairfield by Marriott Michi-no-Eki Project will host a "Rice Planting Gathering" event at Maruyama Senmaida in Kumano City, Mie Prefecture. Targeting guests staying at Fairfield by Marriott Mie Kumano Kodo Mihama, this event offers a traditional rice planting experience in the beautiful terraced rice fields, selected as one of Japan's Top 100, fostering interaction with the local community.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 30, 2026 at 20:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 30, 2026 at 11:32
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 30, 2026 at 14:00 (2h 28m after Collected)
※Scenes from rice planting in 2024
Fairfield by Marriott Michi-no-Eki Project (Location: Oyodo-naka, Kita-ku, Osaka; Chief Operating Officer: Shigeru Oshima) is recruiting participants for the Maruyama Senmaida "Rice Planting Gathering" to be held on Saturday, May 16, 2026, in Kumano City, Mie Prefecture, targeting guests staying at Fairfield by Marriott Mie Kumano Kodo Mihama. This event is a farm work experience organized by the Kumano City Furusato Shinko Kosha, where participants can experience traditional rice planting while interacting with local farmers in Maruyama Senmaida, which has been selected as one of Japan's Top 100 Terraced Rice Fields.
The Fairfield by Marriott Michi-no-Eki Project operates 29 accommodation-focused hotels nationwide, advocating a travel style of "journeying through the unknown charms of the region" based from the hotels. The project's concept is "Quest for the Unknown Japan," aiming for guests to discover unique local experiences and unknown charms across Japan.
Maruyama Senmaida, the stage for this event, is a terraced rice field spreading in layers on the slopes of the Maruyama area in Kiwa-cho, Kumano City, Mie Prefecture, and has been selected as one of Japan's Top 100 Terraced Rice Fields. Records show that there were already 2,240 rice paddies in 1601 (Keicho 6), but due to cedar afforestation and depopulation/aging since the mid-1960s, the number decreased to 530 in the early Heisei period. Driven by the passion of local residents to "restore the Senmaida inherited from our ancestors," they have undertaken over 90 days of work annually, including clearing overgrown trees and rebuilding stone walls, and have now achieved restoration to 1,340 paddies across a total area of approximately 7.2 hectares.
Maruyama Senmaida shows different expressions with each season. In spring, the sky reflects in the water-filled paddies; in summer, lush green rice plants sway in the wind; in autumn, the entire area is dyed golden; and in winter, the snowscape and the sculptural beauty of the stone walls stand out, offering beautiful scenery no matter when you visit.
May — the terraced rice fields welcome the rice planting season, filled with the refreshing light and wind of early summer. This is a time when the air is particularly fresh, allowing visitors to fully enjoy the expansive view of the terraced rice fields before their eyes.
At the event, participants will engage in rice planting in the terraced fields, learning traditional hand-planting methods from local residents. They can experience the old-fashioned farming method of working as a team to plant seedlings one by one by hand at equal intervals. A unique feature is the enjoyment of sensations not experienced in daily life, such as the feel of mud and the weight on one's feet when stepping into the paddy field. Through the work, interactions with local farmers will also arise.
The Fairfield by Marriott Michi-no-Eki Project has participated in the Maruyama Senmaida owner system since 2024, with hotel staff themselves experiencing rice planting and harvesting. Based on this experience, they are now recruiting participants with the desire to offer this beautiful terraced rice field farm experience to their guests. Why not join us to experience a special moment that can only be found here — admiring the beautiful terraced rice fields, trying traditional hand-planting, and interacting with local people? We sincerely look forward to your participation.
We also plan to announce experiences such as scarecrow making and rice harvesting in the future. Please look forward to it!
Event Details
●Date & Time: Saturday, May 16, 2026, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
*Cancellation judgment due to rain, stormy weather, etc., will be made by 12:00 PM on Friday, May 15, 2026.
●Location: Maruyama Senmaida
●Eligibility: Guests staying at Fairfield by Marriott Mie Kumano Kodo Mihama on Friday, May 15, 2026.
●Participation Fee: 1,500 JPY per person (junior high school age and above/tax included)
Please pay at the front desk upon check-in (credit card only).
●Capacity: 10 people
●Schedule:
Guests travel independently from the hotel to Maruyama Senmaida (approx. 30 minutes by car from the hotel).
9:00 AM Arrive at Maruyama Senmaida, rice planting experience
10:30 AM Lunch (bento box)
11:00 AM Dismissal
*Times may vary slightly depending on work progress.
●Attire & Items to Bring:
*Clothes that can get dirty
*Drinks for hydration
*Towel
*Rice planting boots, work gloves
(Rental boots are available, but quantities are limited, so please bring your own if possible.)
*Sunscreen and a hat are recommended.
●Application:
After making your accommodation reservation, please inform Fairfield by Marriott Mie Kumano Kodo Mihama (phone: 05979-2-3301) of your wish to participate in the Maruyama Senmaida Rice Planting Gathering.
*Please note that Kumano City Furusato Shinko Kosha may take photos and videos for public relations activities on the day of the event. Thank you for your understanding.
●Application Deadline: Thursday, May 7, 2026, 5:00 PM
*Maruyama Senmaida after rice planting and before harvest
Kumano City Furusato Shinko Kosha
A corporation 100% funded by Kumano City.
Japan's Top 100 Terraced Rice Fields - Connect
Keywords:
Fairfield by Marriott Michi-no-Eki Project (Location: Oyodo-naka, Kita-ku, Osaka; Chief Operating Officer: Shigeru Oshima) is recruiting participants for the Maruyama Senmaida "Rice Planting Gathering" to be held on Saturday, May 16, 2026, in Kumano City, Mie Prefecture, targeting guests staying at Fairfield by Marriott Mie Kumano Kodo Mihama. This event is a farm work experience organized by the Kumano City Furusato Shinko Kosha, where participants can experience traditional rice planting while interacting with local farmers in Maruyama Senmaida, which has been selected as one of Japan's Top 100 Terraced Rice Fields.
The Fairfield by Marriott Michi-no-Eki Project operates 29 accommodation-focused hotels nationwide, advocating a travel style of "journeying through the unknown charms of the region" based from the hotels. The project's concept is "Quest for the Unknown Japan," aiming for guests to discover unique local experiences and unknown charms across Japan.
Maruyama Senmaida, the stage for this event, is a terraced rice field spreading in layers on the slopes of the Maruyama area in Kiwa-cho, Kumano City, Mie Prefecture, and has been selected as one of Japan's Top 100 Terraced Rice Fields. Records show that there were already 2,240 rice paddies in 1601 (Keicho 6), but due to cedar afforestation and depopulation/aging since the mid-1960s, the number decreased to 530 in the early Heisei period. Driven by the passion of local residents to "restore the Senmaida inherited from our ancestors," they have undertaken over 90 days of work annually, including clearing overgrown trees and rebuilding stone walls, and have now achieved restoration to 1,340 paddies across a total area of approximately 7.2 hectares.
Maruyama Senmaida shows different expressions with each season. In spring, the sky reflects in the water-filled paddies; in summer, lush green rice plants sway in the wind; in autumn, the entire area is dyed golden; and in winter, the snowscape and the sculptural beauty of the stone walls stand out, offering beautiful scenery no matter when you visit.
May — the terraced rice fields welcome the rice planting season, filled with the refreshing light and wind of early summer. This is a time when the air is particularly fresh, allowing visitors to fully enjoy the expansive view of the terraced rice fields before their eyes.
At the event, participants will engage in rice planting in the terraced fields, learning traditional hand-planting methods from local residents. They can experience the old-fashioned farming method of working as a team to plant seedlings one by one by hand at equal intervals. A unique feature is the enjoyment of sensations not experienced in daily life, such as the feel of mud and the weight on one's feet when stepping into the paddy field. Through the work, interactions with local farmers will also arise.
The Fairfield by Marriott Michi-no-Eki Project has participated in the Maruyama Senmaida owner system since 2024, with hotel staff themselves experiencing rice planting and harvesting. Based on this experience, they are now recruiting participants with the desire to offer this beautiful terraced rice field farm experience to their guests. Why not join us to experience a special moment that can only be found here — admiring the beautiful terraced rice fields, trying traditional hand-planting, and interacting with local people? We sincerely look forward to your participation.
We also plan to announce experiences such as scarecrow making and rice harvesting in the future. Please look forward to it!
Event Details
●Date & Time: Saturday, May 16, 2026, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
*Cancellation judgment due to rain, stormy weather, etc., will be made by 12:00 PM on Friday, May 15, 2026.
●Location: Maruyama Senmaida
●Eligibility: Guests staying at Fairfield by Marriott Mie Kumano Kodo Mihama on Friday, May 15, 2026.
●Participation Fee: 1,500 JPY per person (junior high school age and above/tax included)
Please pay at the front desk upon check-in (credit card only).
●Capacity: 10 people
●Schedule:
Guests travel independently from the hotel to Maruyama Senmaida (approx. 30 minutes by car from the hotel).
9:00 AM Arrive at Maruyama Senmaida, rice planting experience
10:30 AM Lunch (bento box)
11:00 AM Dismissal
*Times may vary slightly depending on work progress.
●Attire & Items to Bring:
*Clothes that can get dirty
*Drinks for hydration
*Towel
*Rice planting boots, work gloves
(Rental boots are available, but quantities are limited, so please bring your own if possible.)
*Sunscreen and a hat are recommended.
●Application:
After making your accommodation reservation, please inform Fairfield by Marriott Mie Kumano Kodo Mihama (phone: 05979-2-3301) of your wish to participate in the Maruyama Senmaida Rice Planting Gathering.
*Please note that Kumano City Furusato Shinko Kosha may take photos and videos for public relations activities on the day of the event. Thank you for your understanding.
●Application Deadline: Thursday, May 7, 2026, 5:00 PM
*Maruyama Senmaida after rice planting and before harvest
Kumano City Furusato Shinko Kosha
A corporation 100% funded by Kumano City.
Japan's Top 100 Terraced Rice Fields - Connect
Keywords: