The Senmaida terraces on the western coast of the Noto Peninsula are among Japan's most photographed agricultural landscapes. More than a thousand tiny paddies cascade down a hillside to the sea in irregular steps, each flooded and planted by hand every summer. In late spring the water-filled paddies reflect the sky; in autumn the cut stalks turn the hillside gold.
A path runs the length of the terraces, with a viewpoint at the top and a walking route alongside the paddies to the shore. Wooden solar lanterns were added along the terraces in recent years, and on nights when they are illuminated the effect over the water is remarkable. The terraces are a short drive from Wajima and well signposted from the coastal road.