All across rural Japan, many young Japanese are leaving their hometowns to pursue life in the more metropolitan areas. This has left the older farming generations wondering how to get young people to return to the farm. Up in the Noto Peninsula, Shunran-no-Sato (春蘭の里) has found a way to get younger people to return to the farms via eco-tourism. This endeavor has made them a finalist for the BBC World Challenge Project.
Villagers converted their own homes into guesthouses for travelers who come to the village to take part in traditional agricultural activities. Each guesthouse offers different activities from fishing to picking wild vegetables in the mountains to jam making. The owners and other people in the town act as guides for the guests and help younger generations return to their agricultural roots.
Click HERE to vote for the project. Voting is open until Nov. 11.
For those interested in learning more about Shunran-no-Sato they have a website (Japanese and Chinese only). You can make reservations to stay overnight in one of their guesthouses here. Day packages are also available for those looking for an afternoon excursion with events changing throughout the year.
Access to Shunran-no-Sato:
Via car
Take the Noto Toll Road to the last exit and continue 県道303.
Turn right onto 県道26号線
Turn left onto 県道273号線 and continue as it becomes 県道37.
Map HERE
Ishikawa JET 