Topographic effects on land-use and land-use change in Tokamachi, Niigata, Japan
Rice terraces are paddy fields made on sloping land that follow the natural contour lines, suited to the Japanese landscape. The terraces blend in with the natural scenery and give viewers a great sense of peace and comfort. Rice terraces are also growing into a focus of agro tourism. However, farming on these rice terraces has low labor productivity, and with the advancing age of the farmers in the mountainous areas, it has become difficult for them to continue farming on the rice terraces. Their abandonment is now noticeable. For this research, one city sustaining the rice terraces viz.