Rice paddies to visit

Hi,
I'm hoping to visit Japan in the spring. I would like to go to Tokyo and Osaka and also somewhere more remote for a few days. I would particularly LOVE to see some rice paddies! Can anyone recommend a good area for this?
Thanks in advance for any advice!
Anna

When I visited Okayama, I took a half day-trip cycling across the Kibi Plains. It's not super remote, but it was a really pleasant ride (all flat, directions clearly signposted - until Soja, anyway), and you ride through a lot of rice paddies (and all the workers wave and say hello!). There's a page about that on this website if you're interested.

I suppose you are talking about Tanada like this.

https://retrip.jp/articles/4037/

In Kansai that is near Osaka Kyoto areas, there are some Tanadas.

http://1st.geocities.jp/abusan96/kinkinotanada.html

Asuka in Nara might be good as it was the capital of ancient Japan.

http://1st.geocities.jp/abusan96/kannabinosato.html

Note that depending on when in the spring and where you go, there may be no rice planted. Best to post your exact dates and itinerary for us to confirm. Unless you're ok with just seeing rectangles of land that may or may not have water in them...

I don't know if it's the right time of year for it or not, but the tiered rice fields at Shodoshima are very attractive http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5438.html

Thank you all so much for taking the time to write, I will definitely have a look into your suggestions. Re. when we plan to visit - probably the second half of March.

I always film my landings in Japan from the window of the aircraft and I've looked at the March 21st one from last year and none of the fields around Narita were flooded yet.

Actually, you will see a lot of rice paddies on your way to the city from/to Narita Airport, where all transportation travel overground at that point. The route is one of the most scenic areas near central Tokyo, and I even enjoy it all the time as a local.

In other words, just a short train ride from any city will bring you to rice fields, and if you take the slower trains you will have the option to get off when you see something fun from your train window.

As mentioned, most rice paddies are still bare until early summer, but the vastness of it is still overwhelming.

You can also see a lot of rice paddies and tea fields (which are greener in March) from the Shinkansen between Tokyo and Osaka. In particular, Shizuoka area is famous for its tea on the side opposite from the sea when riding the Shinkansen.

The following link is from a quick Google image search on "rice paddies in March" and "tea fields in March", searched in Japanese language.

https://www.google.co.jp/search?q=%EF%BC%93%E6%9C%88%E3%81%AE%E7%94%B0...

https://www.google.co.jp/search?q=%EF%BC%93%E6%9C%88%E3%81%AE%E7%94%B0...

I would think cycling southern Kyoto (prefecture not city) with all the tea plantations would be nice.

Thanks everyone, your info is really useful and has given me lots to think about! Much appreciated x