Every summer, at this time of the year, a quarter million tourists take scenic trains to gaze at the rice art festival in Aomori, Northern Honshu.
The tradition started in Inakadate, a village of 8,000 hoping to revitalize its town in the early 90's.
Hundreds of volunteers rope off patches of paddies, and plant different-colored rice strains.
In fall, they harvest around the farm art too.
Sometimes they're used as advertising. Is that a Facebook "Like" I see?
This one urges you to shove "Tsugaru Roman" rice into your mouth-hole.
Most of them depict Japanese folklore.
Some of them draw from J-Pop culture.
Bear!
Good job, Japan. This is hecka neat.
