Tourists can certainly be beneficial and regardless of whether it is a large city or a small town, there is something that attracts people to the area. That is also true for remote towns, such as this little village in Japan.
While some cities may have something as grand as the Empire State building and some states can boast tourist attractions such as the Grand Canyon, what does a small town do for an opportunity to attract tourists? 20 years ago, that was a problem facing a tiny town in Japan but a village clerk had a rather interesting idea.
He saw some children playing in rice paddies, taking part in a school project. They were planting different varieties of rice, creating different colors from the plants. He thought about the possibility of planting rice in such a way that it would form pictures and words as the plants sprouted.
The first year, it was a mountain that was depicted in a two color design. Only 20 people took part in that project but now, over 1000 people come together for the more complex designs.
It is not only an increase in volunteers, there are also huge crowds that come to see the artwork. In 2009, the estimated visitor count was over 170,000!
It goes without saying that complex images require a complex method. After the Mona Lisa was attempted unsuccessfully, computers began to be used to determine where the different types of plants should be planted.
The villagers are proud of what they do but they also feel the pressure of making each year better. It is the surprise of each new year that really makes the event unique.
“We have no sea and no mountains, but what we do have plenty of is rice. We have to create a tourism industry using our own ingenuity.”
There are many sources of inspiration for the designs. At times, it may be a traditional piece of art but at other times, it is quite different.
The villagers have yet to determine exactly how to make the most out of the influx of visitors. They don’t charge to see the the rice art.
They do bring in about $70,000 in donations, at least that were the numbers from 2009.
It does cost about $35,000 to rent the paddies and plant the rice, so there is some profit involved. Very few of the visitors stick around to spend money in the village after viewing the art.
One thing they have received is the respect and admiration of the visitors.
There have also been other towns who tried to do similar but they were not as successful.
Via: Wimp
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