Planting Rice with My Friend’s Family in Rural Kyoto, Japan

I live in rural Japan and share the quiet everyday life of the countryside — from seasonal traditions and local food to simple moments in nature. In this video, I join my friend’s family in rural Kyoto for rice planting season. Most of the rice field was planted earlier in the day using a tractor, but we gathered together to finish the remaining sections by hand. It was my first time planting rice manually, and it turned out to be much more enjoyable than I expected. Rice planting has been an important part of life in Japan for centuries, and even today many families and local communities still come together to help during the season. Spending the day in the fields offered a small glimpse into this tradition and the slower rhythm of rural life. The rice fields were also full of wildlife. Frogs were jumping everywhere, and as always, I was reminded that Japan’s countryside is not only farmland but also an important habitat for many animals and insects. By autumn, the small rice seedlings planted today will have grown and be ready for harvest. For now, all that’s left to do is wait and watch them grow. I hope you enjoy this peaceful day of rice planting in the countryside of Kyoto. ▼ You can also read more about my life and travels in Japan here. https://thomasfay.com/ #broccoliharvest #ruraljapan #countrysidejapan #farmvlog #countrylife