The village is designated as a 'Satoyama' preservation area, which refers to the border zone between mountain foothills and arable flat land.
Local farmers continue to cultivate rice and seasonal vegetables using traditional methods within the village boundaries.
The area serves as a vital wildlife corridor for local fauna, including native dragonflies and forest-dwelling birds.
The landscape is intentionally maintained to prevent industrial or residential over-development in the valley floor.
Jike Furusato Village is a protected rural landscape in Yokohama designed to preserve the traditional 'Satoyama' ecosystem of Japanese countryside life. The area consists of a valley containing terraced rice paddies, vegetable fields, and surrounding secondary woodlands. Visitors can traverse a network of dirt trails that wind between these agricultural zones and forested hills. The site functions as a living museum of local farming heritage rather than a manicured public garden. It remains a rare pocket of undeveloped green space within the suburban sprawl of the Greater Tokyo Area.
The elevated ridges overlooking the valley floor, which provide a wide-angle view of the terraced paddy fields.
Wear sturdy, closed-toe walking shoes as the paths are primarily unpaved dirt and can be muddy after rainfall.
Bring insect repellent during warmer months to protect against mosquitoes and ticks common in wooded areas.
Carry all trash out with you as there are no public waste bins on the trails.
Do not attempt to navigate the trails in formal footwear or delicate shoes, and avoid visiting during heavy rain due to slippery terrain.
Do not enter private vegetable patches or trampling rice paddies; stay strictly on the designated trails.
