The rice paddies of the tiny village of Inakadate in rural Japan are a sea of swaying green, yellow, white, ochre and purple stalks, but they also hold a secret that draws thousands of visitors every year — and it's only revealed with a bird's eye view.
From a skyward position on a nearby observation tower, visitors can view intricate artworks, freshly created each year. The rice paddy art, known astanboart(tanbo means paddy or rice field), has included incredibly detailed reproductions of Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa," as well as Japanese artist Seiki Kuroda's painting, "Lakeside." These two pictures, along with many other images over the years, are created by a carefully designedplantingof different types of rice in various hues.
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The village of Inakadate is located in Japan's Aomori Prefecture. It's about 370 miles (600 kilometers) north of Tokyoand close toHirosaki, a city known for its cherry blossoms. Inakadate's rice paddy art, however, may soon become the prefecture's main attraction. Throughout the years, the rice art has recreated incredibly detailed images ranging from玛丽莲梦露andStar Warstosamurai and anime characters.