The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries selected the 100 best rice terraces in Japan for the purpose of promoting tourism, because the ministry determined that it was difficult to maintain rice terraces only through agricultural revenues and dual occupations.
農林水産省は、農業収入や兼業のみでの棚田の維持が難しいと考え、観光地化を目的とした日本の棚田百選を選定した。