Visitors to Kitabayashi Nojo farm in the Akita Prefecture town of Mitane take part in water shield picking on May 31, 2026, at the peak of the harvest season. Water shield is an aquatic grass of the water lily family that grows naturally in clear ponds and marshes. Visitors boarded small boats about the size of a tatami mat to pick the plants. Each session lasts up to three hours, and participants can take home what they harvest. The fee is 3,000 yen (around $19) for junior high school students and older, and 2,000 yen (around $12.50) for elementary school students. Harvesting will continue through August, with reservations accepted by phone at the town's tourist information center at 0185-88-8020 (in Japanese).

(Japanese original by Kohei Shinkai, Akita Bureau)