noun
mountain village region; rural settlement area
Refers to the inhabited area of a mountain village, including houses and surrounding farmland, as opposed to the wilder mountain slopes (里山). Often used in geographical or ecological contexts.
See also: 里山 (さとやま)
この地域の里地では、昔ながらの棚田が残っている。
In the mountain village areas of this region, traditional terraced rice fields remain.
里地と里山の境界には、多様な動植物が生息している。
A variety of plants and animals inhabit the boundary between the village area and the managed woodlands.