terraced rice fields
Refers to rice paddies built in step-like terraces on hillsides, a common sight in rural Japan.
日本の棚田は美しい景観で知られている。
Japan's terraced rice fields are known for their beautiful scenery.
平田 refers to a flat, unterraced rice field, while 棚田 is a terraced paddy built into a hillside.
Compound of 棚 (たな, 'shelf') and 田 (た, 'rice field'), literally 'shelf-like rice fields'.