Let's continue the Japanese theme. Tourists traveling around Japan should urgently write down and remember the place. Zao Kitsune Mura is an amazing place in the north of Honshu. Located in the mountains of Miyagi Prefecture. On quite large territory About a hundred foxes live. There are only six types, but what kind. Foxes are semi-wild, they are not afraid of people, and even endear themselves to them. Here you can feed and touch them. Many tourists come to see the cute animals. 
In addition to the very famous red foxes, there are also silver, arctic blue, platinum, arctic dark and crossbred foxes, all of which can be found in Zao Village.
Those who think the idea of a fox hostel is cruel to animals need not worry, since the territory is quite large and the foxes have enough space to move around calmly. The foxes are also checked for disease once a year, in addition to other preventive measures. During the entire existence of the fox village, there was not a single case of infection.
In addition to the foxes, which number more than a hundred, you can also pet little kids, hares and ponies!
Zao Fox Village is located in Miyagi Prefecture, which is three hours from Tokyo by shinkansen (bullet train), and you'll also have to pay 3,500 yen to take a taxi to the village from the train station, so it's best to go there on the weekends.
Essentially, the fox village is a mini zoo with free range animals.
Visitors to the park can not only move around the territory without fear, but also feed the charming chanterelles, taking certain precautions.
Despite the fact that the inhabitants of the park are practically tame and are not at all afraid of people, you should not forget that these are not domestic animals and close contact with them is not safe.
The rules of communication are as follows: you should not feed animals by hand, approach sleeping animals or disturb them.
The fox village was opened to visitors in 1990. You can enter the magical red-brown kingdom for a modest 100 yen, which is less than 1 dollar.
On the territory of the zoo there is its own small shrine to the Japanese goddess Inari, the patroness of industry, worldly abundance, rice and foxes.
In Japanese mythology, Kitsune ( Japanese name foxes) are messengers and faithful companions of the goddess Inari.
This is how you can rest on your friend's tail.
White
Feeding foxes:
The place is here.
Zao Kitsune Mura is a unique place in the northern region of Honshu Island, in the mountains of Miyagi Prefecture. Here, on a vast territory with its own sanctuary, live more than a hundred foxes of six different types. Despite the fact that the animals are semi-wild, they are not afraid of people, because tourists often come here. You can not only look at the furry inhabitants of the village, but also touch them and even feed them.
1. In addition to the well-known red foxes, there are also silver, arctic blue, platinum, arctic dark and crossbred foxes, which you can find in Zao Village.
2. Those who think the idea of a fox hostel is cruel to animals need not worry, since its territory is quite large and the foxes have enough space to move around calmly. The foxes are also checked for disease once a year, in addition to other preventive measures. During the entire existence of the fox village, there was not a single case of infection.
3. In addition to foxes, which number more than a hundred, you can also pet little kids, hares and ponies!
4. Zao Fox Village is located in Miyagi Prefecture, which is three hours from Tokyo by shinkansen (bullet train), in addition you will have to pay 3,500 yen to take a taxi to the village from the train station, so it is better to go there on the weekend.
5. Fox Village is essentially a mini zoo with free range animals. Visitors to the park can not only move around the territory without fear, but also feed the charming chanterelles, taking certain precautions.
6. Despite the fact that the inhabitants of the park are practically tame and are not at all afraid of people, you should not forget that these are not domestic animals and close contact with them is not safe. The rules of communication are as follows: you should not feed animals by hand, approach sleeping animals or disturb them.
7. Fox Village was opened to visitors in 1990. You can enter the magical red-brown kingdom for a modest 100 yen, which is less than 1 dollar.
8. On the territory of the zoo there is its own small shrine to the Japanese goddess Inari, the patroness of industry, worldly abundance, rice and foxes.
9. In Japanese mythology, Kitsune (the Japanese name for foxes) are messengers and faithful companions of the goddess Inari.
Where there are many more cats than people.
And today we will leave at two amazing places in the country rising sun, where animals thrive.
Let's start our unusual journey from the small island of Okunoshima, located in the East Sea in Hiroshima Prefecture, which is better known as " ABOUTbunny island« .
Wild rabbits are the main inhabitants of Okunoshima; according to some estimates, more than a thousand of them have already bred here.
From 1929 to 1945, a top-secret military base was located on this island, where poisonous gases were produced. After the war, the plant and all evidence of it were carefully destroyed, and the workers left the island.
Where did they come from here? wild rabbits? According to the first version, they were brought here for testing. chemical weapons. During the hasty destruction of the chemical plant, most of the test animals were destroyed, but a few rabbits escaped into the forests. Another legend says that eight rabbits
were brought to the island by schoolchildren in 1971.
Currently, Okunoshima is a real paradise for rabbits, who move freely throughout the island and are not at all afraid of tourists, of whom more than 100 thousand come here every year.
Visitors to the island are allowed to feed, stroke and caress the trusting long-eared rodents, who climb into people's arms and beg for treats. During the cold season, tourists are even asked to bring food for the rabbits, since they do not have enough natural food.
This small island is a real rabbit paradise, since rodents have no natural predators here, and it is prohibited to bring dogs and cats here.
Many tourists return to Okunoshima several times to recharge themselves by interacting with these cute animals.
And now our path lies in " Fox village"or Zao Fox Village in the northern region of Honshu Island, in the mountains of Miyagi Prefecture. .
Zao Kitsune Mura Fox Village was founded in 1990. This unique reserve is located near the city of Shiroishi and is home to several hundred foxes of six different species.
Mostly the well-known red foxes live here, although silver, arctic blue, platinum, arctic dark and crossbred foxes are also found. Interestingly, all foxes coexist peacefully in the reserve.
The territory of the reserve is quite large, and the animals have enough space for games and shelters for have a relaxing holiday. The park is surrounded by a high and secure fence around the perimeter.
All foxes are checked annually for diseases. So far, no epidemics have occurred among foxes, despite the large number of animals.
Fox Village is essentially a free-ranging zoo for semi-wild animals, and park visitors can interact with and feed the animals (not by hand) while taking precautions. Many foxes are constantly trying to steal things from tourists' bags as soon as they let their guard down.
It is prohibited to approach or disturb sleeping animals in the reserve.
I already wrote about the animal boom and the most unusual contact zoo cafes in the next article, so if you want to cuddle hedgehogs, pet owls, cover yourself with rabbits or wrestle with a raccoon, this is the place for you. And here I will leave very practical information about what this place is like, what to do there, how to get there and what to combine with a trip to the Japanese fox village of Zao Kitsune Mura.
What is this Fox Village like?
So, Fox Village is a small zoo of an atypical structure, located on a mountain near the village of Shiroshi. The place is quite wild and not at all touristy (or rather, more aimed at Japanese tourists). By atypical structure I mean a huge enclosure with an inconspicuous fence and a garden landscape inside.
When you get there, you get the feeling that you have come to visit the foxes in fox territory - that’s Japanese respect for nature.
In Fox Village there is a small cafe with a cool stove where you can warm up after a walk with a cup of coffee and a cute cookie (with a fox, of course), there is a souvenir shop with a bunch of fox cuteness, there is a zoo with cages where foxes live for treatment and rare species foxes and a huge enclosure with the bulk of foxes - there are more than 100 of them. It is better to spend 2-3 hours to visit the Fox Village in the autumn or winter season (foxes look especially impressive in the snow). The entire trip from Tokyo can be completed in half a day if you do not plan to visit any places along the way.
What to do in Fox Village?
Everything is banal here - walk around, take pictures and be touched by the foxes. In fact, it just seems that 2-3 hours is a lot for such a place. But that was not the case - everything in Zao is done with Japanese pedantry, so you just want to walk around and look closely at every detail. There is also the opportunity to pet the animals in the contact corner, feed them in the enclosure from a special stand, take a selfie with the fox, attend a group feeding session (it looks wild - a herd of foxes barking like dogs, fighting for food) and warm up by the stove while thoroughly enjoying the experience.
In general, it’s a delight; this place is definitely worth going to, no matter how you travel.
How to get to Fox Village?
Before your trip, check the Zao Fox Village official website for current opening hours.
I’ll say right away that it’s very profitable to have a JR Pass - a tourist pass, which for a fixed price (about $250) covers most of your travel on trains. I bought it from the operator JTC in the office in Moscow, you can also order it regardless of your location on the website jrailpass.com (verified!). For comparison, just a trip on the Tokyo Station - Shiroshi-Zao Station train without a JR pass will cost you $185.
There are 2 options for getting to the village: cheaper or more expensive. Below I schematically outline both of them.
Option 1: Basic and budget
Everything here is quite simple, the main thing is to choose the right train for the bus schedule. Upon arrival at the station, don’t hesitate, but immediately get into a taxi and go to the bus stop (the exact geo stop, the reference point for the taxi driver is the parking lot 城下広場 or the church 白石教会, and in general they respond perfectly to “Bus Station to Fox Village” if you say it's legible).
There
The 9:30 bus is ideally served by Tohoku Shinkasen called Yamabiko 123, departing at 7:12 (arriving at Shiroshizao at 9:06) from Tokyo Station. Arrive early to avoid being late, as Tokyo Station is huge and easy to get lost in. It’s also very convenient to leave your luggage there - many automatic lockers throughout the station are not expensive ($2) and are easy to use (don’t forget to take a photo and remember the section of the boxes - this will make it easier to find when you pick up your luggage).
Back
The bus leaves the village at 12:30 - don't miss it and ask the staff for details. Since he does not enter the village parking lot itself, you need to go down a little to the road and wait for him to appear.
The train to Tokyo ideal for returning on this bus is the Tohoku Shinkasen called Yamabiko 142, leaving Shiroshizao Station at 13:58 (arriving Tokyo at 16:58). This gives you time to calmly take a taxi from the Shiroshi Castle/Joka-hiroba bus stop to Shiroshizao Station, and also have lunch at the station before the train back.
If you suddenly get confused, mix up the bus or don’t find/wait for it, you can always take a taxi - they run around the city.
If you want to change the timing of your trip, see the train schedule:
Tohoku Shinkasen schedule from Tokyo (to/from Tokyo Station to Shiroshizao Station)
Tokyo Tohoku Shinkasen Schedule (return/departure from Shiroshizao Station to Tokyo Station)
Information on the bus and bus stops, current for 2018 in the original:
As you can see, a round trip taxi from the station can be ordered in advance through any tourist office in Tokyo. This is a simpler option, that is, option number 2.
Option 2: mid-budget and fast
Everything is the same as in the first option, only you are not limited by the bus schedule and are free to arrive at any time. There are always taxis at the station. If not, then ask the staff inside the station.
There are no problems communicating with taxi drivers even in such a dense area - everyone explains themselves in basic, brutal English, and inside the cars there is a leaflet of the Fox Village.
A taxi is called back at the village ticket office - you wait a little, and then you are called to the parking lot to the car. Local Japanese tourists usually do this.
What to combine with a trip to Fox Village?
If you have already climbed this far and have time, then it is worth considering what other interesting places is in the area. In general, this area is mountainous, so ski lovers flock here in winter. If you dig deeper, here's a guide to the Zao region and Yamagato Prefecture. Personally, I would advise getting to Ginzan Onsen, an unrealistically beautiful ancient place with ryokans and onsens (the road from Fox Village is about 3 hours). If you are looking for something completely in the area, then the same bus can take you to Kamasaki Hot Springs, where everything is also luxurious.
This article is part of my block about Japan. If you would like to know more or plan independent travel on Japan, read my other articles:
Ginzan Onsen town in winter
And a little more “cute”...
Loading...
