have never experienced traveling to the north region of Japan before, that is until I found out about a magical wonderland dedicated to foxes among the peaceful green forest overlooking the peaceful countryside in the Miyagi prefecture.
On my first venture to the Tohoku area, I commemorated my visit with a mandatory stopover at the famed Zao Fox Village – an outdoor zoo where you can see cute red and white fox fluff balls up close and personal!
There is no denying that Japan has some of the most unique experiences to enjoy the company of adorable animals with plenty of animal cafes and animal islands to fill this deprived writer’s existence and the Fox Village is the most exotic in my opinion.
Located high up in the mountains of Shiroishi, Miyagi, here’s how I enjoyed my time with these mischievous furry friends.
The Open Enclosure
fter entering the main area of the fox village, you are immediately greeted by curious foxes interested in your presence.
It was a pleasant shock to be able to get so close to these usually wild creatures and the enclosure space is large and wide enough that the foxes are free to run and walk around you. As foxes are nocturnal by nature, not all of them are the active type. Most seem to enjoy being tucked up in their tails and napping among the many tree stumps and burrows.
Though there is a paved pathway to make it easier to navigate, you can also walk freely on the unpaved nature areas where the piles of winter white snow provided a
lovely sight in contrast with their fiery red or jet black fur.
Being able to walk freely alongside these animals with little to no staff supervision was an added perk of the experience but it is also important to note their curiosity can get the better of them. The foxes are known to tug on bags for food or even pee on guests’ legs!
Before entering, the staff will give you a behaviour briefing with tips to make you feel more at ease. Also, the fox village does not allow visitors to touch the foxes in the open enclosure and you will need to pay to be able to touch and hold one which might be a bummer to know for some.
The Feeding station
n order to feed the foxes, you must purchase a small food bag at the register before entering the enclosure and only feed the foxes once inside the Feeding Station.
Getting inside the Feeding Station wasn’t quite as simple as I thought. These foxes were so darn smart they tried to be sneaky and enter the Feeding Station after me where they weren’t allowed! When opening the doors, make sure you look around you and move quickly as once the foxes see you about to enter, they will approach you understanding you are about to give them food. It took me a few tries to avoid their attention but I managed to “Mission Impossible” myself by walking backwards using my body as a “shield” to slither through the gap I created. Phew!
When you look over the edge, you’ll see the little critters amass towards the side eagerly awaiting a treat. Simply throw the feed towards them and watch them eat it below.
The Inari Shrine at the Top
arked by a trail of red torii gates at the north of the enclosure was a shrine dedicated to foxes.
At first I thought this was a lovely feature to have at the zoo but after looking around I slowly found it to be unimpressive.
Along the trail of torii gates, a majority of them looked a bit shabby with the paint extensively peeled off to expose the wood underneath hinting to the fact that they
haven’t been maintained in a while. The shrine itself was also very basic – a small hut surrounded by a fence in the signature red vermilion colour.
In all fairness, I assume this was done intentionally as anything fancier would be ruined by the curious foxes but I felt it could have been enhanced to be educational. A few more signs dedicated to a more historical look at foxes in Japan perhaps would be more pleasant to see rather than the numerous warning signs you’ll find around the enclosure and something I would be keen to know more about.
It seems recently they put new information about “Inari Shrines”
since my visit but only in Japanese.
Example of how worn down the gates can be.
It seems recently they have upgraded more torii gates since my visit.
The Petting Zoo
nother feature of the fox village is the petting zoo area filled with small farm animals like guinea pigs, goats, Patagonian Maras (a small type of Capybara) and, you guessed it, more foxes. The petting zoo area is also where you can experience holding and touching a fox for a small fee. Springtime is cub season so you can expect to see many cute baby foxes
being born and they also offer a “hug a baby fox” experience too.
As farm animals seemed a little lackluster compared to the foxes, I skipped them to look at the foxes in the caged area located just ahead. This section acts like a hospital of sorts and is used to house the juvenile young foxes, the sick, injured or currently breeding foxes. You can also find the exotic arctic fox here if you are lucky.
Here’s a price list of all the fees for general admission and experiences (as of 2019):
GENERAL ENTRY
FOX FEED
FOX HOLDING EXPERIENCE
Here is some helpful general information for Zao Fox Village.
s the saying goes: “You never know until it happens to you.”
Visiting Zao Fox Village was my first experience of Japan’s interesting animal haven spots and traveling through a new part of rural Japan was a welcome breath of fresh air away from the hustle of busy Tokyo life.
Though I am still new at traveling domestically here within Japan, there is always something to be learnt and I hope I can share with you some helpful tips and tricks to better prepare you on your journey.
Here are some helpful notes when preparing for your visit to Zao Fox Village:
here are a few articles online that comment on the unethical nature of the foxes living at Zao Fox Village which I wanted to explore here. Unfortunately, there are no official details in English or Japanese about why the Zao Fox Village was started online that I could find at least. However, there are facts that the staff do explain during your briefing and some kind bloggers who were able to translate.
All foxes in the village are domestically bred and tamed. As they are all vaccinated, there is no fear of Echinococcus infection from being spread which allows a safe interaction between humans and animals.
One of the main problems I believe is the assumptions that can be stemmed from the misinterpretation of the word “sanctuary.” The original foxes at Zao Fox Village were actually rescued from the fur trade and they don’t sell any of the animals born in their care which makes it sound like an animal sanctuary of sorts. But, like a wonderland attraction, I would not call it an “animal sanctuary” in the sense of endangered species conservation. To me, it’s a themed zoo selling the image of a “fox heaven” experience.
Another issue was the animals kept in cages. There are a number of reasons explained as to why an animal had to be put in a cage. This could be due to sickness and preventing cross infection, being overly aggressive and needing to be isolated from the others or people, or during the breeding season. Regardless, animals kept in cages is an ethical dilemma that will always face heavy criticism. Unfortunately, in many Asian countries including Japan, views on pet and animal ownership can be very polarising especially from a Western perspective.
For me, the animals did seem fine in their cages and did not seem to be in distress or crying. That being said though, I do think the cages look shabby and would like to see them change its layout and structure.
Also, I think they should not leash the animals especially the farm goats. I speculate they did this in fear they would jump their pen and risk heading into an area they shouldn’t be in. I would rather see them make a more secure space for the farm animals or exclude them for safety reasons as an ideal situation.
Some people are concerned about the fox feed that the staff provides for the feeding station thinking it’s too similar to a cat or dog food. Foxes are well adapted to human environments and they also can enjoy eating pet food as written here.
I try to keep an open mind and I do believe that the staff are doing their best to take care of all their animals. The animals all seem happy, well looked after and healthy though, I do think there should be improvements to the cages and more information on processes for transparency and education.
My two cents is this, if you hate zoos or animal enclosure environments, I highly suggest you do not visit Zao Fox Village. If you love animals, are looking to have a unique experience with them in an open free space and have an open mind, then I do recommend going to Zao Fox Village for the experience.
Arriving By Train:
The easiest way to get to Zao Fox Village from Tokyo is via bullet train (shinkansen). With the bullet train at Tokyo station or Ueno station, take the JR Tohoku bullet train called Yamabiko – やまびこ Sendai all the way to Shiroishi-Zao station. Be careful as there is another stop also called Shiroishi station which is further away.
Getting to Zao Fox Village from Shiroishi-Zao station:
After arriving at Shiroishi-Zao station, you will need to take a bus or a taxi to get to the Zao Fox Village. I highly recommend the taxi as it is the most convenient method.
For going to Zao Fox Village, there should be taxis waiting outside the station but the tourist information center can call one for you. When going back to the station, the staff at the Fox Village can call a taxi for you.
Using the bus to get to Zao Fox Village from Shiroishi-Zao station is the cheapest way but incredibly limiting.
The local Castle Kun bus runs on Tuesdays and Fridays from Shiroishi Station to Kawarago Dam, at 7:58am and 1:35pm. You must ask the driver to let you off at Zao Fox Village, as it is not a regular stop and also confirm the time and where to wait for the return bus to pick you up. To be honest with all this hassle, it’s not worth it but if you do decide to take this route, it is probably best to take the first bus and take a taxi back.
Arriving By Bus:
A cheaper method is to take a highway bus to Sendai however you will still need to catch a local train to Shiroishi Station.
Arriving By CAR:
If you have a Japanese or the international driver license you can rent a car and enjoy the freedom of traveling at your own pace.
OMG! They’re so adorable <3
xx Alyssa | STYLE VANITY
Haha totally agree :)
xx
Siree
This is such an interesting post and your photos are fabulous!
The foxes are so cute!
Julia x
https://www.thevelvetrunway.com/
Thanks for the feedback Julia! :)
xx
Siree
Wow, it looks like such an amazing experience. I’d love to visit a place like that.
Kathrin | Polar Bear Style
Thanks Kathrin!
I hope you get to see it in person someday :)
xx
Siree
Wow, this place looks so interesting! The foxes are so cute, and I love the forest environment! Beautiful photos!
http://roadesque.com
They look so cute the way they gather up for food and omg that baby fox just melted my heart. You’re so lucky to have visited
Dora
https://www.adropofindigo.com
What an interesting place to visit. Japan has always amazed me but this one is really different this time. Thanks for suggesting.
https://lelandwestcover.wordpress.com/
Thanks for stopping by!
Xx
Siree
Such amazing pictures! Looks like you had a great experience.
Adi xx | http://www.fancycorrectitude.com