In the mountains of Miyagi lies a fox village: Zao Fox Village, to be exact. It’s a little bit out of the way, but well worth the day trip if you love foxes!
Visiting Zao Fox Village
This small sanctuary is full of the adorable, fluffy animals! Visitors can view these Japanese foxes up close, feed them with special bags of food, and even get in line for a supervised cuddle. Make sure you queue up early for the privilege though, because only a select few are brought out each day at 11am and 2pm.
The foxes are wild, however, and the best way to enjoy your time there is by roaming the open-air area, visiting the small shrine, and taking hundreds of pictures of the animals at play and rest among the small wooden houses and play zones.
Things to consider
Some of the foxes are seen in small, crowded cages, although these are apparently for those that are ill, pregnant, or otherwise. The foxes that are brought out to be held are specially picked for their mild temperament, and are used to it, but are still wild. There are also a lot of foxes in the enclosure for a non-pack animal, and they frequently bicker and fight. This should all be kept in mind when you’re visiting if you’re concerned about animal welfare.
The smell is also quite ripe, and you will need to keep an eye out for piles of fox dung while you’re walking around the enclosure.
While staff warn you to keep your distance, the foxes are curious, and will come up to you and nip, tug, or otherwise try to steal what’s in your hands – be careful when you’re taking photos, as they will run away with your phone if they can.
How to get to Zao Fox Village, Miyagi
You can take the Tohoku Shinkansen directly from Ueno Station in Tokyo to Shiroishizao Station, which takes just under two hours.
From Shiroishizao Station, you can get either a shuttle bus or a taxi to Zao Fox Village. You can order a taxi from the information desk in the station, and a staff member at the Fox Village will order one for you for the way back. It costs anywhere between ¥4,000-6,000 each way, and takes about 15 minutes.
There are two shuttle buses a day. They leave from Shiroishizao Station at 10:15 and 13:05, and leave from Zao Fox Village at 12:10 and 15:00. Tickets cost ¥1,000, and it takes about 35 minutes.
Visiting Information
Address: 11-3 Kawabata, Fukuoka Hachinomiya, Shiroishi City, Miyagi Prefecture
Tickets: ¥1,500 – these cannot be bought in advance, only paid for in cash upon arrival.
Opening Times: 09:00 – 16:30 (Summer, last admission 16:00), 09:00 – 16:00 (Winter, last admission 15:30)
Website: http://zao-fox-village.com/
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