MiyagiTravel

Zao Heartland (蔵王ハートランド)

Flow of the course

Previous stop: About 5,000 traditional kokeshi dolls gathered, including the Togatta style, with a popular painting experience

About 15 min from the previous stop

About 75 min here

About 15 min to the next stop

Next stop: Wrap up with the famous cream cheese and rich soft-serve ice cream, plus plenty of souvenirs

About this spot

A free-admission tourist farm with about 100 hectares of pasture spreading across the foothills of the Zao mountain range. Beyond the pastoral scene of grazing goats and sheep leisurely munching grass rises the Zao mountain range, and the moment you step out of the car, you're enveloped in the atmosphere of a highland resort. At the petting area, you can get up close with the animals, with an excellent soothing effect. The on-site experience hall also offers hands-on cheese, butter, and sausage-making experiences (reservation required), packed with pleasures unique to Zao, a dairy-farming village. Spending a leisurely time in the breeze crossing the meadow, cheese or drinkable yogurt from the shop in hand, is just the right comfort to cool down from the excitement of the mountain drive.

Tips

About 5 minutes by car from Togatta Onsen, with free admission and parking. It typically closes for the winter season, so check operating dates in advance. The pasture has little shade, so a hat is comfortable to have. Advance reservation is required if you want to try the hands-on experiences. Don't forget to wash your hands after petting the animals.