Zao Fox Village

Miyagi Zao Fox Village is a fox-themed zoo in Shiroishi City, Miyagi, where you can interact with foxes. It’s a rare facility globally, keeping over 100 foxes in a free-roaming style, and is very popular with inbound visitors. Six types of foxes—such as red foxes, silver foxes, platinum foxes, and arctic foxes—live freely in a forest setting. As you walk, foxes are everywhere and may even follow you. There are also holding and feeding experiences. Access: about 20 minutes by car from Tohoku Shinkansen “Shiroishi-Zao Station,” or about 20 minutes by car from Tohoku Expressway “Shiroishi IC.” By public transit, only on Tuesdays and Fridays, there is one daily bus from JR “Shiroishi Station” (Shiroishi community bus “Castle-kun”) that goes to the village. Staying at “Shiroishi Onsen Yakushi no Yu,” which offers plans with fox village pickup/dropoff, is also recommended. To safely enjoy interacting with foxes, the village has rules; there is also an entry restriction of one elementary-school-age-or-younger child per adult. Please follow the rules and enjoy the experience.