Zaō Fox Village

Zaō Fox Village, known in Japanese as Kitsune Mura, is a captivating wildlife sanctuary nestled in the mountains near Shiroishi, Miyagi Prefecture, where more than 100 foxes of multiple species and color varieties roam freely through forested grounds dotted with Shinto shrines. Visitors enter open enclosures to observe and photograph the foxes at close range, with dedicated feeding stations allowing guests to toss treats to the curious animals for a small fee. A supervised petting area offers the chance to touch docile foxes with guidance from attendants, and in spring, the park offers an exclusive baby fox hugging experience available nowhere else in the world. Beyond foxes, the sanctuary also houses rabbits, miniature horses, goats, and guinea pigs. A gift shop and snack stands round out the visitor facilities. The forested hillside setting is especially striking in autumn when the surrounding trees turn golden, and the combination of wildlife encounters with tranquil natural scenery makes Zaō Fox Village a memorable and distinctive destination in the Tohoku region.