UPDATED! Walking Among the Foxes at Zao Fox Village

Summary

Zao Fox Village is a mountain sanctuary near Sendai where over a hundred foxes roam free, and while I went in wary of the captivity question, I came away glad I’d made the trip.

Key Takeaways

Zao Fox Village is a dedicated fox sanctuary in the mountains of Miyagi Prefecture, less than an hour from Sendai
Over 100 foxes roam freely in a wildlife protection area, giving visitors rare close-up access for observation and photography
The park has an on-site “hospital” where sick or injured foxes are treated and quarantined, and all foxes are regularly checked for parasites like echinococcus
I had reservations about animal captivity going in, and the caged cubs and bird enclosure near the entrance didn’t help – but the main village itself felt like a genuinely good environment for the foxes
Feeding is tightly controlled to one designated area using food bought on-site, though bolder foxes may still climb up if they smell food on you
Whether to visit ultimately comes down to your own view on animals living in captivity for human viewing – I made peace with it and don’t regret going

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VIDEO: Beautiful Foxes at Zao Fox Village

Sendai is the capital city of Miyagi Prefecture, in the northern Tohoku region, on Honshu – Japan’s main island.

Miyagi Prefecture is located in the Tōhoku region on the northeastern coast of Japan’s main island, Honshu, about 300 kilometers (186 miles) northeast of Tokyo.

Foxes in Japanese folklore

Foxes, kitsune in Japanese, commonly feature in Japanese folklore and culture. Stories depict them as intelligent beings and as possessing paranormal abilities that increase with their age and wisdom.

According to Yōkai folklore, all foxes have the ability to shapeshift into human form. Carved stone statues of foxes can sometimes be found at the entrance to shinto shrines.

2 Day Trip to Zao Fox Village from Tokyo

Beautiful foxes at Zao Fox Village

In the video below I follow one fox whose attention was drawn by noises on the other side of the park’s perimeter fencing. I could hear the sound of rustling leaves but couldn’t see what was making the noise.

Although the fox was preoccupied, as it peered through the fence trying to locate the source of the rustling, it knew I was following and was very relaxed about me getting very close so I could photograph and film it.

Pros and cons of Zao Fox Village

Generally, I don’t like seeing animals in captivity, so did a fair bit of research before deciding to come here. There are definitely pros and some cons of the concept.

However, on balance, I think the foxes at Zao Fox Village have a good life and they certainly live longer here than they would in the wild.

A 1-Day Nature Tour in Miyagi Prefecture: Frolic with foxes

How we decided to visit

When originally researching the village I was apprehensive about the whole set up and wasn’t sure if we would like it or find it distressing.

We did a lot of research and reading online before making our decision to go. Unfortunately, I don’t have a copy of the site that ultimately persuaded us to go, but it was a forum on which visitors (and those who hadn’t visited, but didn’t like the basic idea of the village) debated the pros and cons.

What finally convinced us to visit

What finally convinced us to go was a comment from a vet who works with animals saying that on balance he felt that the foxes at Zao, although essentially bred for captivity, lead as healthy, if not more healthy life than those in the wild.

There’s even a quite large ‘hospital’ on site where any foxes who do have damage or illness (sometime caused it seems by fighting between them) where they can get treatment to recover.

On immediate arrival though I thought we’d made the wrong decision. When we visited cubs were at least party kept in cages until it is deemed ‘safe’ for them to mix the large park with the adults. (I’m not sure what age they join the main village). And in the same area is one (pointless) cage with a two or three birds in it and was not pleasant to see.

However, once you enter the main ‘village’ you realise what a wonderful environment it is for the foxes.

A beautiful mountain location

The park is much bigger than I expected it to be (it is in a beautiful mountain location, quiet and away from major development. About 20mins by taxi from Sendai.)

The foxes are free to roam, there are plenty of communal and isolated places for them to sleep, and they are regularly fed by staff, and visitors. The latter is strictly controlled to be from one feeding area only using food bought at the village.

The Miyagi mountains

More than 100 foxes freely roam in a park. The village is located in a quiet, rural area of the Miyagi mountains, in a wildlife protection area. It’s a lovely setting and I was surprised at just how large the park is.

As the foxes are used to seeing humans, it is possible to get up close to these beautiful animals – as you can see in the film below.

Indeed, if you are carrying food, some of the more inquisitive (and braver) foxes are bold enough to jump up at or climb onto you if you’re not careful. You can read more about how wildlife is protected in Japan here.

Day Trip to Zao Fox Village from Sendai

The fox hospital

On site there is a fox ‘hospital’. Here, foxes that are sick for any reason can be cared for and quarantined before being returned to the village.

All the foxes are regularly checked for echinococcus (a parasite common to foxes in the wild), so that the pack remains healthy.

If you like foxes but are uncomfortable with zoos (as am I) then you might want to do further research on Zao Fox Village before reaching your own decision.

The bottom line

For me, the bottom line on whether or not to go, comes down to one question: do you think it right or wrong for animals to be captive for humans to see them? If, on balance, you think it is OK as we did here – then I would encourage you to go. If you don’t think it is then I wouldn’t recommend going. If you’re happy to go to see animals in a zoo (something I’m not always entirely comfortable with) then there is absolutely no reason why you shouldn’t.

Me? I was glad I went and had the opportunity get so close to these beautiful creatures.

A 1-Day Nature Tour in Miyagi Prefecture: Frolic with foxes

Zao Fox Village FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I get to Zao Fox Village from Sendai?
A: It’s about a 20-minute taxi ride from Sendai, tucked into a quiet, scenic spot in the Miyagi mountains.

Q: Is it ethical to visit an animal park like this?
A: That’s really a personal call. I’m not always comfortable with captivity myself, but after research – including a vet’s view that these foxes may live healthier lives than their wild counterparts – I decided the pros outweighed the cons.

Q: Can I get close to the foxes?
A: Yes, they’re used to humans and often relaxed around visitors, though if you’re carrying food some of the braver ones may get a little too enthusiastic.

Q: How much does it cost to enter?
A: Adults (13+) pay 1500 yen; children 12 and under go free. Fox Food: ¥100 per bag if you want to feed the foxes in the designated feeding zone. Cash only; credit cards are not accepted at the entrance.

Q: What’s the significance of foxes in Japanese culture?
A: Foxes, or kitsune, are prominent in Japanese folklore – believed to be intelligent, capable of shapeshifting into human form, and gaining paranormal powers with age. You’ll often spot fox statues guarding Shinto shrine entrances.

Zao Fox Village Location Map

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About the Author

A writer and publisher from England, Rob has been exploring Japan’s islands since 2000. He specialises in travelling off the beaten track, whether on remote atolls or in the hidden streets of major cities. He’s the founder of the multi-award-winning TheRealJapan.com.

RESOURCES

Getting to Zao Fox Village

Address:11-3 Kawarago, Fukuokayatsumiya Shiroishi-shi, Miyagi prefecture 989-0733

Tel:0224-24-8812

Hours:9:00-17:00 (winter season 16:00)

Closed:None

Admission:Adults (13 plus) 1000 yen/ Children (12 and under) Free

Website: http://zao-fox-village.com/en