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Zao Heartland Fureai Ranch is a vast ranch located in Zao Town, Miyagi Prefecture. You can interact with animals such as cows, sheep, and goats and spend a relaxing time surrounded by nature
The entire ranch covers an area of approximately 100 hectares, roughly the size of 20 Tokyo Domes . Cows, sheep, goats, and other animals are raised on the ranch, which is covered in green pastures.
The park has a variety of facilities, including a corner where you can interact with the animals kept there, a "Handmade Experience Hall" where you can try making dairy products yourself, a cheese cafe called "Wind Square", a highland Genghis Khan restaurant called "Wind Deck", and a Zao cheese souvenir shop
At Heartland, you can experience things you can only experience on a farm. You can make cheese, butter, sausages, and ice cream using milk . These are valuable experiences that you can't have in your daily life, and are perfect for creating memories for both children and adults! Depending on the experience, reservations may be required at least three days or one week in advance, so please check the website for details.
cheese making
You will make cottage cheese. This is a low-calorie cheese that can be easily made at home with just milk and vinegar, so why not try it out and learn how to make it? You will eat the cheese you make right away
Experience fee
770 yen
Experience time
10:15~/13:15~ (approx. 30 minutes)
Number of people allowed to experience
2 to 50 people
Ice cream making
You will create your own original ice cream with authentic flavors using ingredients mixed at the cheese factory. You will then enjoy the ice cream you made on the spot
Experience fee
1,100 yen
Experience time
11:00~/14:00~ (approx. 1 hour)
Number of people allowed to experience
2 to 90 people
Sausage making
The seasoned meat is kneaded, stuffed into sausage skins using special equipment, and then boiled to finish. You can experience the process of the meat changing shape and transforming into the familiar sausage. You can take the boiled sausages home with you, so we recommend bringing a cooler box.
Experience fee
1,650 yen
Experience time
11:00~ (approx. 2 hours)
Number of people allowed to experience
Approximately 10 to 40 people
butter making
Put the cream into a plastic bottle and shake! Shake! Shake! Once the cream in the bottle separates into yellow chunks and liquid, the butter is ready. Freshly made butter tastes completely different from the butter you usually eat. You can take the butter you make home with you
At Zao Heartland you can interact with goats and sheep
The goats at Heartland are Saanen and crossbreed goats . Cute little ones are born every year in early spring. The sheep are sheared in April to help them survive the hot season.
It's so relaxing to see animals living freely in the great outdoors
Heartland offers farm-grown dairy products and cuisine made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients
At the food corner on the first floor of the Handicraft Experience Hall, you can enjoy soft serve ice cream made with milk from the foot of Mt. Zao, moluk made with cheese whey, dairy products such as milk, sausages, and bacon
The product that caught my eye was MOLK . a drink made from whey, which is a product of cheese making, with a clean, refreshing aftertaste . Whey contains so many nutrients that it is sometimes called a drinking IV drip, and recently its nutritional value and beauty effects have been attracting attention. I would definitely like to try it if I visit Zao!
The direct sales store has a wide selection of Zao cheese and local specialties, making it a great place to find souvenirs. All of the specialties grown on the majestic land of Zao are attractive, including fresh butter made from raw milk produced at the foot of Mount Zao and bacon and sausages made from Zao Town's JAPANX pork.
Today's snack ♥ #ZaoDairyCenter#ZaoWheyMOLK 135kcal per 200ml. Available in 720ml and 200ml. Today, I got a souvenir from my husband who went to Zao Heartland. 🌺 This dairy drink is made from whey, a product of the cheese-making process. 🌼 It used to be called cheese drink. 🌻 It tastes like rare cheesecake and is incredibly delicious. 🥰 Highly recommended 🎵 pic.twitter.com/jxtx6VMaWN
adjacent to Heartland, has a variety of facilities, including a ranch, factory, restaurant, direct sales store, and training center
The Zao Cheese Factory within the Zao Dairy Center, which produces a wide variety of dairy products, including cream cheese, fresh cheese, aged cheese such as Gouda and Cheddar , attracting visitors with special cheese sales and stalls selling local Zao products.
The premises also include a restaurant where you can eat cheese dishes, a facility where you can buy homemade bread, and a rose garden, making it a spot you'll definitely want to stop by in addition to Heartland!
The best time to visit the rose garden is from early June to early July , when approximately 400 varieties of beautiful, colorful roses, including old roses and English roses, bloom in full glory.
Zao Dairy Center <Information>
Name: Zao Dairy Center General Incorporated Foundation
Zao Heartland Farm is a place where you can relax and refresh while surrounded by nature, interacting with animals, and tasting delicious local ingredients. You can also experience things like cheese making, so it's recommended not only for families but also for couples and friends. Plus, admission is free, so feel free to drop by!
Zao Heartland <Information>
Name: Zao Heartland
Address: 201 Nanakahara, Togatta Onsen, Zao Town, Miyagi Prefecture
Phone number: 0224-34-3769 To make a reservation, please call the toll-free number 0120-150-302 / TEL 0224-34-3311 / FAX 0224-34-3313
Business hours: 10:00-17:00 (open from early April to late November)
Parking: 100 cars (free)
Access: Tohoku Expressway, Shiraishi IC - National Route 4, Prefectural Route 12 towards Zao Echo Line - From Togatta Onsen, take National Route 457 to Shiraishi/Shichikashuku. Approximately 18km from Shiraishi IC
A housewife writer born and raised in Fukushima. Her favorite food is freshly harvested hard peaches from Fukushima. Her favorite things are driving and gourmet food. She would be happy if she could share the charm of Tohoku.
