Yamagata

This visit to the Zao Fox Village in Miyagi Prefecture was a truly therapeutic experience. The park operates on a free-range system, allowing for close observation of the foxes' habits, making it perfect for ecology and photography enthusiasts. 1. Historical Origins: Founded in the 1990s, the Zao Fox Village was initially established for fox conservation and research, later evolving into a facility combining education and tourism. 2. Behavioral Observation: Foxes are among the few canids with feline characteristics (such as their pupils and climbing abilities), making it fascinating to observe their social behaviors (such as howling when fighting for territory). 3. Seasonal Requirement: The foxes shed their thick winter fur in winter, reaching their most fluffy and adorable peak appearance, making this the most recommended time to visit.

When we initially contacted them via text, the customer service responded quickly, was easy to communicate with, and understood our needs. Therefore, we chose the 3:30 PM to 6:30 PM service, which offered views of both daytime and evening scenery (0.5 hours round trip, plus 2 hours of free time at Ginzan Onsen, totaling 3 hours). The driver held up a sign at the designated location and time, which was very conspicuous at the Oishida Station exit. The service was friendly, making it a very pleasant trip.

Our tour guide, Tom, and driver, Mr. Wang, were incredibly friendly and provided excellent service. Although we couldn't see the snow-covered trees and the snowscape of Ginzan Onsen town due to the weather, it's all a matter of luck; the scenery was still beautiful and spectacular. We passed through the Tochigi Kogen rest stop along the way, where the tour guide recommended the local specialty strawberries, which were delicious and definitely worth buying. Dinner at the Naruko Onsen Kameya Hotel was excellent, and the public bath is a must-try. Although it's an older hotel, it's very well maintained, and the rooms are large, clean, and comfortable. Overall, the two-day experience was great, perfect for travelers who don't want to do much research or drive in the snow.

Customer service will provide the driver's license plate number first. Wait at the designated time and address, and the driver will arrive on time. Then you can simply get in the car. The fox village has many foxes of various colors, and there's even a 1000 yen "fox hug" activity. Unfortunately, the snow had melted by the end of February, so we couldn't see the foxes rolling in the snow. However, I still recommend visiting overall. Taking public transportation would be very time-consuming, and this chartered car service perfectly suited our needs.