Koiwai Farm ( Shizukuishi Town )

In the beautiful pastoral area called the Makiba-en, you can milk a cow, take a ride on a horse or part of the restored horse tramway, watch the sheep-and-dog show, and much more. At the Makiba Astronomical Observatory, you can observe sunspots by day and the expanse of the stars by night. In winter, the Makiba-en is free, and also hosts the popular Iwate Snow Festival.

Another great reason to visit Koiwai is its delicacies. Try the rich, milky soft serve ice cream made with the Farm's fresh milk and eggs, and the fluffy omelet stuffed with rice.

Admission is free during the winter season; many people come to enjoy the Iwate Snow Festival held at Koiwai. About 750,000 people visit Koiwai every year.

A number of the farm buildings at, Kamimaru Gyusha, such as the silos, the six cowsheds, and the head office, have been named National Tangible Cultural Properties. These buildings are just part of the exquisite scenery of Koiwai, which has been used as a shooting location for television dramas and the 2003 film When the Last Sword Is Drawn. ( Yojiro Takita, the director of When the Last Sword is Drawn, has since won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film with his 2008 film Departures. ) Fans of these productions flock here regularly, as do those of Iwate's most famous author, Miyazawa Kenji, who wrote of Koiwai and its landmarks. For example, the nearby Oi no Mori ( "Wolves' Forest" ) appears in Kenji's writings, and together with six other beautiful scenic spots from his works, form part of a nationally designated Place of Scenic Beauty ( The Scenery of Ihatov ) .

But perhaps the most famous and memorable view of Koiwai is the Solitary Cherry Tree, blooming in spring against the backdrop of snow-covered Mt. Iwate. This magnificent century-old cherry tree in the pasture next to the factory was originally planted about 100 years ago to provide a pleasant shade for the cows on the farm

Since production of foodstuffs takes place on the farm, tours of the farm are limited to designated viewing areas along the wide-area farm road, for hygienic reasons. Smoking and open fire are prohibited in the area, including the parking lots and the viewing areas.

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