Miyagi Zao Fox Village, also known as Kitsune Mura, is a
tourist attraction and
sanctuary for
foxes in
Shiroishi, Miyagi,
Japan
Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
where visitors can feed and interact with foxes.
The village's main exhibit is an open area where foxes roam around and visitors can enter to interact with and feed them, although attempting to pet or hand-feed the foxes is not advised as they may bite.
There are over 100 foxes, including typical red and arctic foxes, foxes with uncommon coat colors, such as silver and platinum foxes, and red-arctic fox hybrids.
The village also has
rabbits
Rabbits, also known as bunnies or bunny rabbits, are small mammals in the family Leporidae (which also contains the hares) of the order Lagomorpha (which also contains the pikas). ''Oryctolagus cuniculus'' includes the European rabbit specie ...
,
miniature horses
A miniature horse is a breed or type of horse characterised by its small size. Usually it has been bred to display in miniature the physical characteristics of a full-sized horse, but to be little over in height, or even less. Although such hor ...
,
goats, and
guinea pigs, in addition to gift and snack shops.
In the spring, events are hosted in which visitors can hug fox kits.
Criticism
While the zoo has been dubbed the "Cutest place on Earth," it has also received criticism due to the high density of foxes, which are normally solitary or live in small groups, foxes kept in cages, frequent fox fights, a perceived lack of greenery, and allegedly poor sanitation.
References
External links
Official site
1990 establishments in Japan
Tourist attractions in Miyagi Prefecture
Foxes in popular culture
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