Fully Enjoying Koiwai Farm
Koiwai Farm Makiba-en is located in Iwate Prefecture. I visited during Golden Week.
It’s about a 30-minute drive from Morioka Station. Since there weren’t many reviews available, I couldn’t do much research beforehand, but it was more crowded than I expected. However, the spacious grounds made it easy to enjoy without feeling overwhelmed.
If you go with high expectations, you might feel a bit disappointed. There aren’t any standout attractions, and the areas where you can interact with or see animals are somewhat limited. It’s not a place where you can spend an entire day.
I was lucky enough to catch the cherry blossoms just in time, and the weather was perfect for a leisurely stroll around the park. (I also got to see the sheep’s feeding time.)
For lunch, I had pizza at the Koiwai Farm Kitchen. As expected, it was delicious. (You purchase tickets via a vending machine. Electronic payment methods were accepted, but PayPay was not.) I had planned to try the soft serve ice cream, but it was too cold, so I had to skip it. That’s my only regret...
At the souvenir shop, I ended up buying more than I intended because they had exclusive sweets only available at the farm.
In the evening, I revisited the farm for the nighttime illumination event. (You can re-enter by showing your ticket from earlier.) Most of the shops were closed, and it was quite cold, so I just took some photos and left. (It was beautiful, but honestly, my impression was "Hmm...". Since I was nearby, I revisited, but I wouldn’t recommend going out of your way for it.)
Still, I was satisfied with the delicious food and the chance to enjoy nature.
Address: 36-1 Maruyachi, Shizukuishi Town, Iwate District, Iwate Prefecture, 020-0507
*Operating hours may vary depending on the season.