Koiwai Farm

Koiwai Farm (�¬Šâˆä”_�ê, Koiwai Nōjō) is a dairy farm located near Morioka in Iwate Prefecture. It was founded in 1891 during the Meiji Period by three leading industrialists, Ono Gishin, Iwasaki Yanosuke and Inoue Masaru, and the brand name Koiwai is made up by the first kanji characters of each man's family name. They managed to turn barren volcanic land into one of Japan's most famous farms.

Koiwai Farm spans about 3000 hectares, of which two thirds are covered with a cedar forest while the remaining third is the actual farmland, including pastures, farm buildings and some facilities for visiting tourists.

The main area for tourists is Makiba Park, a spacious area which requires an entrance fee and offers restaurants and souvenir shops selling Koiwai products, wide grass fields and various activities, such as a mini obstacle course, archery, mini golf and horse riding.

A 15-20 minute walk through the woods brings visitors to the historical center of the farm, named the Kamimaru Cowshed area, where the farm's former head office, several cowsheds and two brick silos can be viewed, many of which date back to the early 1900s. Cows are still using several of the facilities. Among the buildings is a small museum about the farm's history.

Koiwai Farm is open from mid April to mid October. During the winter, the farm organizes illuminations (from mid November to early January) and some snow-related activities.