Hokkaido Farm Visits & Horseback Riding

For people who lead busy lives in crowded cities, farm visits are a great way to unwind and enjoy the tranquil atmosphere of farm life. Overnight farm stays include vegetable, fruit, dairy and sheep farms; from just outside Sapporo to the pasture land of eastern Hokkaido. This is your chance to milk a Holstein, shear a sheep or just watch the asparagus grow before you munch it down over a slow-cooked country dinner. 

​Horseback riding is another popular and relaxing way to get back in touch with nature. You can participate in beginner to advanced horseback rides all over Hokkaido on seaside, grassland, hilly and forested courses. 

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Dairy Farms

Hokkaido is well-known as the finest producer of dairy products in Japan. Eastern Hokkaido has many dairy farms, big and small, and visits to them can be included into a trip out east. There are also more accessible dairy farms in the Sapporo region. Come experience firsthand how to milk and brush cows, churn butter, make ice cream and run a dairy farm.    

Top Farms:​

• Murakami Farm (Sapporo)
• Fujita Farm (Tokachi)
• Watanabetaiken Farm (Teshikaga)
• Oshida Farm (Notsuke)​​​​​​

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Fruit Orchards

Information about fruit orchards & picking is available in the Gourmet pages of each particular season. The list below shows the primary fruit grown in Hokkaido in each season. 

Spring Fruit: Strawberries & Cherries​​
Summer Fruit: Strawberries, Cherries, Honeysuckle Melons, Blueberries & Prunes
Fall Fruit: Apples, Pears, Grapes, Prunes & Chestnuts​​​​​

Sheep Farms

Most of Hokkaido's lamb, the main ingredient for the famous regional specialty of Genghis Khan Lamb BBQ, comes from abroad. But that doesn't stop a handful of farms from raising sheep and inviting guests to take part in shearing, wool dying, sheep feeding and even helping to give birth to baby calves. Try out the life of a Shepherd on the verdant green hills of Hokkaido with overnight farm stays as well.  

Top Farms:

• Yorkshire Farm (Shintoku)
• ​Kawanishi-no-Oka Shizuo Farm (Shibetsu)​​​​​​

Horseback Riding

Horseback riding is a popular activity in every season in Hokkaido. The horses are gentle, well-cared for and suitable for all riding levels. Enjoy riding in varied landscapes, such as beaches, hills, forests, fields, rivers and even snow-packed terrain. Rides can last from 30 minutes to all day. Horseback riding is a great activity to include in your tour at any time of year.  

Top Operators:

• ​Frontier Horse Riding Club (Ishikari)
• Sonny's Stable (Onuma Nat'l Park)
• Furano Mountain View Farm (Furano)
• Gensei Bokujo Kanko Center (Abashiri)​​