What to know
Koiwai Farm (小岩井農場, Koiwai Nōjō) is a dairy farm near Morioka in Iwate Prefecture. Founded in 1891 during the Meiji Period by three leading industrialists—Ono Gishin, Iwasaki Yanosuke, and Inoue Masaru—the name Koiwai combines the first kanji characters of each man's family name. They transformed barren volcanic land into one of Japan's most celebrated farms.
Spanning about 3,000 hectares, two-thirds of Koiwai Farm is covered by a cedar forest, while the remaining third comprises farmland, pastures, farm buildings, and visitor facilities.
The main tourist area is Makiba Park, a spacious zone with an entrance fee. It features restaurants, souvenir shops selling Koiwai products, wide grassy fields, and activities like a mini obstacle course, archery, mini golf, and horse riding.
A 15–20 minute walk through the woods leads to the farm's historic center, the Kamimaru Cowshed area. Here you can see the former head office, several cowsheds, and two brick silos, many dating to the early 1900s. Cows still use some facilities, and a small museum recounts the farm's history.
Koiwai Farm is open from mid-April to mid-November. In winter, it hosts illuminations (late November to mid-January) and snow-related activities.
The farm is about 15 kilometers west of central Morioka, a 20–30 minute drive. Buses run from Morioka Station from mid-April to mid-November (30 minutes, 730 yen one way, 2–3 buses/day).
Visitor information
Practical details to check before planning this stop.
- Hours
- 9:00 to 17:00 (entry until 16:00)
- Closed
- No closing days
- Admission
- 800 yen (~$5.12)
- English name
- Original name
- Koiwai Farm
Verify details before visiting. Currency conversion is indicative and may vary over time.