Hiruzen Highlands is renowned for the Jersey cows. So, when you visit the spot, a must-try is the incredibly tasted dairy food. If you are unsure where to do so, consider Hiruzen Jersey Land (ひるぜんジャージーランド). The facility offers delicious milk soft serve and cheese fondue.
Jersey Cow Grazing at Hiruzen Jersey Land
Besides food, what you can’t miss out on when visiting Hiruzen Jersey Land is the Jersey cow grazing. Meet the 400 adorable cows living freely on the plateau! If you come at the right time, you can even milk one of them (=ﾟωﾟ)ﾉ.
The grazing season usually starts from late April to early November. During this time, your photos of Hiruzen Highlands will also be more lively with the cows in them!
The tan of the Jersey cows with the greenery in spring and summer, or the warm colors of autumn in the background, is just simply a better scenery for photography (*´ω｀).
Hiruzen Jersey Land is operated by the Hiruzen Dairy Agricultural Cooperative (蒜山酪農農業協同組合). Apart from taking a relaxing stroll on the farmland, feeding the horses on the Hiruzen Horse Farm located next door will be really fun, and you might also be able to tour the dairy factory!
The cafe/restaurant is where you can get your lunch sorted. If you are looking for some sweets for your morning or afternoon tea, their soft-serve ice cream and yogurt have a rich taste that will tempt you for a second or even a third serving (≧▽≦).
It is also worthwhile mentioning that their non-homogenized milk is so good that even those who don’t normally like milk find it delicious!
Vegetarian Options at Hiruzen Jersey Land’s Restaurant
- Cheese Fondue (you have to order at least 2 courses)
- A Course – 2,000 yen: including bread for fondue, salad, and yogurt
- B Course – 2,550 yen: including bread for fondue, vegetables, sausage, salad, and yogurt
- Please let Hiruzen Jersey Land know in advance by emailing [email protected] to replace the sausage with other vegetables.
- Cheese Fondue for One Person – 2,700 yen: including bread and salad
- Camembert cheese spaghetti – 1,100 yen
Tip: Despite its price tag, the cheese fondue is super popular at Hiruzen Jersey Land. So we would advise you to head to the restaurant as early as possible to avoid being stuck in the massive queue!
Sunflowers at Jersey Land
From late July to early August, another reason for you to visit Hiruzen Jersey Land is the sunflower field. During this time of the year, approximately 80,000 sunflowers will surround you, and a lot of them will tower over you!
If you happen to miss out on the sunflower season in Jersey Land, head to the Roadside Station Michi no Eki Kaze no Ie (道の駅 風の家) in mid-August. The sunflowers there are blooming a little bit later than in Jersey Land. It is a great place to source local fresh produce as well (^_-)-☆.
Milking Experience at Hiruzen Jersey Land
Important: The activity is currently only available to group visitors of more than 20 people after COVID19. Advance reservation is required.
With just 700 yen, you will be able to milk the Jersey cow! There are 3 sessions that you can choose from each day that the event is on, at 10:30, 1 pm, and 2:30 pm. As they currently don’t take any reservations, when you arrive at the farm, apply at the Milking Experience Tent (ちちしぼり体験テント) as early as possible. The tent is just at the back of Jersey Land’s buildings.
Also, note that you won’t be able to drink the milk you just milked as it will require some processing to be safe to drink. But, you will get a free bottle of milk that is also sold at the shop!
Hiruzen Jersey Land’s Opening Hours and Access Information
- The farm is open from
- 9 am to 4:30 pm daily from late March to November
- 10 am to 4 pm daily except Tuesdays and Wednesdays in December to mid-March
- Hiruzen Jersey Land is also closed on the 1st of January.
- Lunch is served from 11 am onwards in the restaurant.
- From either of the 3 bus stops on Hiruzen Highland, it is around a 60 to 70-minute walk.
- From Yonago City (米子市) in Tottori Prefecture, it is around a 30-minute drive
- From Okayama City, it is around a 60-minute drive
- From Hiroshima and Osaka, it is around a 2.5-hour and a 2-hour and minute drive, respectively.
Discover Other Attractions at Hiruzen Highlands
Hiruzen Highlands (蒜山高原) in Okayama Prefecture, also known as Hiruzen Plateau, is one of the best highland resorts in Western Japan. It is reminiscent of Karuizawa near Tokyo. While architecture might be less fashionable, it has much more capacity for you to enjoy nature. Renowned as a summer resort, cycling through the 29km well-maintained bike road is the most enjoyable way to avoid summer heat!
For more information, refer to our Hiruzen Highlands article!
