At the foot of Mount Zao in Japan's Miyagi Prefecture is an entire village full of foxes. But all is not quite what it seems... this is not a mysterious ghost town that has been overrun, but an animal sanctuary dedicated to foxes. Alongside the Japanese red fox, visitors can also find artic, platinum, black and silver foxes.
Opened in 1990, Zao Kitsune Mura also houses various fox shrines, highlighting the animal's mythical status in Japan.
Did you know...? The fox is sacred in Japan, where it is believed to be a shape-shifter that can grow multiple tails.
There are a number of traditional Japanese torii gates leading up to the sanctuary which are connected with the spiritual side of this island nation, where the fox is said to be sacred to the god Inari.
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| Miyagi Prefecture |
Although the santuary does have a number of animals that visitors are allowed to touch, including goats and rabbits, people are not encouraged to pet the foxes, which have been known to bite. Food may be tossed to the foxes, however, and the inquisitive animals sometimes follow people that have fed them.
While the ethical nature of petting zoos is debatable, the foxes can roam freely and apparently enjoy their interactions with humans. However, some reports from vistors state that some foxes are caged and kept on leashes, although the reasons for this remain unclear.
While school trips do operate at the site, the sanctuary could possibly be considered non child-friendly, as the foxes are still wild animals and may present a danger to small children, especially in areas of the reserve which are not supervised by employees.
If you are interested in visiting the Zao Fox Village you can find further details here.
Photograph via kotaku.com
Map via Wikimedia
