Mee Mee Ranch is a popular attraction in Forest Park Kono-yama, located within Tsukigase Kono-yama Prefectural Natural Park in Yamazoe Village, Yamabe District, Nara Prefecture. Set amid gently rolling highland scenery, the ranch offers visitors the chance to relax while watching fluffy, adorable sheep grazing peacefully in the fields.
The sight of these gentle animals in the open countryside provides a soothing escape from the bustle of everyday life and makes the ranch an appealing destination for visitors of all ages.
Mee Mee Ranch is home to approximately 50–60 sheep of two breeds: Corriedale and Suffolk. Corriedale sheep are known for their soft, woolly white coats, while Suffolk sheep have distinctive black faces and legs, giving them a striking appearance. Visitors can observe both breeds up close and appreciate their different characteristics.
The ranch sells special sheep-shaped feed crackers known as hitsuji senbei, allowing visitors to feed the animals. Watching the sheep eagerly gather around for a treat is a delightful experience for children and adults alike.
Lambing season typically runs from January through March. As spring arrives, the young lambs begin running and playing energetically around the ranch, creating one of its most charming seasonal scenes. This is also a popular time for photography, particularly among families visiting with children.
Events related to the lambing season, including a lamb introduction event known as Kozō H iromē-kai, are held around March and April. These occasions offer a special opportunity to see the newborn lambs and learn about their early development.
Spacious grassy areas surround the ranch, providing pleasant places to sit, relax, and enjoy a picnic while watching the sheep. Near the Second Parking Lot, close to the summit, visitors can take in sweeping views across the Yamato Highlands. On clear days, the distant landscape stretches far into the horizon.
Adjacent to the ranch is Yōmōkan, a facility dedicated to processing wool collected from the sheep at Mee Mee Ranch. Visitors can observe the various stages of wool production, from washing and dyeing the fleece to spinning it into yarn and weaving it into fabric. Hands-on experiences are also available.
Activities include making hand-braided straps, brooches, sheep mascots, decorated felt mats, and felt balls. These accessible craft workshops are suitable for beginners and provide an enjoyable way to discover the possibilities of natural wool.
Yōmōkan also offers homespun workshops where participants can study the complete wool-processing process in a structured setting. Facilities offering the opportunity to learn every stage of wool production are uncommon in Japan, attracting participants from both within and outside Nara Prefecture.
For visitors interested in traditional crafts, textiles, and hands-on creative activities, Yōmōkan offers a particularly rewarding experience.
Mee Mee Ranch contributes to environmental conservation through its sheep-based grass-cutting program. By allowing sheep to graze on vegetation, the initiative helps manage grass without relying on machinery or chemical herbicides.
This environmentally conscious approach demonstrates how the ranch serves not only as a tourist attraction but also as a practical example of nature-friendly land management.
Mee Mee Ranch is part of the wider Forest Park Kono-yama area, where visitors will find a variety of attractions and facilities, including Nabekura Gorge, the Forest Science Museum, a woodworking facility, barbecue areas, and restaurants.
Each season brings a different experience. Spring is known for its blooming azaleas, summer offers opportunities for stargazing, autumn brings colorful foliage, and winter transforms the landscape with snow. The area is an appealing destination throughout the year for visitors who enjoy nature and outdoor activities.
Location: Oshio, Yamazoe Village, Yamabe District, Nara Prefecture
By car: Approximately 4.9 km from Kono-guchi Interchange on the Meihan National Highway, heading toward Mount Kono.
By public transportation: Take a bus toward Yamazoe from JR Nara Station or Kintetsu-Nara Station and get off at the Kitano bus stop. The ranch is approximately 800 meters away on foot.
Mee Mee Ranch combines nature, animal encounters, and hands-on activities in a peaceful highland setting. Whether visiting with children or enjoying a relaxing countryside excursion as an adult, visitors can spend a refreshing time here. Be sure to include the ranch in your itinerary when exploring Mount Kono and its surrounding attractions.