Yodel Forest is a rural agricultural park in Kamikawa Town, Kanzaki District, Hyogo Prefecture. Surrounded by beautiful natural scenery and seasonal flowers, the park offers opportunities to interact with animals, enjoy outdoor activities, and take part in hands-on workshops. Highlights include an animal interaction area, spectacular bird performance shows, grass sledding, go-karting, and workshops where visitors can make their own bread and pizza.
The park opened in 2001 and initially attracted as many as 400,000 visitors annually. Visitor numbers had fallen to around 140,000 by approximately 2004, prompting a temporary closure in December 2008 for improvements. Yodel Forest reopened in March 2009 with renovated facilities, and visitor numbers increased to 1.5 times the previous year’s total.
Yodel Forest is a popular place for families to enjoy nature and spend time together. In addition to recreation, the park promotes interaction between urban and rural communities and provides opportunities for environmental education and relaxation.
Approximately 200 animals representing around 60 species live at Yodel Forest. Visitors can meet and interact with a wide range of animals, including alpacas, capybaras, rabbits, goats, and guinea pigs.
The park also hosts one of western Japan’s largest bird performance shows. Hawks, owls, and parrots demonstrate their natural abilities as they soar through the open sky, creating an exciting experience for visitors of all ages. Two popular capybaras, Harry and Hermione, entertain audiences with charming behaviors such as standing upright and offering a paw on command.
The park offers more than animal encounters. Visitors can explore facilities such as a bakery, a confectionery workshop, and a yogurt and pudding workshop, where they can discover how various foods are made. A farm shop also sells fresh local agricultural products, giving visitors a chance to sample and purchase produce from the surrounding region.
Seasonal flowers bring color to Yodel Forest throughout the year. Tulips brighten the grounds in spring, while a variety of other flowers bloom from summer through autumn. The changing floral displays make the park an appealing destination in different seasons.
Yodel Forest features a wide range of attractions for children and adults. Visitors can race around a go-kart course, enjoy the thrill of grass sledding, try archery, or experience walking on water inside a large inflatable Aqua Ball.
One of the park’s most popular attractions is Yahho, a forest adventure course. Set among cedar trees, it features 15 activity elements that visitors must navigate as they make their way through the woodland. It is a fun challenge for both children and adults.
Hands-on workshops allow visitors to make food and crafts to take home or enjoy during their visit. Activities include bread making, pizza making, and craft projects. Depending on the season, participants may be able to prepare items such as potato-and-mayonnaise pizza, strawberry ice cream, and teriyaki pizza.
These workshops are ideal for families and groups of friends, offering a chance to learn new skills and create something personal while enjoying time together.
Three restaurants serve meals within the park, providing convenient options for visitors spending the day exploring its attractions. Yodel Forest is particularly popular for its rich, creamy soft-serve ice cream, yogurt, and pudding, which are made on-site. These treats are also popular as souvenirs.
From Ikuno Station on the JR West Bantan Line, take a Shinki Green Bus bound for Ako. The bus journey takes approximately 10 minutes to reach the park.
From the Kanzaki-Kita exit on the Bantan Expressway, drive north along National Route 312 for approximately 2 kilometers to reach Yodel Forest.
Several other attractions are located within reach of Yodel Forest, making it easy to plan a full day of sightseeing. Ton mine Plateau is known for its expansive grasslands and seasonal pampas grass, while Mineyama Kogen, at an elevation of 930 meters, offers impressive mountain views. Visitors interested in industrial history can explore the historic tunnels of Ikuno Silver Mine, and those hoping to see a castle surrounded by a sea of clouds may wish to visit Takeda Castle Ruins.
Yodel Forest combines the beauty of the countryside with animal encounters, seasonal flowers, outdoor attractions, and creative workshops. Whether you are meeting alpacas, watching birds in flight, trying a forest adventure course, or making your own pizza, the park offers plenty of ways to enjoy a day outdoors with family and friends.