The park is situated on land formerly used as a high-altitude livestock experiment station.
The grassy slopes are part of an effort to preserve the local landscape of the Yatsugatake foothills.
The facility acts as an educational site for understanding the relationship between mountain ecology and grazing livestock.
The park maintains a strict policy of keeping the grazing areas free of synthetic pesticides.
Makiba Park is a public facility located on the southern slopes of the Yatsugatake Mountains at an elevation of approximately 1,200 meters. The park functions as a pastoral landscape where horses, sheep, and goats graze in open fields. It is integrated into the Yatsugatake Farm, which is managed by the Yamanashi Prefectural Livestock and Grassland Research Institute. The site features a central facility with an observation terrace and a café offering views of the Kofu Basin and Mount Fuji. Visitors can walk through designated pastures that provide close proximity to free-roaming livestock. The park serves as a hub for local agricultural education and environmental appreciation within the Hokuto region.
The observation terrace at the main visitor center, which frames the grazing pastures against the backdrop of Mount Fuji.
Wear comfortable walking shoes with good grip for navigating the hilly, uneven grassy terrain.
Carry a light jacket even in summer, as the high altitude leads to rapid temperature drops when clouds move in.
Check the official website for grazing schedules if you intend to see specific animals in the outdoor enclosures.
Do not attempt to pet or touch animals without staff supervision, as they are part of a research environment, not a petting zoo.
Closed on Mondays (or Tuesday if Monday is a national holiday) and during the winter season; the park is typically fully operational from mid-April through late November.
Do not feed the animals human food, maintain a quiet demeanor near grazing livestock, and remain on marked walking paths to prevent trampling vegetation.
