Kinkazan Squirrel Village, Animal sanctuary at Mount Kinka, Gifu, Japan
Kinkazan Squirrel Village is a facility at the Mount Kinka Ropeway summit that houses Formosan ground squirrels in a natural setting. The space allows visitors to experience these animals up close as they roam freely in an open area.
This facility opened in 1965 as Japan's first location designed for direct interaction between children and wild squirrels. The opening marked a shift in how wildlife contact experiences were created in the country.
The village reflects Japanese approaches to animal care by creating a space where squirrels roam freely without walls or barriers separating them from people. Visitors develop a direct sense of coexistence with wildlife through these encounters.
Early morning visits work best when the squirrels are more active and eager for food from visitors. Access is provided entirely through the Mount Kinka Ropeway, which carries you directly to the summit where the facility operates.
The squirrels accept nuts directly from visitors' hands and even jump onto their shoulders with ease. These familiar gestures show just how accustomed these animals have become to human presence.
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