Kodomonokuni: A ranch in Yokohama, 30 minutes from the city center

I never thought I'd see cows and mules in Yokohama. This is Kodomonokuni, the final stop on the Tokyu Kodomonokuni Line, which departs from Nagatsuta on the Den-en-toshi Line.

Kodomonokuni, located just 30 kilometers from central Tokyo, opened on May 5, 1965, on Children's Day. It was built using congratulatory donations collected from all over Japan to commemorate the marriage of His Imperial Highness, the Crown Prince (now His Majesty the Emperor Emeritus), in April 1959.

The park covers an area of approximately 100 hectares (about 300,000 tsubo), with an outer perimeter road of 4 kilometers and an inner perimeter road of 2.4 kilometers. Walking paths crisscross through the mixed forest. The park offers various play areas such as "Yugu Hiroba" (Playground Square), "Jiyu Hiroba" (Free Square), "Mini SL 'Taiyo-go'," and "Park Bus 'Akapoppo-go'." It also features Yokohama's longest "110m Roller Slide," a "Babbling Brook," "Suspension Bridge," "Cycling Course," and "Boat Dock."

The park's farm is managed by "Yukijirushi Kodomonokuni Bokujo Co., Ltd." It features a "Cow and Sheep Farm" where visitors can feed animals, a "Children's Zoo" where they can interact with animals, and a pony farm. I never imagined I'd get such an authentic farm experience in Yokohama.

The Japanese Wild Bird "Mandarin Duck"

There's an area within the farm where wild birds roam freely, allowing visitors to interact with them, and that's where I found this beautiful bird.

Given its vibrant colors, I thought it couldn't possibly be a Japanese bird, as they typically embody the aesthetics of Wabi-Sabi. However, a Google Lens search revealed it was indeed a Japanese wild bird—a Mandarin Duck.

These migratory birds inhabit a relatively wide range from Hokkaido to Honshu and move to the southern parts of Japan during the colder months.