Family Fun Around the Yatsugatake Mountains

What?
The Yatsugatake Mountain Range (八ヶ岳連峰) is a collection of peaks forming a wall between Nagano (長野県) and Yamanashi Prefectures (山梨県). While you can of course climb these peaks, the base area is home to many attractions that require less physical activity. I visited the Yatsugatake Alpaca Farm (八ヶ岳アルパカ牧場), the Tokizawa Ranch (滝沢牧場) and did a short walk around Shirakoma Pond (白駒池).
Where?
The three above locations are all situated in Nagano Prefecture, and form a half circle around the base of the Yatsugatake Mountains. The Alpaca farm is a 30 minute from Fujimi Station (富士見駅) on the JR Chuo East Line (JR中央東線), the Takizawa Ranch is a 30 minute walk from Nobeyama Station (野辺山駅) on the JR Koumi Line (JR小海線) and Shirakoma Pond is a one hour bus ride from Chino Station (茅野駅) on the JR Chuo East Line. Given the rural character of the area, buses and trains are rather sparse though, and it goes without saying that a rental car is by far the best option to explore the region.
URL
Animal Cafes (Yatsugatake Alpaca Farm) Japan Travel (Takizawa Ranch) Go Nagano (Shirakoma Pond)

I was planning to take my wife for a leisurely stroll on the Utsukushigahara Plateau, passing the open air museum along the way. But it has to be said, I have been there once on a cloudy day, and if the weather is not top notch, there’s really not much to see.
Literally.
So when the forecast predicted cloudy to rainy weather, we changed our plans to do something which is enjoyable regardless of the views. And now let’s be honest; everybody loves alpacas.

I have encountered these aloof yet adorable animals in some strange places. Near my parental house in Belgium, in the now sadly defunct Tirol no Mori – also in Nagano Prefecture – and now here at the foot of an impressive mountain range on the Yatsugatake Alpaca Farm.
It’s a small park, and a stroll will take you no longer than 15 minutes, but if you indulge yourself in the cuteness of the alpacas it’s easy to spend an hour here.
You can of course pet them, walk them, feed them, and bet on them in the local derby. Well, no, not the betting part, but they do have an alpaca race to close down the park.
Apart from alpacas, there are a few sheep and marmots to complete the small petting zoo. And some delicious ice cream, let’s not forget that.
This park isn’t big nor amazing, but it is very enjoyable and it is great family fun.
And while the place doesn’t have an English website, signage in the park is perfectly bilingual. Some bigger tourists spots can learn from this.

Another great place to spend some quality family time is the Takizawa Ranch, a 45 minute drive to the east while circling the Yatsugatake mountain range.
This place is most famous for its fresh soft ice cream. And while, yes, it is indeed very tasty, the farm has more to offer. Kids can experience milking a cow, riding a horse, and - most relaxing - sitting on a trailer full of hay pulled by tractor. All with the impressive Yatsugatake mountain range as stunning backdrop.

Maybe even cuter than the real ones.

I just love the rural atmposphere.

Oh, there's also a stamp rally... of 4 stamps.

I expect some Ghibli characters to appear on this picture.

Circling another 50 minutes northwest by car, there is the scenic Shirakoma Pond. It’s not very large, but it’s clear like a mirror and the approach from the parking lot goes through a pristine green forest (which spreads out far and wide and has stretch where trees are covered with moss, earning it the nickname Mononoke forest in reference to Studio Ghibli’s Mononoke Hime). It also goes over an elevated plank walkway which I always find very photogenic.
If like us you came from Matsumoto, you can finish your circle around the Yatsugatake Mountains to the southwest and drive back home.

And as a tip for people who like smoked food: not far from the Yatsugatake Alpaca farm is a house that appears to have come straight from a fairytale, Kurumi-an (胡桃庵). Despite its theme park-like appearance though it’s just a store, but one with excellent smoked cheese and ham.
And some succulent rhubarb jam!