Nasu Kogen Dairy Farm Trail

The Nasu Kogen Dairy Farm Trail is a self-guided route across the highland plateau of Nasu Kogen in Nasu-machi, Tochigi Prefecture, a region known for its cool climate and long dairy-farming tradition. Visitors use the Nasu Kogen Loop Bus, sold as a day pass, to hop between farm stops rather than following a fixed walking path. The centerpiece stop is Minamigaoka Ranch, where a working dairy operation raises Guernsey cows and includes a milking-viewing area open to visitors. From there the route typically continues to soft-serve ice cream made with Guernsey milk, prized locally for its richer, golden-toned milk compared to standard Holstein dairy, followed by a stop at a Nasu Kogen dairy shop for cheese and cheesecake tasting. A farm hamburger steak lunch, made with regional beef and vegetables, rounds out the roughly four-hour trail as its main savoury course, balanced against the sweeter ice cream and cheesecake stops. Transit between farms, entry to the milking area, and food purchases are handled separately — the bus day pass covers transport only, while food and tastings are paid individually at each farm or shop. The self-guided format means no fixed group size or language support; signage at the larger farms often includes English given steady tourist traffic from nearby Nasu Onsen. Restaurant hours at some farms are reduced in winter, so the trail is best attempted from April through November when full operating hours and outdoor seating are available.