Kozu Ranch

This mountain ranch is located in the southwest of Gunma Prefecture, on the eastern foot of Mt. Monomi. It belongs to Shimonita Town, Kanra County. It is on a gentle slope at an altitude of about 1,100 meters, and covers an area of ​​387 hectares. It is cool in summer, and there are springs and streams here and there. It was opened in 1887 (Meiji 20) by Kozu Kunitaro of Shiga Village (now Saku City), Kitasaku County, Nagano Prefecture, which is next to the west. Since its opening, it has grazed Jersey dairy cows, shipped milk to Karuizawa, and butter to Tokyo. Even after the management changed, the name of the Kozu Ranch has remained the same, and it continues to graze mainly Jersey cows, along with sheep and horses, and is kept in barns only in winter. The summer grazing scenery is said to resemble the Tyrol region of the Alps, and the unearthly scenery is attractive. It is famous for its milk baths. It is located in Myogi Arafune Saku Kogen Quasi-National Park, with Mt. Arafune to the south. It takes 45 minutes by bus from Shimonita to Ichinokaya, and an hour and a half on foot from there. The Myogi Arafune Forest Road runs through it on the west side. There is a hiking trail from Kozu Farm to Mt. Happu to Karuizawa.

[Murakami Sadao]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

群馬県南西部、物見(ものみ)山の東麓(とうろく)にある山地牧場。甘楽(かんら)郡下仁田町(しもにたまち)に属する。標高1100メートル内外の緩斜地で面積387ヘクタール。夏は冷涼で、所々に湧泉(ゆうせん)や渓流がある。1887年（明治20）西隣の長野県北佐久(きたさく)郡志賀(しが)村（現、佐久市）の神津邦太郎(こうづくにたろう)が開設。開設以来乳牛のジャージー種を放牧して、牛乳を軽井沢に、バターを東京に出荷、その後経営者が変わっても神津牧場の名は変わらず、引き続いてジャージー種を主にヒツジ、ウマを加えて放牧し、冬だけ舎飼(しゃがい)している。夏の放牧風景がアルプスのチロール地方に似ているといわれ、世俗を脱した景観に魅力がある。牛乳風呂(ぶろ)が有名。妙義荒船佐久高原国定公園(みょうぎあらふねさくこうげんこくていこうえん)内にあり、南方に荒船山があり、下仁田から市野萱(いちのかや)までバス45分、下車後徒歩1時間半。西側に妙義荒船林道が通じる。神津牧場―八風(はっぷう)山―軽井沢へのハイキングコースがある。

［村木定雄］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例