ARTICLES
Heart Ranch, a new ranch in the real wild east of Hokkaido, is a challenge to create a farm where people, horses, and horses are happy.
Kushiro Marshlands National Park is the largest marshland area in Japan. In October 2023, Heart Ranch, a ranch where people and horses can interact and deepen their bonds in the magnificent nature of East Hokkaido, pre-opened. In this issue, we would like to introduce the thoughts of Rika Tatsukawa, who started this ranch with a dream.
Rika Tatsukawa
Born in Tokyo and raised in Hong Kong until the age of 4. Graduated from Azabu University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Animal Applied Science. During her studies, she learned about the relationship between humans and animals through farm practice and dissection training. Her graduation thesis on the current status and issues of organic farming in the UK and EU led her to move to New York to study Public Relations (PR), where she received a PR Major from Long Island University Post. After graduating from Long Island University Post, he went on to study PR (Public Relations) at Credit Suisse Singapore. After graduation, she worked for Credit Suisse Singapore for about 3 years. On March 3, 2022, he established Meta Farm K.K., an agricultural corporation.
Aiming for a "New Farm" in East Hokkaido
Mr. Tatsukawa will move to Hokkaido in 2022 to start a new farming business, "Heart Ranch," in the Alekhinae district in the southern part of Shibecha Town, Hokkaido.
Tatsukawa says, "I want it to be a horse ranch for agriculture, but also a tourist ranch that incorporates Western horse culture." The ranch has a total area of 150,000 tsubo (about 10 times the size of the Tokyo Dome). It is located about 40 minutes by car from Kushiro Airport.
Tatsukawa says, "I want to turn this place and time from extraordinary to everyday, where you can go trekking with the horses through the forest, where you can feel happiness just watching them graze in front of you, and where you can spend time with the horses while receiving the power of nature on the expansive grounds."
Heart Ranch aims to create a landscape where nature and horses not only come into contact with each other, but where people and horses are a natural part of one scene of life.
Horse sharing service, glamping, and a café are also available.
Various plans are underway at Heart Ranch, and Horse Sharing (horse sharing service) is one of them. In order to lower the threshold for owning a horse, the purchase price and monthly expenses can be reduced through joint ownership by several people, and parties for joint owners are also being planned.
Other plans include horseback riding, camping and glamping on a hillside in the vast grounds, and a café to be opened next year. In addition, we are planning to offer plans to enjoy East Hokkaido not only with horses but also with other activities such as lodging at "The Geek" in the Tangro area, which is our partner, Finnish sauna, and marshland canoeing activities.
Image of the completed café
High-altitude camping
Trekking to high ground
High-altitude glamping
Partner accommodation "The Geek"
Canoeing on Lake Tangguh
Dreamlike experiences and spaces in a magnificent natural setting!
Heart Ranch is currently recruiting friends to create the ranch together through crowdfunding.
The Heart Ranch is currently looking for people who want to join us in creating a ranch in the magnificent nature of East Hokkaido, which is surrounded by rivers and lakes, where people can enjoy trekking, camping, and glamping with their horses and camping gear, or even rethink their own way of life over a campfire in the evening. We strongly hope to create such "dreamlike experiences and spaces" together with you.
Tatsukawa's enthusiasm for the project has been so strong that I am now working with him on the project. Please take a look at the video that he has made to share his thoughts and feelings.
The East Hokkaido area is home to many plants and animals, and is truly the last frontier of Japan's "real wild". Please keep your eyes on Mr. Tatsukawa's future as he tries to make his dream come true in such East Hokkaido.
Proposal for pastureland adjacent to Kushiro Marsh, abandoned farmland, and abandoned farmland - I want to create a farm where people, horses, and farmers are happy.
h ttps:// camp-fire.jp/projects/view/692736?utm_campaign=cp_po_share_c_msg_mypage_projects_show
Check it out as well!
Local Player Profile
Tomohiro Nakamichi, Shibecha Town Community Development Cooperation Volunteer, Photographer, Video Creator
Born in Noda City, Chiba Prefecture in 1988. He has loved animals and nature since he was a child and was involved in training various dogs as a dog trainer in his 20s. 5 years ago, he started taking photos and making videos of nature and animals. Currently, she lives with four dogs in a forest in Shibecha, Hokkaido, where 20 wolves used to be bred. He is currently showing his works on various social networking sites under the theme of "Relationship between people and animals.
Domingo Local Topics" brings the charms of the region to you through the "real voices" of local residents. The content varies from region to region, including unique local stores, student initiatives, and events created by everyone. We will bring you topics from the region that will make you feel more familiar with the local area and want to visit it.
