NEW!

I visited the “Ostrich Kingdom” | Ishioka City, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan

I often travel to the Tohoku region in northern Japan for work.
So I thought, “Hey, why not drop by and visit my best friend who lives in Ibaraki on the way back?”

I took a quick glance at the map of Japan and went:

Fueled by that enthusiasm, I messaged my friend like,
“Hey, I’ll be heading up to Tohoku soon—let’s hang out when I come back!”
(She always agrees to meet up even when I drop the plan on her out of nowhere—thank you for that 😭)

Have you ever heard of “Ostrich Kingdom”?

While I was figuring out where we should go, my best friend casually said

『There’s an Ostrich Kingdom in Ishioka, Ibaraki.』

The day I was surrounded by more ostriches than ever in my life

Off we went to Ostrich Kingdom, all giddy and excited.
But the moment we pulled into the parking lot—BAM!
A whole flock of ostriches came into view, just casually hanging out like it was the most normal thing in the world!!!

Apparently, the ostriches thought we had snacks—because they started swarming toward us! 😂
Even from the distance, more and more of them were waddling over like “hey, got food?”
I’d seen a few ostriches at zoos before, sure—but never this many, and never this close. Definitely a life first.

Alright, time to feed the ostriches!

Turns out they’re pretty smart—once they spot someone holding a bag of food, they come running like,
“Yo, you got snacks?”

They were so cute—but man, those ostriches are intense.

Their pecking? Kinda strong. It actually stung a little!
So the whole time, I fed them with the food in my hand… through my sleeve. 💦

And the timing? Totally unpredictable.
Every time was like, “Are they coming? Are they—AHH yep, here it comes!!”
I was definitely low-key panicking with each bite. 😂

Oh, and the regulars?
They came prepared—with their own gloves. Smart move. Respect.👏

You can even take a photo with one of the chosen ostriches

You can even take a photo with one of the chosen ostriches 📸✨

At Ostrich Kingdom, there’s actually a special area where you can meet and interact with an ostrich up close!
But not just any ostrich gets that honor—only the specially trained, people-friendly VIPs are allowed in the photo zone.

And let me tell you—they’re so calm and well-behaved! Such a sweet bird 💗
After the shoot, you even get a little instant photo print (yep, like a Japanese Polaroid-style cheki) to take home.

One of the staff asked, “Wanna feel its leg too?” and gently lifted the ostrich’s feathers.
So yep—for the first time in my life, I touched an ostrich thigh.

And my honest reaction?
Uhh… this feels like… Christmas chicken. 😂
For a split second, I had a mental flash of the meat aisle at the supermarket.

I’m so sorry, dear ostrich—but you really had a very edible vibe. 😅

It’s not just ostriches—it’s a fluffy paradise! 🐑✨

Ostrich Kingdom isn’t only about ostriches.
There are sheep, goats, capybaras, and all sorts of other adorable animals, too!

Plot twist at the gift shop 😳

After all that bonding time with the ostriches and other animals, we wrapped things up by browsing for souvenirs at the shop.

…Wait. Is it just me, or does that look exactly like the thigh I just touched!?
Like—literally just a few minutes ago!? 😳 Double take.

Ostrich Kingdom really knows how to leave a lasting impression. 😂