Mother Bokujo (Mother Farm) is a wide spread of farming pastureland in Chiba Prefecture, built 33 years ago by Maeda Shin. It's perfect for concrete-addicted children who think Miss Kitty and Keroppi represent real animals, and for people who just like to have a real hike at its spring/autumn flower best.

Mother Bokujo hosts 2000 visitors on weekdays and 10,000 on weekends, but the place is so huge you don't really notice anybody else seeking out the animals, fruit flowers and a good-enough feeling of being in the countryside.

The experience is, literally, hands on. Twice a day, at 11am and 1pm (Sundays also at 3pm), you can grab the huge teats of the huge Holsteins yourself at the "Gyushiborijo." The factory for Mother Bokujo's own dairy products Ð taste the Jersey milk for 900 yen a bottle, perfect for a sickly child -- lies behind the ultra-realistic barns.

You can take horse-rides in a paddock next to the cows, which costs an extra 200 for each person.

The pig race at O-matsuri Hiroba is another favorite among the young ones. At 11:45am and 1:45pm (Sundays and public holidays also at 2:45pm), visitors compete to make small squealing pigs go through various obstacles before collapsing in the goal pens. It's not the easiest thing to do, pigs run faster than you could believe and you must push the pig assigned for you, otherwise someone else wins. All participants get a badge and the winner a small prize. It's a funny sight, but the actual race is muchshorter than the megaphone instruction, unfortunately.

It's nice to walk around among the many fruit-trees in April -- the many cherry-blossoms contribute to the panorama view over the valley. The autumn foliage and some 50,000 of scarlet sage (sarubia) can be enjoyed until mid-November. During the year, you can pick different fruits and vegetables at very cheap rates.

Pigs, sheep, rabbits, goats and miniature horses and cows look happy and friendly (and are patient), so it's really all right to touch them and scramble around in the dirt with them. You can also watch sheep-dogs herd some 200 sheep at a trot up to the high pastures.

Mother Bokujo should not be considered an amusement park, even though one exists on the premises with go-karts, bungee jumping and a giant wheel.

The farm has excellent facilities for a cool day with you kids. Carrying young children long distances can be avoided by hitching a ride on the cow-decorated bus pulled by a Massey-Ferguson. Kids under two years old can ride in complimentary strollers found right at the entrance. A rest-room which also contains computer games is situated nearby, restaurants and cafes fill your tummies but a picnic is better bet for that "back-to-the-nature" feeling.

Mother Bokujo rents out furnished cottages, from 2DK for 3 people and up (per person: from 12,000 yen weekdays/24,000 yen before holidays and peak) to 5LDK for 15 persons (per person from 12,000 yen/39,000 yen), complete with appliances. Since we're talking a real trip from Tokyo, staying overnight saves energy you can spend on the farm instead.

Open: Feb.-Nov: 9am to 5pm (Sat., Sun, holidays), 9:30am to 4:30pm (weekdays); Dec.-Jan.: 9:30am to 4:30pm (Sat., Sun., holidays), 10am to 4pm (weekdays)

Admission: Adults 1,500 yen, children 4-11 yrs. 800 yen.

Parking: Car 700 yen/day, bus 1,000 yen/day, motorbike 300 yen/day.

Tel: (0439) 37-3211

Fax: (0439) 37-3337 (URL: http://www.motherfarm.co.jp/), has a daily schedule of events, etc.