Kato Farm in the residential area of Hidaka
When one thinks of a ranch, one thinks of spacious hills. However, Kato Farm is located in a residential area of Hidaka City, which is known as a bedroom town in the city center. Many people are surprised to see the ranch suddenly appear in a quiet residential area, but the truth is that the ranch is not located in a residential area, but rather, houses were built around the ranch. It was about 50 years ago that Kato Farm moved with 10 cows from Tokorozawa to this location, beginning with the purchase of a dairy cow by the previous generation in 1954.
At that time, there were no houses, hardly any roads, and it was pitch-dark at night,” says Tadashi Kato, president of Kato Farm.
The farm now has about 200 dairy cows, and not only does it provide a comfortable environment for the cows in freestall barns with space for them to roam freely without being tied up in a large area, but it also established a gelato store in 1995 and a dairy products factory in 1997 to produce high-quality milk, yogurt, and cheese, and to develop the sixth industrial sector. In 1997, a dairy factory was established to produce high-quality milk, yogurt, and cheese.
Kato Farm, where the milk tastes exceptional
It is not a large farm. However, the taste of the milk is exceptional. The milk is pasteurized and bottled in as little as one hour (12 hours at the most) after being squeezed. Non-homo pasteurized milk,” which does not crush the fat in the raw milk, suppresses the absorption of fat because the fat globules are not crushed, and the milk has a rich sweet taste, yet it is refreshing and has no milk odor.
For safety and peace of mind, we have been particular about our feed, aiming to produce milk in a way that cannot be done by large corporations. We are located in a residential area, so many families visit us on weekends.
The dairy farm also has a restaurant on the premises that serves a variety of meals, including cheese bowls with various flavors, risotto with lots of cheese, and milk korai nabe (hot pot). To familiarize visitors with milk and dairy products, there is a rich menu of hands-on activities, including milking, making butter, cheese, ice cream, and pizza (reservations must be made by the day before; currently under renovation as of December 2020).
Processed dairy products are also available.
The direct sales area also offers a wide variety of processed products such as pudding, soft-serve ice cream, cheese, and yogurt. The concept of the shop is “to let as many consumers as possible taste the deliciousness of dairy products,” and they are actively developing products and restaurant menus.
The puddings, in particular, are so delicious that Hidetoshi Nakata, who had tasted them at famous restaurants across the country, couldn’t help but remark, “They are delicious. Kato Farm uses only the finest milk, cream, sugar, locally produced eggs, and vanilla beans, and no additives.
Kato Farm also offers a wide variety of cheeses
There is a wide variety of cheese available, and Kato Farm’s burrata cheese won the Gold and Grand Prize in the burrata category at the Japan Cheese Awards 2020, one of the largest cheese festivals in Japan, which is held every two years. Other blue cheese, wash cheese, and chevre also won bronze awards, indicating their high quality. Although dairy products are most often associated with Hokkaido, it is well worth the trip, as it is close to Tokyo and can be enjoyed by the whole family.
