Nikko Kirifuri Kogen Osasa Ranch (日光霧降高原大笹牧場) is handing out grilled Brown Swiss beef again. Its yearly thank-you event, the Autumn Harvest Thanksgiving Festival 2026 (秋の収穫大感謝祭2026), runs for one day only on Saturday, October 24, 2026.
The free yakiniku (Japanese-style grilled meat) is the main draw, but it is not the only freebie. There are free welcome drinks, free butter-making, free bouncy play equipment for kids, and 10% off Brown Swiss products at the shop. Below is what the organizer has announced so far, and what is still unconfirmed.
The festival at a glance
Image: Nikko Kirifuri Kogen Osasa Bokujo Co., Ltd. (from its PR TIMES press release)
| Event | Autumn Harvest Thanksgiving Festival 2026 (秋の収穫大感謝祭2026) |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, October 24, 2026 (one day only) |
| Venue | Nikko Kirifuri Kogen Osasa Ranch, a ranch on a plateau about 1,300 m above sea level |
| Address | 3405 Seo Aza Osasahara, Nikko, Tochigi (栃木県日光市瀬尾字大笹原3405) |
| Organizer | Nikko Kirifuri Kogen Osasa Bokujo Co., Ltd. |
| Hours / entry fee | Not stated in the announcement. Check the official website before you go. |
What you can get for free
Everything in this table is free, but most of it is limited. If the beef is why you are going, plan to arrive early.
| Freebie | What it is | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Brown Swiss beef yakiniku | The festival’s regular headline: Brown Swiss beef, grilled and served hot | Limited quantity, ends when it runs out |
| Welcome drinks | Brown Swiss A2 milk and Tochiaika strawberry milk (とちあいかいちごミルク) | Limited quantity, ends when it runs out |
| Butter-making | Make your own butter and taste it fresh | First come, first served; closes when full |
| Bouncy play equipment | Inflatable play equipment from Utsunomiya Zoo | Free for kids |
Contests, animals and things to do
| Petting zoo hours | 10:00 to 15:00 |
|---|---|
| Break | No animal contact from 12:00 to 13:00 |
| Note | Animals and activities may change. The capybara display is decided on the day based on temperature. |
Saving on souvenirs and lunch
If you plan to buy dairy products to take home, the festival day is a good day to do it. Two discounts are available, and the organizer says you can use them together.
- Survey ticket: answer a survey on the day and get a 10% off ticket for the souvenir shop. The ticket is valid on that day only.
- Brown Swiss products: all Brown Swiss products are 10% off on the festival day.
For lunch, the ranch restaurant serves a day-only three-meat platter: its popular Genghis Khan (grilled lamb) together with beef kalbi and pork loin. The price has not been announced.
If you are paying at the shop or restaurant, a card that earns points on everyday spending helps a little more. Our guide to credit cards in Japan for foreigners explains which one to get first. Accepted payment methods at the venue have not been announced.
Before you go
- Events may be changed or cancelled because of the weather or other reasons.
- Free food, drinks and hands-on activities are limited in number or capacity.
- Start times, how to join each activity and the amount handed out will be announced later on the ranch’s official website and social media.
- The overall opening hours and entry fee are not in the announcement, so confirm them on the official site first.
- The ranch sits on a plateau at around 1,300 m, so check the weather for the area before you set off.
The organizer’s announcement is here: press release from Nikko Kirifuri Kogen Osasa Bokujo.
Planning an autumn trip by train? The Aki no Norihodai Pass guide covers three days of JR local trains. Staying closer to Tokyo that month? See our guide to the Setagaya Tamagawa Fireworks. And if you like collecting small freebies like this, our beginner guide to point sites in Japan shows how to earn points on spending you already do.
FAQ
- Q. Is the beef really free?
- Yes. The organizer says Brown Swiss beef yakiniku will be handed out free of charge. The quantity is limited and it ends when it runs out.
- Q. How much beef will there be this year?
- This year’s amount has not been announced. The figure of 100 kg, or 1,000 servings, is from last year.
- Q. Is there an entry fee?
- The announcement does not mention an entry fee. Check the official website before you go.
- Q. What time does the festival start?
- The overall hours have not been announced. Only the mobile petting zoo has set hours, 10:00 to 15:00, with a break from 12:00 to 13:00.
- Q. Can I use both 10% discounts together?
- Yes. The organizer says the souvenir shop ticket from the survey can be used together with the 10% off on Brown Swiss products.