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SEISEN RYO

Seisen Ryo is the centerpiece of KEEP. Opened in 1938 as a lodge and campground for youth empowerment in Kiyosato, Seisen Ryo has helped to define KEEP within the Kiyosato area and throughout Japan.

Today, Seisen Ryo serves as a conference and retreat center for individuals and groups, welcoming both business travelers and tourists. Corporations can use Seisen Ryo's facilities for meetings and staff retreats, while campers and visitors alike can spend time in Seisen Ryo's coffee shop and restaurant. Seasonal overnight packages are offered with workshop themes such as country furniture building, nature photography, owl watching, or skiing packages with nearby Sun Meadows Ski Resort. Seisen Ryo also hosts public music concerts and other special events throughout the year.

As a cornerstone of KEEP, Seisen Ryo is centrally located within a short walk of any of the six hiking trails around the area and other buildings at KEEP. Natural beauty abounds in every direction. Mountains surround the area, with the Yatsugatake Kogen Prefectural Park to the north, Mt. Fuji and the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park to the south, the Southern Alps National Park to the west and the Chichibu Tama Kai National Park to the west.

Yatsugatake Nature Center

Just across the road from Seisen Ryo, the Yatsugatake Nature Center offers interactive exhibits about the flora and fauna of the Yatsugatake Highlands, the local culture and history of the Kiyosato area, and information about the hiking trails in the area. The Nature Center holds special events throughout the year, such as film screenings and lectures. During 2006 the Nature Center hosted a special Michio Hoshino Memorial Exhibit. The famous photographer of wildlife and landscapes was killed in 1996 in a bear attack. KEEP is honored to host this special exhibit remembering this talented photographer and dedicated environmental activist.

The museum is open 9 am to 6 pm. Admission is free.

Ohio Experimental Farm

KEEP's Ohio Experimental Farm is a busy, working, educational farm with over 160 Jersey cows, and other livestock such as ostriches. Started with support from Tennessee, Iowa, and Ohio farmers, the farm has been a leader in diary education since 1947. Visitors can learn about the milk industry and try milking a cow. The Farmer's Market and hayrides are popular summer attractions.

The public is invited to view the afternoon milking session at 3:30 pm daily.

Jersey Hut

Enjoy soft-serve ice cream and other treats at KEEP's Jersey Hut. Famous throughout Japan, this soft-serve ice cream is made with milk from KEEP's Jersey Cows and fresh water from the Yatsugatake Highlands. The large observation deck next to the Jersey Hut has a magnificent view of Mt. Fuji, the Southern Alps, and the Chichibu mountain range.

The Jersey Hut is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm weekdays, and 9 am to 6 pm weekends and national holidays.

Paul Rusch Memorial Center

Even though Paul Rusch died in Tokyo in 1979, his ideals and vision still live on at KEEP. To remember and honor him, KEEP established the Paul Rusch Memorial Center in 1995. The museum includes his home displaying personal awards and memorabilia from his work at KEEP. The museum exhibits a wealth of information about Rusch, his life, the area in Kentucky where he was born.  A gift-shop offers handicrafts from Kentucky and books about Paul Rusch and KEEP, among other things.

Paul Rusch is considered to be the father of American Football in Japan and the center appropriately houses Japan's American Football Hall of Fame. The history of the game in Japan as well as uniforms, trophies, and player biographies are on display.

The museum is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. The admission fee is 500 yen for adults and 200 yen for children younger than high school age. There are discounts for groups of more than 20 people.

Bakery

The Bakery sells jams, breads, cookies and cakes. The baked goods are used at restaurants throughout KEEP including Seisen Ryo and the Farm Shop. The Bakery's front deck is the perfect place to take a break from touring KEEP and enjoy a snack. Some of the specialties include Japanese mirukupan (sweet bread) made from the milk of KEEP's Jersey Cows, a variety of cookies, or the five grain bread. All the goods are made on the premises and the jams are made with locally grown produce. These delicious foods can be air-mailed to anywhere in Japan.

The bakery is open 10 am to 6 pm daily.

St. Francis Discovery Center

The ideal lodging option for school groups and young adults, St. Francis Discovery Center was established in 2000 when the St. Luke's Hospital building was remodeled and renamed to better serve KEEP visitors. Working with the Farm and the Environmental Education Department, the center offers overnight lodging and programs for school groups and the general public. The cafeteria uses local produce to prepare meals, and has information on the tables for visitors to learn more about the food served.

Yamane Museum

KEEP is home to the only museum in Japan dedicated to educating the public about the Japanese dormouse. Known in Japanese as yamane, the dormouse spends six months or more of the year in hibernation. KEEP runs programs and classes to help educate about this threatened species as well as to encourage protecting the habitat of this sleepy critter.

The museum curator, Dr. Minato, and his staff perform extensive research into the life of the dormouse and habitat conservation. Their research is displayed at the museum.

The museum is open 9:30 am to 5:30 pm daily. Admission is 300 yen per person. Group discount rates are available.

Lodging Facilities

KEEP offers a variety of lodging options for rent by groups and individuals. Seisen Ryo offers lodging for groups and individuals in western and Japanese style rooms and has individual rental cabins for small groups. St. Francis Discovery Center, Forester's Campground and Matsumoto Youth Campground offer group lodging for classes, school clubs and other organizations.