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Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens

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Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens

A zoo featuring creatively designed exhibits and botanical gardens filled with picturesque seasonal scenery.

3.35 6

Last update :
Supervised by :  Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens

This expansive zoo and botanical gardens covers approximately 148 acres and also features an amusement park, making it nearly impossible to see everything in a single day.
The zoo is home to approximately 450 animal species, including its iconic koalas and many other popular animals.

Creative exhibits make exploring the zoo both fun and engaging. For example, ZOOASIUM, the Asian elephant house, was designed to evoke Sri Lanka, the elephants’ native home, giving it an exotic atmosphere. Educational exhibits also explore the relationship between people and endangered elephants, as well as the animals’ surrounding habitats, making learning part of the experience.
Other fascinating specialized exhibits include the World Medaka Museum, which boasts the world’s largest collection of fish in the medaka family.

Be sure to visit the botanical gardens as well, where plants are displayed amid the area’s natural terrain. Its distinctive scenery throughout the four seasons may make you forget that you are in central Nagoya. Cherry blossoms bloom in spring, sunflowers fill the gardens in summer, and the fall foliage is spectacular. The greenhouse, featuring colorful flowers and other plants from tropical and subtropical climates, is also worth visiting.

A renewal plan is currently underway throughout the grounds, with additional facilities scheduled to open, including an Asian tropical rainforest area.

(Photos courtesy of Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens)

Highlights

  • Meet popular animals at the zoo, including the koalas that have become its symbol.
  • Creative exhibits offer an engaging way to observe the animals’ behavior and ecology.
  • Do not miss the atmospheric botanical gardens, with seasonal flowers and picturesque scenery.

Photos

  • Shabani, a western lowland gorilla, has attracted attention for his handsome appearance

    Shabani, a western lowland gorilla, has attracted attention for his handsome appearance

  • The koalas are beloved icons of Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens

    The koalas are beloved icons of Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens

  • The red panda enclosure opened in 2021

    The red panda enclosure opened in 2021

  • The botanical gardens are especially picturesque during the fall foliage season

    The botanical gardens are especially picturesque during the fall foliage season

  • The Front Greenhouse Building, designated a National Important Cultural Property, reopened after renovations in 2021

    The Front Greenhouse Building, designated a National Important Cultural Property, reopened after renovations in 2021

  • The greenhouse features colorful flowers and other plants from tropical and subtropical climates

    The greenhouse features colorful flowers and other plants from tropical and subtropical climates

Reviews

6

Some reviews are AI-translated.

  • 愛吃愛走路的華仔
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    Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens is the largest zoo and botanical garden I've visited so far. It has my favorite animals, including polar bears, giraffes, and seals, as well as beautiful, spacious botanical gardens. We also took the park shuttle to cut down on the walking. I'll visit again the next time I'm in Aichi Prefecture.

  • wendy
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    If you like animals, plants, and natural scenery, I highly recommend spending a day at Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens!

    The grounds are truly huge. Besides the zoo, there are botanical gardens, amusement rides, gardens, and restaurants, so you can easily spend the whole day exploring at a leisurely pace. The entire park is lush and green, making it very pleasant to walk around.

    A wide variety of animals
    You can see popular animals such as koalas, gorillas, giraffes, and elephants. The grounds are very well maintained, and the animals' living spaces are also kept quite clean. What surprised me was that even though there are many animals, there aren't any strong odors. The animals also looked lively, making the overall experience very pleasant.

    A real sense of everyday life in Japan
    There are relatively few tourists here. Instead, you'll see many local families and elderly couples out for a walk, as well as lots of kindergarten children on field trips and picnics. The atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming.

    Especially when I saw Japanese children happily picnicking in the park, I felt that this wasn't just a tourist attraction, but more like a place where Nagoya residents regularly come to enjoy nature and family time.

    There are also many attractions in the park
    Besides the animals, there are attractions such as a small train that goes around the park and pedal boats, so you can take your time and enjoy everything at your own pace.

    The admission price is also very reasonable!
    Adult admission is only JPY 500. For such a large park with so much to offer, it's really a great value!

    It's also very easy to get to. Take the subway to Higashiyama Koen Station, and it's just a short walk from there.

  • hdwf2002
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    Nagoya's Higashiyama Zoo completely changed my impression of zoos. The animals are kept behind low fences in comfortable spaces, so visitors don't feel like their living areas are cramped. The grounds are also spacious and great for children to run around. The zoo has a wide variety of animals, but the most special are probably the polar bears. You can see them up close without traveling to the Arctic Circle, which is quite a sight. Besides visiting the zoo, you can also go boating on the lake and enjoy the retro amusement rides. It's highly recommended for families with children. Transportation is convenient, so if you're visiting Nagoya, you can plan a day trip here.

  • 申美
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    There's a lot of interaction between people and animals. All the animal enclosures are really clean. If you have time, you should also check out the botanical garden.

  • Angela Hsieh
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    There are so many different kinds of animals, and the park layout is really spacious. Almost every area has a restroom, which is super convenient.

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Details

Name in Japanese
名古屋市東山動植物園
Postal Code
464-0804
Address
3-70 Higashiyama Motomachi, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture
Phone
052-782-2111
Closed on
Mondays (or the following weekday if Monday is a national holiday), December 29-January 1
Hours
9:00am-4:50pm (last admission at 4:30pm)
Admission
Adults (high school students and older): ¥800; middle school students and younger: free; combination ticket with Sky Tower: adults ¥880
Access
1) Approximately a 3-minute walk from Higashiyama Koen Station on the Nagoya Municipal Subway to the zoo
2) Approximately a 6-minute walk from Hoshigaoka Station on the Nagoya Municipal Subway to the botanical gardens
Credit Cards
Accepted (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, UnionPay, American Express, Diners Club, Discover)
Official website
Official website (Japanese)
Hokkaido Tohoku Kanto Chubu Hokuriku Kansai Chugoku Shikoku Kyushu Okinawa