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.
