All Reviews of Himeji City Zoo

Himeji City Zoo is next to Himeji Castle and is a great place for a leisurely stroll. On this visit to the zoo, I saw many adorable animals, including elephants, giraffes, and lions. It was really interesting to observe them up close. The zoo doesn't feel rushed, so you can watch the animals while enjoying views of Himeji Castle, which feels very special.

Besides enjoying the beautiful white castle at Himeji Castle, we also stopped by the nearby Himeji City Zoo. I didn’t expect such a small zoo to be more fun than I imagined!

I thought we would just take a quick stroll, but we ended up seeing quite a few animals, including giraffes and penguins. The kids’ eyes lit up as soon as they saw the animals, and they were so happy they didn’t want to leave. The zoo isn’t large, but it’s easy to walk around, clean, and you can enjoy views of Himeji Castle while strolling. It’s a great little stop for families.

After exploring the impressive Himeji Castle, relaxing at the zoo was a nice change of pace. Historic sights, beautiful views, and cute animals all in one trip—something for both adults and kids. It turned out to be a wonderful little surprise on this journey.

At Himeji Castle, besides admiring the impressive white main keep, we unexpectedly found a small and charming zoo right next door.

The zoo isn’t very big, and it doesn’t have as many kinds of animals as a large zoo, but it’s kept very clean. It also hardly had that typical zoo smell, so walking around was really pleasant. It’s an easy little stop if you’re visiting with kids.

The biggest surprise was a hidden photo spot inside the zoo where you can see Himeji Castle from a different angle. The white main keep against the blue sky looked absolutely beautiful!

If you’re visiting Himeji Castle, it’s worth adding this small spot to your route. Along with seeing the historic castle, you can also take some unique and memorable photos.