The park is huge, and a lot of the animals aren’t kept in cages. Instead, they roam in more open spaces, so driving through feels like a mini wildlife adventure.
You can see big animals like lions, tigers, bears, and giraffes up close, which is super exciting! There’s also an interactive area where you can feed smaller animals, and kids would absolutely love it.
The only thing is that the park is pretty large, so driving yourself is definitely more convenient. Really fun and unique.
Iwate Safari Park | Review by 傅玉婧
Other Reviews by 傅玉婧
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Kanazawa Hyakubangai
This commercial facility is directly connected to JR Kanazawa Station. It consists of three buildings: "Anto," which offers a wide variety of Kanazawa souvenirs and gourmet foods; "Rinto," which has a wide variety of stores including fashion items, sundries, and cafes; and "Anto West," a daily zone with a fresh food supermarket and a clinic that is suitable for daily life.
Super convenient and fun to explore! It's right inside Kanazawa Station, so it's perfect for a quick visit before or after your train. There are tons of places to eat and shop—famous dessert shops, souvenirs, gold leaf products, you name it. If you're looking for Kanazawa-exclusive snacks, there are so many options here. The whole place feels clean and stylish, and it's not too crowded, so walking around is really comfortable. Especially on rainy days or when it's freezing in winter, it's awesome to just wander around and grab a bite here.
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Ikuta Shrine
With a history of about 1,800 years, “Ikuta Shrine” is affectionately called “Ikuta-san, the matchmaker” by locals. As a popular power spot, it’s known for bringing good luck in marriage, love, work and health, and has even seen visits from athletes and artists in recent years.
It's not too far from downtown and the transportation is fairly convenient. The grounds aren't very big, but it's quiet and there aren't too many tourists.
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Bansuiso
Bansuiso was built as a villa by earl Hisamatsu Sadakoto in 1922, a descendant of the former Matsuyama feudal lord. It was built in the French Neo-Renaissance style thanks to Sadakoto’s experience living in France as a military officer in the army.
I paid JPY 300 to go inside, but honestly, there's not much to see. It's just a straightforward French-style building.