Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens | Review by wendy

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Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens

A zoo with elaborate exhibitions, and a botanical garden where you can enjoy each season’s breathtaking scenery.

3 Sep 2026 See More

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.

Other Reviews by wendy

Ghibli Park

Whisk away into the whimsical world of Studio Ghibli at the world’s one-and-only destination complete with 5 areas: Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse, Hill of Youth, Dondoko Forest, Mononoke Village and Valley of Witches.
- Aichi
- Amusement Parks & Theme parks
3 Sep 2026 See More

Finally made it to the long-awaited Ghibli Park!

The worlds from Studio Ghibli's works truly come to life right before your eyes. The moment you enter the park, it feels like you've actually stepped into an animated film.

Although admission isn't cheap, I think it's really worth it for Ghibli fans!

Tickets must be reserved in advance. If you purchase the ¥7,100 all-access ticket, you can enter all 5 themed areas in the park. Anyone who loves Ghibli works will definitely have a great time exploring them.

From the entrance, you can feel how much detail and thought went into everything. Many familiar scenes, buildings, and character elements look as if they were brought straight from the movies into the real world. As you walk around, scenes from the animated films you've seen keep coming to mind, and it's honestly quite moving.

Unlike a typical amusement park, this place isn't lively and noisy. Instead, it's more like a “Ghibli world” you can explore at your own pace.

There's no need to rush from ride to ride. Slow down and look carefully at every corner, and you'll find lots of little details worth photographing and taking a closer look at.
Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park (Moricoro Park)

This vast park was established on the former site of the Nagakute site of the Expo 2005, a World Expo held in Aichi. The building, which was used as a guesthouse and reception hall during the exposition, has been converted into the Expo 2005 Memorial Hall, where more than 300 items donated by foreign pavilions are on display. Those who actually visited the Expo back then will feel nostalgic.
- Aichi
- Parks & Gardens
3 Sep 2026 See More

This natural park was built on the former site of Expo 2005 Aichi. The grounds are huge and full of greenery, and it's very pleasant to walk around, with none of the hustle and bustle of the city.

Ghibli Park is located within the grounds and is also one of the most popular attractions here. Besides Ghibli Park, there are also vast natural landscapes nearby, making it a great place to set aside some time for a leisurely walk and photos.

On weekdays, there's also a free shuttle bus within the park. When you get tired of walking, you can take the bus instead of having to walk all the way, making the overall visit quite relaxing.
Kalmia

A commercial building directly connected to Toyohashi Station, where the Tokaido Shinkansen also stops. Across five floors-four above ground and one basement-you’ll find a wide range of shops, including fashion, lifestyle goods, food, dining, and souvenir stores. There are also restaurants and food and specialty-grocery shops inside the conventional rail ticket gates at Toyohashi Station, making it very convenient for transfers or meeting up while waiting for a train.
- Aichi
- Commercial Buildings
3 Sep 2026 See More

Right next to Toyohashi Station, it's extremely convenient to get to, and you can stop by without going out of your way. The mall has all kinds of stores, including souvenir shops, clothing stores, a supermarket, prepared-food shops, and Gong Cha, so you won't have to worry about finding something to eat〜

There are also plenty of restaurants, serving everything from sushi, tonkatsu, soba, and ramen to Italian food and omurice.

What I like most is that it feels a bit like a department store basement food hall, where you can buy prepared foods, vegetables, and seafood. It's also convenient if you want to take food back to your hotel.

The basement also has a drugstore, Toyohashi's specialty Murata Takoyaki, and an anime shop. It's fun to browse, and there's more than just souvenirs. You can easily spend quite a while looking around.

It opens at 10:00 a.m. If you're staying near Toyohashi or want to buy some souvenirs before catching a train, this place is really convenient! Food + souvenirs + grocery shopping, all in one stop.