[Nagoya] How to Enjoy the Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens!

Enjoy Gourmet Food Unique to the Zoo!

Food Court "ZOOASIS"

It's lunch time.

There are 5 restaurants in the park. This time I came to "ZOOASIS" near the central rest area. A food court consisting of 7 stores.

Since it's a big deal, I tried a menu unique to the zoo.

lion pizza

First of all, "Lion Pizza". Black bean eyes and nose, pasta bow tie. It's very filling, so we recommend sharing it with everyone!

gorilla cheese dog

This is "Gorilla Cheese Dog". It has plenty of mozzarella cheese. Also for to-go!

koala ice cream

"Koala ice cream" is so cute to eat it. Chocolate ice cream with a perfect score is perfect for the coming hot season!

There are Many Other Yummy Foods Unique to the Zoo!

koala curry

At the cafe "North Garden" in the north park, you can have the popular "Koala Curry". It's sweet, so it's perfect for children.

shabani ice cream

At the "Zoobo Gate" right next to the main gate, you should check out "Shabani Ice". As an ice cream that does not easily melt, it is a hot topic on SNS.

Don't miss the "Animal bread" that is baked in the store. Cute animal breads such as tigers, turtles, bears, and gorillas are available daily. You won't know which kind of animals you can meet until the day you go. They may sell out, so if you're interested, hurry up.

Go to North Park where You can Meet the Handsome Gorilla "Shabani"!

In the second half, let's go to North Park!

"Gorilla Chimpanzee House" where Shabani Lives

I came to the "Gorilla Chimpanzee House" where the handsome gorilla Shabani lives!

At the Gorilla and Chimpanzee House, which opened in September 2018, you can experience the "African Forest", the home of gorillas and chimpanzees. An 8 to 15-meter tower is installed in the outdoor playground, and it is devised so that life in the trees can be recreated just like in the wild.

This is a chimpanzee. Chimpanzees live in groups of 20 to 100 and are said to have a strong sense of territory.

Photo courtesy of Nagoya City Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens

Unfortunately, I couldn't meet him on this day, but this is the handsome gorilla's "Shabani". A silver bag leader who is friendly to child gorillas.

By the way, it is rare for Japanese zoos to keep gorillas in groups, and Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens is the only place where children of similar age are in a group. Please pay attention not only to Shabani, but also to the life of a group of gorillas!

Take the Escalator to the Sky Tower

Next, let's go to the Sky Tower!

The escalator is convenient for going to the Sky Tower, the Natural Animal Museum, and the World Medaka Museum.

Higashiyama Sky Tower is a 134m observation tower built on a hill to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Nagoya City Government. From the observatory on the 5th floor, you can overlook the city of Nagoya. At the sky restaurant on the top floor, you can enjoy authentic full-course meals at night.

[Higashiyama Sky Tower]
Address: 1-8 Tashiro-cho Chikusa ward Nagoya-shi, Aichi
Phone number: 052-781-5586 <Restaurant TEL 052-788-7288>
Admission time: 9:00-21:30 (until admission 21:00)
Closed: Every Monday (the following day if it falls on a national holiday or a compensatory holiday) and year-end and New Year holidays

<Admission fee>
Adults (high school students and above): 300 yen

<Common Ticket for Zoo and Botanical Gardens and Tower>
Adults (high school students and above): 640 yen

*Please check the official website for the latest information.

"Natural Animal Museum" where you can Meet Nocturnal Animals

Nocturnal animals are kept on the 1st floor of the "Natural Animal Museum" in front of the Sky Tower, and reptiles and amphibians are kept on the 2nd floor.

In the nocturnal animal area, the lights in the exhibition space are dimmed during the opening hours and the day and night are reversed, so you can see the animals that are active at night.
If it's dark and it's hard to see the animals, we recommend visiting right after the park opens! You can observe it in bright light for about an hour when it changes from day to night.

The staff recommended the southern anteater, but it moved so fast that I couldn't take a picture of it, so I introduced my favorite sloth instead.

Sloths are nocturnal animals that live in South America. It is said that he sleeps more than 15 hours a day. The relaxed appearance is soothing. Sloths don't like to walk, but they're really good at swimming!

One of the World's Most Precious Aquariums "World Medaka (killifish) Museum"

Photo courtesy of Nagoya City Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens

Unfortunately, the museum was temporarily closed on the day we visited, but the staff recommended the World Medaka Museum.

It doesn't really stand out, but it's actually one of the best facilities in the world and has a proven track record. Approximately 3,000 killifish and freshwater fish of about 200 species collected from all over the world are bred. The number of types of medaka fish is the largest in the world!

A Large Collection of America-native Animals such as Bison and Wolves "America Zone"

Next, go to the "America Zone".

Here you can see native American animals such as American bison, bald eagles, reindeer and Canadian porcupines.

The “American Bison House” features a spacious playground.

In Japanese zoos, American bison are often kept in groups of one or two, so it is very rare to see American bison living in groups like Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens. Observe the spectacle unique to flock breeding, such as the way they put their horns together and the way they greet each other.

A black-tailed prairie dog that many people admired as "cute!". A squirrel that lives in the grasslands of North America. The prairie dog got its name because it makes a dog-like bark to warn others of danger.

The timber wolf has a beautiful appearance.

At the Timber Wolf House, which opened in 2012, you can feel the breathing of wolves running around in packs up close. The moat part has no fences over the pool, and the glass part is so close!

The appeal of Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens is not limited to the zoo. Next, let's go to an amusement park and a botanical garden!

Both Adults and Children can Enjoy! "Amusement Park"

Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens even has an amusement park!

Entrance is free of charge. You can enjoy 16 kinds of attractions. The fee is 120 yen per ticket, and the required number of tickets is determined for each attraction. Even the most expensive one is 3 pieces (360 yen), so you can enjoy it casually.

“Kurukuru Kirin”, which is very popular with children, is a gondola swing that hangs from a tall giraffe. Giraffe's neck stretches and shrinks.

There is also a "fun house" where you can experience a spinning room!

Let's go to the botanical garden next! The Sky View Train is recommended for transportation from the main garden.

A Healing Spot where You can Feel Nature in the City
"Botanical Garden"

Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens tends to focus on zoos, but true to its name, it also has a botanical garden. About 7,000 species of plants are exhibited in the botanical garden, using greenhouses and natural forests on the hills.

On April 23, 2021, the "Greenhouse Front Building", an important cultural property that has been undergoing preservation and repair work since 2014, will reopen. A pond where the greenhouse is reflected on the surface of the water was also maintained.

When I entered the greenhouse, I was surprised by its size and variety of plants. It is a fascinating facility where you can spend hours in the greenhouse. If you like plants, we recommend visiting on a separate day from the zoo.

Photo courtesy of Nagoya City Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens

Photo courtesy of Nagoya City Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens

About 1,000 cherry trees of about 100 species color the cherry blossom corridor in spring. In autumn, about 500 trees around Okuike and the Japanese garden change color, making it one of the city's best spots for autumn foliage.

In addition, you can enjoy seasonal scenery such as camellia gardens, rose gardens, and flower gardens.

Finally, Get a Souvenir at the "Souvenir Shop"!

Zoobogate (main park)

Shop North Garden (north park)

Zoo de Gatten (main park)

There are three souvenir shops in the park: "Zoobo Gate", "Shop North Garden" and "Zoo de Gatten".

There are limited items in the shop, and each item has a different product lineup, so please take a look around.

Let's Enjoy Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens Even More!

Commemorative Photo at the Photo Spot

One of the attractions of Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens is the abundance of photo spots!

There is also an art that won the 2nd National Kaohame (fit your face) Panel Championship. Be sure to take a photo to commemorate your visit!

Make a Donation and Get an Original Pin Badge!

Do you love Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens so much? Then come here!

Would you like to support Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens and the animals that live there by making a donation? (From 500 yen per share)

If you donate, you will receive an original pin badge and a support card. It seems that pin badges and cards will be updated more and more, so please collect them.

This time, I introduced the entire Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens.

Approximately 450 species of animals will show you various appearances every time you visit. It is also recommended to get an annual passport and go for a walk. Please visit with the whole family!