[Inuyama City] A Zoo Specialized in Monkeys! "Japan Monkey Center"

"Japan Monkey Center" is located in Inuyama City, Aichi Prefecture. It has a long history, and was established in 1956 (Showa 31) as an incorporated foundation under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology for the purpose of comprehensive research on monkeys and the protection of wild Japanese macaques.

The number of primate breeding and exhibition species is about 60 species and 800 animals, the largest number of primate breeding and exhibition species in the world! It is a zoo specializing in monkeys, which is rare in the world.

This time, I would like to give a thorough report on the Japan Monkey Center!

Information at the time of coverage in September 2022.

Access and Admission Fee

The Japan Monkey Center is located in the hills of Inuyama City, which is lush with greenery, and is located on the east side of the Japan Monkey Park. It takes 26 minutes from Meitetsu Nagoya Station to Inuyama Station on the Inuyama Line express train.

From Inuyama Station, about 5 minutes by Gifu Bus "Little World Monkey Park Line" from Inuyama Station East Exit. By car, it takes about 40 minutes from Nagoya, and the parking lot shared with Japan Monkey Park is convenient.

If you tell the parking lot staff that you want to use the Japan Monkey Center, they will tell you where to park near the zoo. The parking lot is 1,000 yen per day. If you join the Japan Monkey Center Tomonokai (annual pass 3,000 yen), the parking lot is free, so it's a good deal.

Tickets can be purchased at the ticket window on the day. If you use advance tickets, you can enter the park more smoothly. In addition, there are also advantageous common tickets for Monkey Park and Inuyama Castle, which can be purchased at the window of each facility.

<Entrance fee>
Adults (high school students and above): 800 yen
Elementary and junior high school students: 400 yen
Infant (3 years old and over): 300 yen
*The amusement park (Nihon Monkey Park) is a separate facility. A separate fee will be charged.

<Common ticket with Nihon Monkey Park>
Adults (high school students and above): 1,900 yen
Junior high school students: 1,500 yen
Elementary school students: 1,100 yen
Infant (3 years old and over): 1,000 yen

▼ Click here for details
https://www.j-monkey.jp/information/index.html

▼ Click here for advance tickets
https://passmarket.yahoo.co.jp/event/show/detail/02gv72vmjjh21.html

Go to the Visitor Center First!

The visitor center is located in the center of the park. It is recommended to first learn about monkeys before going inside the park. They also provide guidance and exhibits to help you organize your knowledge about monkeys.

There is a permanent exhibition that introduces the characteristics and types of monkeys through skeletal specimens and stuffed specimens, as well as special exhibitions that are planned with various themes.In the lecture hall in the visitor center, lectures on monkeys, mainly for groups, and events where researchers and staff can directly hear stories are popular.

On this day, the personal collection of Mr. Enjiro Toyosawa III (1918-1975), who was a shamisen player in the traditional performing art of Ningyo Joruri, was on display.

Many people think of monkeys hanging from trees, but in reality, only a limited number of monkeys can hang by their tails. Why can it hang by its tail? You can learn the secrets of monkeys.

Full of Exclusive Goods
Museum Shop

The visitor center also has a museum shop. There are many cute monkey-themed goods that can only be purchased here.

We also recommend stylish goods designed by the staff that can be used everyday! Tenugui towels are 1,000 yen each.

Ring-tailed lemur and squirrel monkey mesh caps that our staff love. 1,800 yen each

White-handed gibbon and white-faced saki cloth mask with cute delicate embroidery. 1,500 yen

Socks designed with the faces of popular people in the park, such as mandrills and gorillas. 560 yen each

Shirogaosaki's Mop-kun ceramic cup is also simple and stylish. (600 yen)

In addition, you can order goods such as smartphone covers, T-shirts, bags, etc. at the online shop that are not available in the shop.

▼ Click here for details
https://suzuri.jp/JMC_JapanMonkeyCentre

The Popular "Wao Land"

"Wao Land" where you can meet ring-tailed lemurs up close

"Wao Land" where ring-tailed lemurs are free-ranging. People can enter the monkey house and see ring-tailed lemurs up close without cages. The herd is divided into groups, and by changing them every day, it is devised to prevent them from getting used to humans and to observe the movements of the monkeys in a state close to nature.

The ring-tailed lemur is a monkey that inhabits the island of Madagascar.

Their distinctive tails also serve as landmarks for finding fellows when they move in groups in nature. If only the tail is sticking out from the grass, this striped pattern certainly seems to stand out.

In hot weather, they cool off with the wind from a fan, and in cold weather, they warm themselves with an electric heater. Just imagining this makes me smile.

You can see ring-tailed lemurs up close, but they may move suddenly, so if you have small children, let's hold hands when entering!

"Wao Land" has a limited time to enter, so be sure to check at the entrance gate! It is possible to observe from the outside even after hours.

"Madagascar Pavilion" where three kinds of lemurs are bred

The facility is divided into an indoor room and a spacious outdoor playground surrounded by a moat. In the playground, you can see how they fly around quickly, and in the indoor room, you can see them relaxing and eating more closely.

A black ruffed lemur greeted us with a very relaxed appearance.

The ring-tailed lemurs were resting so tightly that it was hard to know how many there were for a moment. In the cold season, many more stick together and become called "saru dango (monkey ball)".

"South America Pavilion" exhibiting monkeys inhabiting Central and South America

Monkeys living between South America are characterized by their two nostrils that are wider and open sideways than Asian and African monkeys. They are also called New World monkeys because of their habitat.

The South America Pavilion is designed so that the monkeys can go outside through a tunnel from an indoor room. The monkeys pass overhead, so you can see the monkeys from an angle that is rarely seen, which is refreshing.

It is also at this facility that you can meet "Mop-kun", a white-faced saki who is popular for restaurant menus and goods. The male has a pure white face on a black body. Females are a dull grey-brown color with white lines on both sides of their noses.

A common marmoset that is small and has lovely round eyes. The white hair around the ears is interesting.

A cotton boll tamarin characterized by white head hair. When I pointed the camera at him, he tilted his head strangely. The monkeys in the "South America Pavilion" gave me the impression that they were particularly curious.

Next to the South America Pavilion, there is also the “Asia Pavilion,” which houses Japanese macaques. The macaques that inhabit Asia widely, and colobine monkeys that often feed on leaves are on display.

"Africa Center" with gorillas and chimpanzees

Great apes such as western gorillas and chimpanzees, mandrills famous for their flashy blue and red facial markings, small nocturnal monkeys, and chimpanzees are on display.

*The "Nocturnal Exhibition Room" is closed for the time being to prevent infection.

Chimpanzees waiting in front of the fence for the keeper to come. When playing actively, sometimes the leaves you throw will fly over the cage.

He approached me as if to say hello.

"Taro" of western gorilla. When the keeper called his name, he noticed and came to me. Even though he has such a big body and looks strong, he's a shy person who doesn't really want to make eye contact. However, on the way home, he appealed by tapping the window lightly as if he didn't want me to go. It's interesting to hear about each character.

The way he enjoys looking for food hidden in various places is very popular! At the playground for chimpanzees, you can watch them climb and bask in the trees and jungle gyms.

In the spring of 2018, volunteers gathered from all over the country to cleanly paint the walls. The reason why they are supported by so many people is because the Japan Monkey Center has been loved for so long.

There are also monkeys that you can only meet here in Japan. "Africa Pavilion"

A wide variety of monkeys are on display, such as guenons with beautiful facial patterns, mangabeys, colobus with a beautiful contrast between black and white, and baboons such as the hamadryas baboon, which has splendid cloak-like hair on its shoulders.

Another feature of the Africa Pavilion is that there are many species that can only be found here in Japan. In particular, Golden Mangabei, Sykes Monkey, Kuchihige Guenon, and Shohana Jiroguenon (subspecies: Batticopher Guenon) are the last ones in Japan. Please come and see us.

The new Africa Pavilion is almost completed, and they are planning to move to the northern area soon. It looks like they'll be more comfortable.

A long white belt that is used in various places where monkeys spend their time. If you look closely, it's a fire hose. You will notice that the monkeys are used for various purposes such as exercising, hiding food, and sheltering from the rain and wind.

I was surprised that the staff made it by hand using donated fire hoses! Here and there in the park, you can feel the ingenuity of researchers and staff to see the wonderful abilities of primates.

Next to the new Africa Pavilion, there is also a place where you can actually play with the same things. Seems pretty comfortable.