Information
Landmark: Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical GardensCity: Nagoya
Country: Japan
Continent: Asia
Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Nagoya, Japan, Asia
Overview
In Nagoya, Japan, the Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens (東山動植物園, Higashiyama Dōshokubutsuen) ranks among the city’s biggest and busiest public parks, with winding paths shaded by tall gingko trees.In Kyoto’s Higashiyama District, this sprawling spot blends a zoo, lush botanical gardens, and a lively amusement park, so you can hear parrots squawk before riding a carousel-all in one visit.Number one.Higashiyama Zoo first welcomed visitors in 1937, and fourteen years later, the botanical gardens opened, with rows of young cherry trees lining the paths.Over the years, the site grew and transformed, adding new spaces and lively events, until it became one of Nagoya’s favorite spots for culture and play.Size: The complex stretches across more than 60 hectares-about 148 acres-offering plenty of room for visitors to wander shaded trails and spot wildlife.The zoo and botanical gardens sit inside Higashiyama Park, just a short walk from Higashiyama Station on the Higashiyama Subway Line, where the scent of fresh greenery greets you as you arrive.Number two.Highlights and standout features, like A. Higashiyama Zoo houses creatures from every corner of the globe, from roaring lions to tiny, quick-footed meerkats.You’ll find everything from native Japanese species to curious exotic animals, making it a spot families and animal lovers can enjoy-like watching bright koi glide under a wooden footbridge.Animal Exhibits: The zoo is home to more than 500 species, from chattering parrots and sleek otters to reptiles, amphibians, and shimmering fish.Among the zoo’s biggest draws are the Asian elephants-gentle giants swaying slowly in the sun, and easily some of its most beloved residents.Lions, tigers, and bears prowl the zoo’s big-cat enclosures, and crowds gather to watch them pace, tails flicking in the afternoon sun.African wildlife is on full display here, with sprawling enclosures for giraffes, zebras, and hulking rhinoceroses standing in the sun.Visitors can watch chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans move through lush, leafy habitats built to mirror the wild.Penguins and seals draw big crowds at the zoo, especially kids, who press their faces to the glass to watch them dive and splash.The zoo features hands-on exhibits that let visitors get close to the animals-like feeding grain to bleating goats in the petting area or watching lions prowl behind towering glass walls.Safari and Wild Areas: The zoo features immersive zones that recreate habitats like the sunbaked African savannah, the lush Amazon rainforest, and the icy Arctic tundra, giving visitors a vivid sense of the world’s wildlife and why protecting it matters.The zoo runs vital breeding programs for endangered animals, like the quiet snow leopard pacing in its enclosure, and its classes and tours spark real awareness about protecting wildlife.B. Higashiyama Botanical Gardens is another standout here, with winding paths lined by orchids, cacti, and rare blooms gathered from every corner of the globe.The gardens are split into distinct sections, each filled with its own variety of plants.In the Japanese Garden, you’ll find curved bridges over koi-filled ponds, stone lanterns catching the afternoon light, and bonsai trees shaped with patient care.Rose Garden: This favorite spot bursts with hundreds of rose varieties, their petals glowing in spring and summer when the blooms are at their peak.In the greenhouse, you’ll find a wide array of tropical and subtropical plants-bright hibiscus blooms, glossy broad leaves, and rare species that thrive in warm, humid air.In one corner of the gardens, a special section bursts with cacti and succulents, their spines catching the afternoon light in neat rows of hardy desert beauty.Seasonal Exhibits: All year long, the botanical gardens host vibrant flower festivals-cherry blossoms drifting like pink snow in spring, lilies brightening summer, chrysanthemums coloring autumn, and glittering illuminations in the quiet of winter.The botanical gardens host hands-on gardening workshops and lively educational programs, where visitors learn how to grow healthy plants and protect the environment-sometimes with soil still warm in their palms.C, marked in bold red ink, stood alone on the page.Alongside its zoo and botanical gardens, the Higashiyama complex includes a small amusement park where families can spin on a bright carousel or try a handful of other rides and attractions.Rides: The amusement park offers roller coasters, a brightly painted merry-go-round, and gentle train rides, giving younger visitors plenty to enjoy.Carousel and Ferris Wheel: The Ferris wheel stands out as a highlight, lifting you high enough to spot the zoo, the lush botanical gardens, and rooftops glinting in the distance.D, written in a quick, looping hand, marked the corner of the page.One of the park’s highlights is the Higashiyama Sky Tower, a sleek observation tower where you can take in sweeping views of Nagoya and the hills beyond, hazy in the afternoon light.It’s a perfect place to snap photos and soak in the sweeping view of the whole park, from the winding paths to the glint of sunlight on the lake.From the tower, you can spot the city stretching out below, Nagoya Castle’s rooftops catching the light, and on a clear day, the faint outline of Mount Ontake on the horizon.Three.At the zoo and the botanical gardens, staff work hard to teach visitors and protect wildlife, from guiding kids past roaring lions to tending rare orchids in bloom.The zoo hosts regular exhibits and hands-on activities to spark awareness about environmental issues, from conservation programs that protect endangered species to research efforts aimed at preserving their habitats.The zoo and botanical gardens host workshops, guided tours, and hands-on sessions where students and families might touch a smooth turtle shell or smell fresh lavender, all aimed at teaching why protecting both plants and animals matters.Number four.Restaurants and cafés are scattered throughout the park, serving everything from steaming bowls of ramen to fresh salads and pastries from abroad.You can grab a bite-maybe a sandwich or something sweet-and unwind under the shade of tall, swaying trees.Gift shops offer animal-themed mugs, colorful souvenirs, and books packed with facts about the zoo and botanical gardens.Rest Areas: Visitors can take a break at shaded benches or spread out at picnic tables, enjoying a quiet moment in the park.Five.The zoo and botanical gardens are open most days, though times can shift-especially in busy summer weeks or during big events.The zoo usually opens at 9 a.m. and shuts its gates by 4:30 in the afternoon, but check their schedule to be sure-hours can change, especially after a rainy morning.It costs a small fee to enter the zoo and botanical gardens, but kids, seniors, and groups get a discount-just enough for an ice cream afterward.At the amusement park, you’ll have to pay extra for the rides-each one has its own price posted on a small sign.Getting there’s simple-just hop on the Higashiyama Subway Line and ride to Higashiyama Station, a short stroll from the complex’s entrance where the air smells faintly of roasted chestnuts in winter.
