From hands-on animal encounters to amusement parks, and all-weather facilities where you can have fun even on rainy days-these zoos in Kobe and Himeji each have their own unique charm. When sightseeing in Kobe or Himeji, be sure to enjoy Japan’s zoos as well.

A Quick Overview of All Zoos

a) About Kobe Oji Zoo
Home to about 650 animals of 120 species, including large mammals such as elephants, giraffes, and polar bears, Kobe Oji Zoo is one of the few zoos in the Kansai region where you can see koalas. Popular attractions include the “Fureai Plaza,” where visitors can interact directly with animals, and the “Animal Science Pavilion,” where you can learn about animal ecology and habitats. Another unique feature is its attached retro-style amusement park.

The grounds are home to about 100 cherry trees, which bloom beautifully in spring. A seasonal highlight is the “Night Cherry Blossom Walk,” where illuminated cherry blossoms create a magical evening experience.

b) Zoo Area
Right after entering, you’ll spot colorful birds such as pink-hued European flamingos. Other animals include popular favorites like elephants, tigers, giraffes, zebras, and chimpanzees, as well as reptiles and nocturnal creatures, housed in separate areas according to species.

In the “Animal & Children’s Country” area, you can watch koalas and red pandas up close. At “Fureai Plaza,” goats, sheep, and geese roam freely, and the twice-daily “Fureai Time” lets you pet rabbits and guinea pigs.

c) Amusement Park Area
The zoo features a retro Japanese-style amusement park with rides such as teacups, a train, and a carousel, priced from 240 to 360 yen. If you get tired of walking, you can enjoy the view of the zoo from the animal-themed Ferris wheel. There’s also an indoor play area with photo booths and arcade games.

d) Important Cultural Property – Former Hunter Residence
After enjoying the animals, you can visit the largest surviving ijinkan (foreigner’s residence) in Kobe. These Western-style houses were built in the late 1800s to early 1900s for foreign merchants, diplomats, and engineers in the old foreign settlement. Admission to the interior is free, offering a glimpse into the lifestyle of wealthy foreigners of the era.
Note: The interior may be closed to the public depending on the season.

e) Restaurants & Food
The zoo does not have a permanent restaurant, but two food trucks operate on-site, selling items such as hot dogs, yakisoba, and curry. Visitors coming individually (not in group tours) can re-enter the zoo, making it possible to step out to nearby restaurants or bring in purchased meals.

After visiting Oji Zoo, why not explore some of the surrounding attractions as well?

Start by checking out the link below for sightseeing spots in Kobe.

▼For more details▼

A day trip from Osaka! 12 popular sightseeing spots to visit by train

a) About Kobe Animal Kingdom
Located on Kobe’s Port Island, this facility lets visitors interact with small animals, birds, and colorful plants in vast greenhouses – perfect even on rainy days. Animals from around the world live in environments that closely resemble their natural habitats, making it a great place to learn about wildlife. For example, in the African Wetland area you can find ring-tailed lemurs and pygmy hippos; in the North American Rocky Valley area, timber wolves; and in the Tropical Rainforest area, sloths.

A highlight is the African Wetland habitat created to replicate the native environment of the endangered shoebill stork, allowing it to live comfortably and actively.

You can get up close with animals such as penguins, capybaras, and alpacas. In the Outside Park, you can even enjoy a ride on a Bactrian camel.

b) Discounted Admission Ticket Sets
If you’re traveling by train, you can save with a set that includes your admission ticket and train fare. Some sets have specific sales and validity periods, so be sure to check the details.

■Kobe Animal Kingdom Admission + Port Liner Round-Trip Ticket
Adults (junior high school students and older): ￥2,200
Elementary school students: ￥1,200
Seniors (65 and over): ￥1,600

■Kobe Animal Kingdom Admission + Hanshin Railway & Port Liner Round-Trip Ticket
Adults (junior high school students and older): ￥2,800
Elementary school students: ￥1,500
Seniors (65 and over): ￥2,200

▶For sales periods, validity, and other details, click here

C) Restaurants & Food
The park has a variety of restaurants and cafes to suit all tastes, including places that offer udon noodles, burgers, and other popular dishes for both kids and adults.

■”Hana no Kitchen” (Flower Kitchen)
This restaurant provides a beautiful dining experience surrounded by lush plants. The menu features a popular one-plate lunch, as well as rice bowls, curry rice, and ramen. A dedicated kids’ menu is also available.

■Men-dokoro “Fukurou-an” (Owl Noodle Shop)
Fukurou-an specializes in udon noodle dishes like Kitsune Udon and Curry Udon. The shop also offers a variety of side items, including chicken nuggets, French fries, and ice cream.

After your visit to Kobe Animal Kingdom, why not explore the nearby tourist attractions?

▼For more details▼

A day trip from Osaka! 12 popular sightseeing spots to visit by train

a) Himeji City Zoo: An Overview
Located on the grounds of Himeji Castle, Himeji City Zoo is a historic attraction that first opened in 1951. It’s a beloved local spot, home to over 100 animals from around 30 species, with inhabitants from Japan, Africa, and Asia. In the spring, the park’s cherry blossoms create a stunning view, with Himeji Castle as a beautiful backdrop. The zoo also features a charmingly retro amusement park that opened in 1952, offering a heartwarming trip back in time.

b) Save with a Digital Pass
■Hanshin-Sanyo Seaside QR 1-Day Ticket
This digital pass, purchased on your smartphone, gives you unlimited 1-day travel between Hanshin-Osaka-Umeda Station/Osaka-Namba Station and Sanyo-Himeji Station for just 2,300 yen. It’s a great way to explore the surrounding area at a low cost.

c) Zoo Area
The zoo is home to around 100 animals from 30 species. You’ll find popular residents like Kosuke, a reticulated giraffe who is said to bring happiness if you spot the heart-shaped mark on his right foreleg. Other favorites include the adorable capybaras and the charming red pandas. Don’t miss the “Fureai Hiroba” (Petting Zoo), a hit with kids, where you can interact directly with animals like guinea pigs, goats, and sheep during one of the two daily petting times.

d) Amusement Park Area
On the north and south sides of the park, you’ll find a retro-style amusement park with fun rides. The north side features a monorail, a caterpillar train, and teacups. The south side has a Ferris wheel, airplane rides, and a game corner. Both the monorail and the Ferris wheel offer fantastic views of Himeji Castle.

e) Restaurants and Food
While there are no restaurants inside the zoo, you are welcome to bring your own lunch or take-out food. A great idea is to buy food at the department stores inside or in front of Himeji Station before you head to the zoo.

After you’ve enjoyed the zoo, why not explore Himeji Castle?

▼For more details of Himeji Castle▼
5 castles in Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo. From World Heritage Sites to the Newest Castles, Places to Visit for Sightseeing

a) About Himeji Central Park
Himeji Central Park is a massive leisure complex that combines a drive-through safari park, an amusement park, and seasonal attractions like a pool and an ice skating rink. Its most popular feature is the safari zone, where you can see animals living in near-natural habitats from the comfort of a bus. The amusement park offers a variety of thrilling rides, including a roller coaster with three loops. If you visit in spring, you’ll see approximately 400 early-blooming Kawazu cherry trees blossom in early March, followed by a full bloom of Somei Yoshino cherry trees in late March. It’s a special time to see the animals against a backdrop of beautiful cherry blossoms.

b) Save with a Digital Pass
■Hanshin-Sanyo Seaside QR 1-Day Ticket
This digital pass, purchased on your smartphone, gives you unlimited 1-day travel between Hanshin-Osaka-Umeda Station/Osaka-Namba Station and Sanyo-Himeji Station for just 2,300 yen. It’s a great way to explore the surrounding area at a low cost.

c) Safari Area

■Drive-Through Safari
In this 30-minute bus tour, you’ll get up close to about 1,200 animals from 190 species, including both carnivores and herbivores, as they roam in a natural setting. For a more immersive experience, we recommend the “Safari No. 1,” a cruise on a bus with open-mesh sides that lets you feel the wind and sense the animals more directly during the 45-minute journey.

For an even more thrilling experience, try the 60-minute “Adventure Ride” or “Safari The Ride.” These special cage-like buses get you incredibly close to the animals. The “Adventure Ride” takes you right up to tigers and giraffes, while “Safari The Ride” gets you close to lions and camels.

In summer, you can also enjoy the special “Night Safari,” where the park is lit up, allowing you to see the animals in a whole new way.

●Safari Bus (approx. 30 min): 800 yen per seat
●Safari No. 1 (approx. 45 min): 1,500 yen per person
●Safari The Ride (approx. 60 min): 3,000 yen per person
●Adventure Ride (approx. 60 min): 3,300 yen per person

■Walking Safari
Walk freely through a lush, green area and enjoy encounters with free-roaming birds, capybaras, ring-tailed lemurs, emus, and other animals.

You can also feed animals like the giraffes from the drive-through safari, as well as the white lions and white tigers.

■Sky Safari
After your walking safari, take a ride on a zebra-striped gondola for a unique aerial view of the park. This approximately 317-meter long ride takes you from the “Wild Country” station at the base to the “Friendly Country” station at the top of the safari park.

■Child’s Farm: Friendly Country
This area is designed for safe and fun interaction with small animals. You can pet friendly dogs and other small creatures, and even feed goats, sheep, and horses. Kids will love this area.

The Child’s Farm also offers pony rides and intermediate horse rides, giving you a chance to feel the warmth and motion of a real horse.

d) Amusement Park Area
The amusement park features a variety of thrilling attractions, including the Hurricane roller coaster, which dives from a height of 26 meters with loops and corkscrews. The Go! Go! Jet roller coaster offers great views of the natural scenery both inside and outside the park. There are also plenty of family-friendly rides, such as an 85-meter-high Ferris wheel, a bullet train ride, a bazooka game, and a putt-putt golf course.

e) Restaurants and Food
The park has a number of cafes and restaurants that complement the park’s unique features. Here are some top recommendations.

■EAT & Cafe Danieli
Located in the Walking Safari area, this cafe offers a safari-resort dining experience. In addition to a regular cafe menu, you’ll find special seasonal dishes.

■Resapan Cafe: Enjoy a fun cafe break while watching red pandas move around above you. The cafe also serves unique red panda-themed sweets and ice cream.

From classic Japanese zoos to safari-style parks with animals in natural environments, we’ve introduced four unique zoos. Choose your favorite and make your trip an even more unforgettable experience!