Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens
東山動植物園
One of Japan's zoos with the most species, popular for its koalas and the handsome gorilla Shabani, and home to an Important Cultural Property greenhouse.
Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens opened in 1937. It covers about 60 hectares and houses roughly 450 species, ranking among Japan's top zoos for variety and numbers. Koalas, gorillas, Asian elephants and snow leopards are especially popular. The botanical garden section includes the National Important Cultural Property Greenhouse Front Hall, Japan's oldest surviving glass greenhouse, built in 1937, as well as a gassho-style farmhouse and a cherry blossom corridor. The 134-meter Higashiyama Sky Tower offers views over the city. Adult admission is about 500 yen, junior high school students and younger enter free, and the zoo is closed on Mondays. It's about a 3-minute walk from Higashiyama Koen Station on the Higashiyama Line. The grounds are large, so plan for half a day.
Opening hours
9:00 am–4:50 pm, closed Mon
Nearby sights
- Kakuozan Nittai-ji Temple
- Tokugawa Art Museum & Tokugawa-en
- Oasis 21
- Chubu Electric Power MIRAI TOWER & Hisaya-odori Park
- Atsuta Jingu
- Toyota Automobile Museum
- Osu Shopping District & Osu Kannon
- Nagoya City Science Museum