Sapporo Maruyama Zoo
札幌市円山動物園
Hokkaido's oldest zoo. The polar bear house has an underwater tunnel where you can watch polar bears swim overhead, and the Asian elephant house is one of Japan's largest indoor elephant enclosures.
Maruyama Zoo opened in 1951 inside Maruyama Park and keeps about 170 species. In recent years it has undergone a large-scale renovation. The polar bear house has an underwater transparent tunnel where visitors can watch polar bears swim overhead. The Asian elephant house is one of Japan's largest indoor elephant enclosures. The tropical rainforest house and the African section are also popular. Admission is about 800 yen. Opening hours are about 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM (until 4:00 PM from November to February). The zoo is closed on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month, among other days; check the official website. Getting there: about 15 minutes' walk from Maruyama-koen Station on the subway. It can be visited on the same day as Hokkaido Jingu.
Opening hours
09:00–16:30 (until 16:00 in winter)
Nearby sights
- Hokkaido Jingu Shrine
- Asahiyama Memorial Park
- Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium
- Sapporo Curb Market
- Mount Moiwa
- Hokkaido University Botanic Garden
- Odori Park
- Hokkaido University