Saturday, March 9, 2013

Tokyo, Japan: Inokashira Park Zoo 1

Inokashira Park Zoo is one of five zoos in Tokyo (and one of three I visited in Japan), featuring the native animals of Japan and its (ironically non-local) star animal is Hanako, the first elephant to come to Japan after WWII. The Park Zoo is also peppered with sculptures by Seibo Kitamura. I especially enjoyed the Guinea Pig Petting Zoo run by volunteers - cuddle therapy! It's one of the more child-friendly zoos I've visited - with a Gallery with activities for children and lots of cutesy animals that will appeal to them.

It's within walking distance from the Studio Ghibli Museum, making the Mitaka-Kichijoji area a worthy day trip off the JR Line.

Inokashira Park Zoo

Inokashira Park Zoo

Inokashira Park Zoo

The friendly staff told me about a visitor's discount (upon hearing some of my gibberish English and checking my passport) and passed me the tourist guide for Tokyo's zoos (with the coupon).

Inokashira Park Zoo

Inokashira Park Zoo

A prelude

Inokashira Park Zoo

Inokashira Park Zoo

Inokashira Park Zoo

Inokashira Park Zoo

Inokashira Park Zoo

Oh my Gawd! Cuteness Overload!

Inokashira Park Zoo

What fine weather

Inokashira Park Zoo

Inokashira Park Zoo

Inokashira Park Zoo

Inokashira Park Zoo

Inokashira Park Zoo

Inokashira Park Zoo

We used to keep a couple growing up.

Inokashira Park Zoo

Inokashira Park Zoo

Inokashira Park Zoo

Sculpture a-hunting

Inokashira Park Zoo

Someone's been doing a great job with the lawn

Inokashira Park Zoo

Inokashira Park Zoo

An obsession with maple

Inokashira Park Zoo

The Petting Zoo

Inokashira Park Zoo

You can pet them in the pen or place them on your laps and stroke. Repeatedly.

Inokashira Park Zoo

They are all females (talked a bit with a volunteer) for obvious reasons.

Inokashira Park Zoo

They are the same, yet different.

Inokashira Park Zoo

Inokashira Park Zoo

Inokashira Park Zoo

Inokashira Park Zoo

Inokashira Park Zoo

Hi Hanako. Bye Hanako.

Cost: free (0-12 years) - ¥400 (Inquire about tourist discounts)
Access: JR Kichijoji Station South Exit (10 min walk)

NB: Don't miss the Studio Ghibli Museum!

More to come!

Related Posts:
Japan Day 2 – Tokyo, Day 2: 

4 comments:

  1. Hi there, we are planning a trip to japan in December and would like to know how cold tokyo and kyoto is? Is it really freezing or chilly? We are from South Africa and find New York in December pretty unbearable so we hoping japan is more pleasant:)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Singapore is warm/ hot all year around and I thought Japan was quite cold! (3-15 deg celsius? It might rain too...) If it gets unbearable in Japan, you can pop into any Uniqlo store and stock up on Heattech products, get hot drinks from the vending machines or soak in an onsen! The temperature drops further in Jan/ Feb. Anw it was worth the cold. Really! Have a good trip!

    ReplyDelete
  3. We loved this Zoo, and the whole Mitaka/Innokashira superb. Two years on and my children are still talking about "all those guinea pigs! Thank you so sharing your pictures

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Katherine, thanks for reading! Yes, the guinea pigs were definitely THE highlight of the zoo. It was so therapeutic stroking them... so soft!

    ReplyDelete

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My Japan Itinerary (December 2012 and June 2016)

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