The Best Zoo in Japan: Kobe Animal Kingdom

Kobe Animal Kingdom is a unique animal and flower park located in Kobe, Japan. An easy day trip by train from Kyoto (50 min) or Osaka (25 min). I have been to many zoos and aquariums while traveling around the world, including the famous Taranga Zoo in Syndey, Australia. But, there is something about the Kobe Animal Kingdom that makes it stand out to me (Taranga is still amazing too!).

The grounds are primarily located in and around a greenhouse and feature a wide variety of plants and animals. It was created by Japanese botanist and collector Kamo Mototeru in 2006. The zoo includes multiple open exhibits, meaning there is no glass between you and the animals. For example, you can walk directly underneath red pandas on their branches, smell the scent of popcorn emitting from the Binturong, and possibly have a monkey fly over your head. Oh, and you’ll even get the opportunity to pet and feed capybara!! (petting is free, feeding was about 200 yen, $2).

Who would enjoy Kobe Animal Kingdom? Whether you are traveling with kids, a group of friends, or even solo – I recommend this to any plant or animal lover looking for a unique way to interact with animals in Japan. If you are keen on animal photography this will be an incredible opportunity for you to get some amazing up-close photographs!

For more underrated in Japan content, check out Uji: Japan’s Tea Paradise

Glass-free Exhibits

I have never been to a zoo where there were this many exhibits without glass. This zoo had rooms where a few animals, such as the red panda and binturong are on branches right above you. If I wanted to, I could have jumped and touched the red panda’s tail. For me, a huge red panda fan it was so awesome to see them so close. In another room there were monkeys and birds. A tiny monkey flew over my head, it was crazy! You could also pay a few yen to touch a python. Such a fun experience for kids and adults alike.

From what I remember the animals with glass-free exhibits were: red pandas, binturong, lemurs, sloths, monkeys, capybara, variety of birds, tortoises, kangaroos, prairie dogs, shoebill, and deer. But I’m sure there are more I’m forgetting.

NOTE: You can’t interact with all of these animals, the staff will let you know which ones you can actually touch. We were able to interact with the tortoises, kangaroos, and capybaras.

Meet & Greet Capybaras & Tortoises (+ Others)

The capybaras and tortoises were so fun to interact with. They were housed in a room together. We opted to get some food for them so we fed them in the exhibit. They both walk around the room freely and you can pet them while they relax. One capybara wanted some personal space and made its way sneakily behind the door, it was so funny to see their different personalities. The room wasn’t packed full of people so you could take your time to enjoy the experience. A must for capybara lovers that don’t want an overcrowded experience.

Variety of Events

Kobe Animal Kingdom has a variety of events scheduled at different throughout the zoo. We watched a short bird show in the bird and monkey room which was great. Other events include: feeding penguins, red panda talk, and riding camels. Check out the full list of events before you go on their website.

Great Gift Shop

Normally zoo gift shops are a hit or miss. Sometimes they are overpriced or the animal merchandise is a bit cheap or doesn’t look accurate. The gift shop at the Animal Kingdom was very reasonably priced and they finally had red panda merchandise with the right markings and coloring. The items are good quality as well, I have had a red panda key chain on my purse for almost a year and it still looks great.

Onsite Cafeteria with Animal Themed Foods

We ate lunch at the cafeteria during our visit. The food was pretty good, inexpensive, and was animal-themed. A nice touch! We really enjoyed the cream puff. Plus they had Dippin’ Dots!! It was a really nice atmosphere in the middle of the greenhouse surrounded by plants.

Animal Welfare

From my experience at 3-4 other zoos in Japan, animal welfare is a bit of a controversial topic. For example, the zoo in Osaka was the absolute worst zoo I have ever been to in my life. The animals there looked poorly cared for and some even malnourished with extremely low energy or small enclosures. It was so upsetting to see. Kobe Animal Kingdom was a breath of fresh air, the exhibits were clean, animals looked healthy and well cared for, the staff were kind and clearly had built up good relationships with the animals. They are also members of the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums. An organization with the purpose of conserving nature and precious animals from an international perspective.

Kobe Animal Kingdom Park Map