zoogeekmaelstrom
Well-Known Member
Golden bellied mangabey is a highlight of this place.
Japan 2025
- Thread starter aramacao
- Start date
According to Zootierliste, it is one of 4 collections with Taiwan rock macaques and one of 3 with Yakushima macaques
zoogeekmaelstrom
Well-Known Member
Although they’ve lost several rarities like Santarem marmoset, moustached guenon, red bellied titi, Guinea baboon and silvery langur, it’s definitely a place worth your time due to the extensive amount of primate species.
Perfect, it's become clear to me that I have to try to go to this park. I'll put it on my list. So the list would look like this:
- Nagoya: Sea Life Nagoya, Port Of Nagoya Public Aquarium, Higashima Zoo, Japan Monkey Center
- Hiroshima: Asa Zoo, Mariho Aquarium
- Miyajima: Miyajima Public Aquarium
- Kobe: Kobe Suma Seaworld, Kobe Animal Kingdom, Átoa, Minatoyama Aquarium, Kobe Ōji Zoo
- Kyoto: Kyoto Aquarium, Kyoto Zoo
I've doubts wit some of the places of Nagoya and Kobe. This places are Sea Life Nagoya, Kobe Suma Seaworld, Átoa and Minatoyama Aquarium. The rest of the places of the list are sure visits but I'm not sure for visit this parks. They have some rare species? Are they interesting parks? My time is limited and I don't want to waste it in parks that don't offer me anything interesting, especially now that I've added another one to the list.
I have another request: Can you give me an idea of how much time it will take to visit each park?
- Nagoya: Sea Life Nagoya, Port Of Nagoya Public Aquarium, Higashima Zoo, Japan Monkey Center
- Hiroshima: Asa Zoo, Mariho Aquarium
- Miyajima: Miyajima Public Aquarium
- Kobe: Kobe Suma Seaworld, Kobe Animal Kingdom, Átoa, Minatoyama Aquarium, Kobe Ōji Zoo
- Kyoto: Kyoto Aquarium, Kyoto Zoo
I've doubts wit some of the places of Nagoya and Kobe. This places are Sea Life Nagoya, Kobe Suma Seaworld, Átoa and Minatoyama Aquarium. The rest of the places of the list are sure visits but I'm not sure for visit this parks. They have some rare species? Are they interesting parks? My time is limited and I don't want to waste it in parks that don't offer me anything interesting, especially now that I've added another one to the list.
I have another request: Can you give me an idea of how much time it will take to visit each park?
Oh, one thing.
You're going next year, right?
Mariho Aquarium in Hiroshima is permanantly closing next month.
お知らせ｜マリホ水族館｜広島マリーナホップ
Oh, no...
Are you a lover of small aquariums and fancy exhibits? If not, maybe you can skip ATOA and Minatoyama. They're cool for couples and kids but maybe not for zoo nerds.
If you're more looking into species, I recommend a day trip to Toba Aquarium instead. It has Commerson's dolphin, Dugong, Baikal Seal, Nautilus and many other interesting species.
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Seems like a really nice Japan trip you are going into!
Hope when you get back or on tour you might manage some reviews and/or just plain new zoo news for the respective threads in the Japan forum part!
Thank you, this is exactly the kind of advice I need. In this case, I will leave the two aquariums you mentioned just to visit them if I have time left.
I went to Japan 2 years ago and I already visited Toba, but thank you anyway. Indeed, it is a must-see.
Do you think the other zoos and aquariums on my list are good?
Oh, you've already been to Toba!
If you're into marine species, I recommend visiting these aquariums:
1. Numazu Deepsea Aquarium
- Easily accessible from by train and bus
- Good place to visit between Osaka and Tokyo
- Lots of interesting marine species, both alive and specimens
2. Aquatoto Gifu
- Easily accessible with a day trip from Nagoya
- World-class collection of freshwater fish
3. Otaru Aquarium
- Easily accessible with a day trip from Sapporo
- Interesting marine mammals, including Harbour Porpoise and Ringed Seal
- Lots of marine species that are found in northern Japan
I think the places on the list are quite good overall, but if it was me, I'll skip this place:
SEA LIFE Nagoya.
- Nice aquarium, but the collections and exhibits are quite similar with SEA LIFE overseas
- No particular species that is special to this aquarium
I really appreciate your advice. However, since I'm traveling with my girlfriend this time, I tend to reduce the number of animal parks rather than increase them. I think that Japan is a world-class wonder when it comes to animal parks, and the ones you mentioned were already on my list. However, since she's not a zoonerd and there are already a lot of parks on my list for three weeks, I think that's enough. I've removed Mariho from my list because it's closing soon, and I'll also put down the three you mentioned as "not very interesting" (Atoa, Minatoyama and Nagoya Sea Life) and only visit them if I have time to spare, but I can't add more or travel further. Still, I really appreciate your valuable information.
For the rest of the parks that follow on the list, could you tell me how long it takes to visit them? That way I can make a detailed plan. This is the actual list:
- Nagoya: Port Of Nagoya Public Aquarium, Higashima Zoo, Japan Monkey Center
- Hiroshima: Asa Zoo
- Miyajima: Miyajima Public Aquarium
- Kobe: Kobe Suma Seaworld, Kobe Animal Kingdom, Kobe Ōji Zoo
- Kyoto: Kyoto Aquarium, Kyoto Zoo
For the rest of the parks that follow on the list, could you tell me how long it takes to visit them? That way I can make a detailed plan. This is the actual list:
- Nagoya: Port Of Nagoya Public Aquarium, Higashima Zoo, Japan Monkey Center
- Hiroshima: Asa Zoo
- Miyajima: Miyajima Public Aquarium
- Kobe: Kobe Suma Seaworld, Kobe Animal Kingdom, Kobe Ōji Zoo
- Kyoto: Kyoto Aquarium, Kyoto Zoo
Oh, I see!
I hope you have a chance in the future to visit these places!
Here are the estimate times that might be needed to enjoy the places on your list.
This is just based on my personal experiences, except Asa Zoo and Suma Sea World. I asked my friends who went there last month, since I haven't visited there yet.
Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium:
- 2-5 Hours
- It's a big aquarium, and will take time especially if you want to enjoy the shows
Higashiyama Zoo
- 2-4 Hours
- Large zoo, and time really varies how much you look into the small species
- The aquarium, nocturnal house, and reptile houses are full of interesting species
Japan Monkey Center
- 1.5-2.5 Hours
- The area itself is not huge, but may take time if you look into the interesting species
Asa Zoo
- 2-3 Hours
Miyajima Aquarium
- 1.5-3 Hours
- The aquarium itself is relatively compact, but may need time if you're watching the show
Suma Sea World
- 2-5 Hours
- Really depends on how much you want to enjoy the show
Kobe Animal Kingdom
- 2-3 Hours
- Not a lot of walking, but the exhibits are nice and will need time to see
Kobe Oji Zoo
- 1.5-3 Hours
- Medium Sized Zoo in Japan
Kyoto Aquarium
- 1.5-2.5 Hours
- Large aquarium but has compact exhibits
Kyoto Zoo
- 1.5-2 Hours
- Not a lot of walking,
You might want to add on extra time if you're looking more into species or enjoying the environment inside.
Hope this helps your trip!
Oji have giant pandas and bobcats (American laughing hard when i say bobcat is a rariry)
Unfortunately the Giant Panda passed away earlier this year.
Bobcats, yes. Rare in Japan and Asia.
To be honest, these facilites don't have special and rare species that might attract zoo nerds.
But the environment it nice and fun, and all are in a convinient place from local tourist attractions.
Considering that the trip is not purely focused on species and rarity, these are nice places to visit.
Suma has Orcas, Oji has Tibetan Blue Bear, Kyoto Aquarium has local freshwater fish that might be considered rare.
Amazing info! As far as I can see, there is no park that requires a full day. This is great, because it allows to combine them with normal sightseeing and makes the trip more enjoyable.
thats a different zoo than kobi oji