[Kobe City] The charm of being close to the animals! A zoo recommended for family outings

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In the two areas, the 15,000㎡ Inside Park and the 10,000㎡ Outside Park, you can see 800 animals of 150 species, as well as 1,000 kinds of 10,000 plants and flowers that can be seen throughout the year.

Written by

Local Prime/Travel Lab by Shinki Bus Co., Ltd.

What are good things and good experiences? There are many characteristics such as having a story to tell, overflowing with the thoughts of the creator, having a history, and being loved by the locals. Have you ever come across a special thing or experience that made you want to tell someone about it? And as a result of telling, someone new leads to something. We think that's what "good" is all about. In order to deliver such encounters to our customers, we discover Hyogo's good things based on the concept of "talk, communicate, and connect", and provide information that will shorten the emotional distance between customers and the region of Hyogo Prefecture.

Table of Contents
Great value 1-day bus pass
An exhibition area without fences where you can get up close to the animals
A full menu of animal interaction experiences
Initiatives for biodiversity and environmental conservation
Popular original goods you'll want to buy as souvenirs!
basic information

Great value 1-day bus pass

Kobe 1-day bus ticket

We recommend this ticket for sightseeing in Kobe City! This bus ticket allows unlimited use of the City Loop and Port Loop that run through Kobe City for 700 yen per day. If you're going around Kobe 's tourist spots, use this ticket for an easy and comfortable trip.

[Kobe City] A one-day bus ticket is a great deal if you want to visit Kitano Ijinkan-gai, Nankin-cho, and other famous spots in Kobe!
Hyogo

Kobe

Click here for details and to purchase the Kobe 1-day bus ticket

Hyogo Amazing Pass

If you are considering touring around Himeji and Hyogo prefecture in addition to Kobe , we recommend this ticket! This mobile ticket includes the contents of the Kobe 1-day bus ticket and allows unlimited rides on Shinki Bus route buses for 1,000 yen per day. *Limited to foreign visitors tourists visiting Japan

[Hyogo Prefecture] Unlimited rides on local buses for just 2,500 yen! Travel around Hyogo Prefecture at a great price
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Himeji / Kanzaki

Click here for details and to purchase the Hyogo Amazing Pass

An exhibition area without fences where you can get up close to the animals

Kobe Animal Kingdom is located about 14 minutes by Port Liner from Sannomiya Station on all lines, and a short walk from Computational Science Center (Kobe Animal Kingdom, "Fugaku" front) Station. On Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, Shinki Bus operates five round trips a day between Sannomiya and Kobe Animal Kingdom (two of which are direct), making it easy to access from Sannomiya, the center of Kobe.

There are also discounted combined train tickets and admission tickets available, so if you're using public transport, be sure to check in advance.

Reference: About the ride + admission set ticket

Kobe Animal Kingdom is home to rare animals such as the shoebill and gunti, which are rarely exhibited in Japan. Among them, the Shoebill Ecological Park Big Bill is one of the most popular spots.

In order to recreate the African wetlands where shoebills live, plants such as banyan trees and mangroves have been planted and artificial rainfall equipment has been installed to create rainy and dry seasons, creating an environment as close to the real thing as possible.

In April 2023, an exhibition space for nocturnal animals called "Flying Squirrel Night - The World of Nocturnal Animals" will open.

Sugar glider eating

In the dimly lit zoo, you can observe nocturnal animals such as Japanese flying squirrels, bats, owls, and three-banded armadillos.

At Outside Park, the popular "Otter Sanctuary - Asian Small-Clawed Otter Ecological Garden" is the largest exhibition facility for Asian small-clawed otters in Japan, and you can see the adorable, lively Asian small-clawed otters swimming and running around.

Photo courtesy of Kobe Animal Kingdom

Additionally, a new exhibit called "Squirrel Mori " will open in Outside Park in March 2023. The area is set up like a Mori, where squirrels can roam freely.

One of the attractions of this exhibit is wondering where the squirrels are. When the zookeepers put out food, small children cheer with delight as the squirrels appear.

A full menu of animal interaction experiences

One of the attractions of Kobe Animal Kingdom is that there are no fences or cages, so you can get up close and personal with the animals. In the "African Wetlands" where pelicans and ring-tailed lemurs live, and the "Tropical Mori" where capybaras and tortoises live, you can not only see the animals up close, but you can also feed them.

The Kangaroo Farm also has deer and tortoises.

As you walk, you can see animals roaming freely everywhere.

basic information

Fee for feeding experience : 100 yen (1 snack)

Date and time: Always held

*The tour may be cancelled if the animals are full. Tours may be cancelled due to weather conditions such as rain, strong winds, or extreme heat, or due to the health of the animals.

Photo courtesy of Kobe Animal Kingdom

At "Aqua Valley" in the outside park, you can also experience feeding penguins, seals, and fur seals. At "Contact Animals" in the inside park, you can experience "One Touch & Nyan Touch" where you can interact with dogs and cats, and "Pyon Touch" where you can interact with small animals such as rabbits, which are popular with small children.

These experiences require numbered tickets, so be sure to grab a numbered ticket that is distributed on-site before each event starts to participate.

At the "Wind Stadium" in Outside Park, the "Free Flight Bird Performance "Wings"" and the "Working Dog Performance "Buddy"" will be held. Please come and enjoy these dynamic performances.

PerformanceFree Flight Bird Performance "Wings"Working Dog Performance "Buddy"

Initiatives for biodiversity and environmental conservation

One of the attractions of Kobe Animal Kingdom is the opportunity to get up close and personal with the animals and see some rare animals, but another thing you should know about the park is that it also puts effort into biodiversity and environmental conservation.

Kobe Animal Kingdom is also focusing on five activities: "Eliminating disposable plastic products," "Initiatives to protect the habitat of the Tsushima wildcat," "Borneo conservation project," "Initiatives to protect Japan's native spiny rats and Miyako grass snakes from extinction," and "Snow leopard conservation project."

For example, the Tsushima wildcat, which is said to be the most endangered mammal in Japan. In order to protect the habitat of the wildcat, we purchase 8 to 10 tons of "Tsushima wildcat rice" per year, which is grown in the rice fields of the Sago district of Tsushima City, where the wildcats come in search of food such as earthworms and frogs, and serve it in dishes at the Kingdom Restaurant "Hana no Kitchen" and "Fukurouan Noodles."

"Tonchandon" (900 yen) made with Tsushima wildcat rice

There are also children's menu items made with Tsushima Wildcat rice, such as "Kids Curry" (780 yen)

In addition, in order to protect the snow leopard from the threat of extinction, fair trade products from Kyrgyzstan are sold within the park.

The profits from this initiative will not only help revitalize the Kyrgyz economy, but will also be used for research and surveys of wild snow leopards, thereby supporting snow leopard conservation efforts.

Reference: Kobe Animal Kingdom Snow Leopard Conservation Project

Popular original goods you'll want to buy as souvenirs!

After having a great time at Kobe Animal Kingdom, why not pick up some souvenirs to take home at Shop Love Bird?

These "Animal Cup Hanging Animal Cookies" (831 yen) are cookies that can be hung from mugs and other items. They are cute sweets printed with animals that are popular in the park, such as raccoons, Asian small-clawed otters, and capybaras.

"Tile cracker Sand cat" (1,080 yen)

Shoebill and owl coin purses "POCHI" (1,760 yen)

"-Endangered Species- Animal Encyclopedia Towel" (1,870 yen)

"StoutAir Skeleton Bottle" (3,000 yen)

Shoebills are a popular animal at the zoo, and Toyotomi of merchandise available, including stuffed toys, key chains, mugs and other tableware, and miscellaneous goods. Shoebill fans should definitely check it out!

"Kabedon Pallas's Cat Plush Toy" (2,800 yen)

Shop Love Bird Business hours: Open to close Location: Flower Shower

Kobe Animal Kingdom has no fences and you can get up close and personal with the animals. You may be able to see animals in a different way than you would at other zoos, as they move around the zoo freely and leisurely.

There are plenty of events, including feeding experiences and performance shows, so it's sure to be enjoyed by everyone from small children to adults. It's a recommended spot that you'll want to visit again and again.

(Writer: Nakata/West Plan)

*This article is current as of May 2023. Prices include tax. Product contents and prices may be subject to change.

basic information

Kobe Animal Kingdom

Address: 7-1-9 Minatojima Minamimachi , Chuo Ward, Kobe City Hyogo Prefecture

Phone number: 078-302-8899

Business hours: Varies depending on business days

*Please check the website Closed on Thursdays (Open on spring break, Golden Week, summer vacation, New Year's holidays and public holidays)

Access: Shinki Bus operates five round trips a day between Sannomiya and Kobe Animal Kingdom (two of which are direct) *Only on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays

A short walk from the Port Liner "Computational Science Center (Kobe Animal Kingdom/Fugaku-mae) Station" Parking available (850 spaces)

HP: https://www.kobe-oukoku.com/

Social Media: Instagram

Written by

Local Prime/Travel Lab by Shinki Bus Co., Ltd.

Hyogo

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