Tennoji Zoo

Tennoji Zoo opened in 1915 as the third zoo in Japan. The zoo is home to more than 900 animals of about 230 species, including elephants, lions, chimpanzees, New Zealand’s national bird, the kiwi, which can only be seen in the Tennoji Zoo; the snapping cat, which catches fish in the pond and eats them; and the popular koala.

The park is currently in the process of implementing an “ecological exhibit,” which will recreate as much as possible the environment of the animals’ habitats and introduce the animals’ living conditions there. Examples include the reptile ecology pavilion “Eiffer,” based on field surveys of the animals’ habitats; the hippopotamus house, which has Japan’s first underwater viewing pool; the rhinoceros house, which recreates the African savanna; and the elephant house, which recreates an Asian forest. On Saturdays and Sundays, lectures by zookeepers and animal lectures by the zoo director are also held.