The Kumamoto Zoo and Botanical Gardens are situated on the eastern edge of the city on the edge of the beautiful Ezu Lake.
If you are travelling with children or just need a break from castles and temples the Zoo is sure to keep everyone amused and at only 300 Yen per adult and 100 Yen for school age children it’s a real bargain.
If you would like to put a visit to the Kumamoto Zoo into your Kumamoto City custom tour please contact Explore Kumamoto.
The Zoological and Botanical Gardens cover an area of 24.5 hectares. There are three main attractions:
The zoo with 120 different species including the ugly? cute? endangered Golden Snub Nose Monkeys. Many of the cages are small and barren in contrast to larger western zoos but the animals are all well cared for. There is a small petting zoo where you can hold a guinea pig or a rabbit and touch goats, sheep and other small animals.
The botanical gardens features a traditional Japanese landscape garden as well as many trees and shrubs. At the entrance to the Botanical Zone is a “Flower Rest Area” that has a large greenhouse and orchid room with tropical and subtropical flowers on display year round. There is also a nature consultation office which promotes the afforestation and offers consultation and advice relating to flowers and nature.
The amusement park – don’t expect roller coasters but there are a variety of rides which will entertain most children including a pirate ship, a biggish wheel, and a monorail that goes around the zoo. In all there are 11 larger attractions and 40 small amusement attractions installed. Fares range from 10 yen to 300 yen.
Travel Tip
Bicycles can be borrowed for free from the Zoo to cycle around Lower Ezu Lake ask at the entrance for details.
Click here to go to the Zoos English homepage at the bottom of the page is a pdf link for an English map and information about the Zoo and Botanical Gardens
Getting there:
Take the streetcar in the direction of Suizenji Park continue past Suizenji and get off at Doshokubutsueniriguchi (a mouthful but it simply means the Entrance to the Zoo and Botanical Gardens), then follow the signs, it’s around a 10 to 15 minute walk to the zoo entrance. Click here for a link to the streetcar map.
If you are driving or riding a bicycle from the upper Ezu Lake, leave the Boathouse carpark, turn left and you will soon come to the busy multi lane route 57, cross over 57 and follow the road along the lake shore for several minutes following the signs until you come to the Zoo entrance.
Open: 9:00 am to 17:00 pm（Entrance permitted until 16:30 pm）
Closed: Mondays (except the 4th Monday of the month), 4th Tuesday of the month. If Mondays (except the 4th Monday) and 4th Tuesdays fall on holidays, the following weekday is closed. Closed December 30th – January 1st
Entrance Fee
Adults – 300 Yen
Children (age 6 to 15) – 100 Yen
Under 6 – Free
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