iZoo Interactive Animal Park

One of Japan’s few zoos specializing in reptiles and amphibians. As one of the country’s largest facilities for these animals, it displays and breeds more than 300 species, including snakes, lizards, and turtles. Visitors can encounter many rare reptiles, including Galápagos giant tortoises—of which only a few live in Japan—the Fiji banded iguana, which is kept nowhere else in the country, and various endangered species.

Some animals roam freely around the zoo, allowing visitors to observe them up close and even interact with them. Searching for creatures hiding in the shade of trees or among the grass is another part of the fun. Other activities include feeding animals and taking commemorative photos. The animals in the hands-on area, where visitors can touch snakes and crocodiles, change daily, offering a different experience with each visit. Children weighing 66 lb or less can also ride an Aldabra giant tortoise for a commemorative photo.

The Oceans restaurant offers a wide selection of crocodile dishes, including curry with crocodile meat, Japanese-style fried crocodile, and crocodile skewers. Try dishes available only here while looking out over the giant tortoise pasture. The zoo also has a souvenir shop called Jungle Gift, which carries a wide variety of original merchandise.

The zoo’s concept is to offer something new with every visit, which is why there is no map of the grounds. With the zoo constantly evolving, there is always a reason to return.