Shizuoka Municipal Nihondaira Zoo
Located at the foot of Nihondaira, one of Japan’s leading scenic spots overlooking Mt. Fuji and Suruga Bay, this zoo keeps around 560 animals from about 130 species. It is known for its behavioral exhibits, where animals living energetically in environments close to their natural habitats are a major attraction. Animals are displayed in a variety of facilities that make it easy to understand the characteristics of each species, including the powerful “Predator House 299,” where you can observe fierce animals such as polar bears, lions, and Amur tigers up close, and the “Flying Mega Dome,” where birds fly freely inside one of the largest flying cages in Japan.
This zoo is clean overall, and the layout is pretty visitor-friendly. There are lots of different animals, and the atmosphere feels relaxed, so it never feels stressful or overly crowded.
A lot of the animals were active too, instead of just sleeping, which made it more fun to walk around.
