Spots related to animal in Japan
There are zoos and aquarium throughout Japan.
They are the facitilies for research, rearing and exhibition of living animals.
The zoos and aquarium in Japan are not so large.
Each facility devises the exhibition and attracts visitors.
In addition, there are some unique and rare spots by wild animals in Japan.
The tourists who are interested in them visit the spots.
Spots related to animal in eastern Japan
Hokkaido Region
Otaru Aquarium (おたる水族館)
Herrings in Otaru Aquarium
Otaru Aquarium is an aquarium in the suburbs of Otaru city.
Many fishes around Hokkaido are exhibited.
Herrings are the symbolic fish of Otaru, so they are seen there.
And the show by sea animals such as sea lions, seal is attractive.
Bear Park (クマ牧場)
Bear Park (Kuma Bokujo in Japanese) is a zoo of brown bares near Noboribetsu Onsen town.
It is located on a mountain and the visitors can go to there by ropeway.
There are more than 100 brown bears in the zoo.
The visitors can enjoy some attractions with bears.
Asahiyama Zoo (旭山動物園)
Swimming polar bear
Photo by Asahikawa City
Asahiyama Zoo in Asahikawa city is one of most popular zoos in Japan.
It is located 10 km east of the center of Asahikawa city.
The method for exhibition of animals is unique, so the visitors can see many moving, walking and swimming animals.
YAMA NO Aquarium (山の水族館)
Waterfall basin aquarium in YAMA NO Aquarium
YAMA NO Aquarium is a small aquarium of freshwater fish.
It is in On-neyu hot spring resort located about 30 km west of Kitami city in the norteastern part of Hokkaido.
Because the aquarium is in the mountain area, freshwater fishes are exhibited.
There are unique water tanks such as showing the fish under the frozen river and waterfall.
Kita-kitsune Bokujo (北きつね牧場)
Kita-kitsune Bokujo is a zoo of fox living in Hokkaido and it is near YAMA NO Aquarium.
Kita-kitsune is a kind of red fox and it lives in Hokkaido.
Many Kita-kitsune are unrestrained in the zoo and the visitors can walk freely in the zoo.
Sakura Falls (さくらの滝)
Jumping cherry salmons at Sakura Falls
Sakura Falls is a small waterfall about 3 meters high in the mountain.
It is on the upper reaches of Shari River and is in the forests.
From early June to early August, cherry salmons swim upstream and ascend this waterfall, so we can see the scene near the waterfall.
Okhotsk Ryuhyo Museum (オホーツク流氷館)
Cliones in Okhotsk Ryuhyo Museum
Okhotsk Ryuhyo Museum is a museum about ryuhyo (drift ice) in Abashiri city.
It introduces the ryuhyo in Japan and real ices of ryuhyo are displayed.
There is a small aquarium of marine creatures under ryuhyo.
"Clione" is prettiest and the most popular one among them.
Tsurui Village (鶴居村)
Red-crowned cranes in Tsurui Village
Tsurui Village is located about 25 km north of Kushiro city, and there is wide Kushuro Marsh.
There are a few feeding places to observe wild red-crowned cranes designated as special natural treasure in Japan.
The visitors can see the beautiful cranes from October to March.
Obihiro Ban'ei Horse Racing (帯広ばんえい競馬)
Racing horses in Obihiro Racecourse
Obihiro Ban'ei Horse Racing is a horse racing held in Obihiro city.
Draft horses pull heavy iron sleds on the course of 200 meters.
Powerful horses compete for the top rank.
It is the formal horse racing, so the visitors can buy the horse race tickets.
The horse race of this type is held only in this race course in the world.
Spots related to animal in Tohoku Region
Oga Aquarium GAO (男鹿水族館 GAO, Akita Pref.)
Hatahata in Oga Aquarium
Photo by Akita Prefecture
Oga Aquarium GAO is an aquarium on the west coast of Oga Peninsula.
It is located about 50 km northwest of Akita city.
The fishes in the sea around Oga Peninsula and in the river in Akita Prefecture are displayed.
Especially, the museum of Hatahata (Sailfin sandfish) is unique.
Hatahata is the symbolic fish of Akita Prefecture.
Kamo Aquarium (加茂水族館, Yamagata Pref.)
A water tank of jellyfishes in Kamo Aquarium
Kamo Aquarium is the aquarium in Tsuruoka city in Yamagata Prefecture.
This aquarium is known for the display of jellyfish.
Over 50 kinds of jellyfish are displayed, and that is one of the most number of varieties in the world.
Kinkasan (金華山, Miyagi Pref.)
Deer in Kinkasan
Kinkasan is an island near Ojika Peninsula.
It is located about 80 km east of Sendai city and faces the Pacific Ocean.
It has been a sacred island since ancient times and there is only Koganeyama Shrine.
Only some Shinto priests of the shrine live in the island, so the main residents are wild deer and monkeys.
Tashirojima (田代島, Miyagi Pref.)
Cats in Tashirojima
Tashirojima is a small island near Kinkasan.
About 50 people live in this island, but over 100 cats are in this island.
Cats have been valued since a long time ago.
There is "Cat Shrine" in the island.
Zao Fox Village (宮城蔵王キツネ村, Miyagi Pref.)
Zao Fox Village is a theme park of fox at the southern foot of Mount Zao.
It is located about 10 km west of Shiroishi city in Miyagi Prefecture.
Six kinds of over 100 foxes are left loose in the site.
In addition, there are also rabbits, ponies and goats.
Spots related to animal in Kanto Region
Art Aquarium (アートアクアリウム, Tokyo)
Art Aquarium is a unique and beautiful aquarium and art museum.
It is in Ginza Mitsukoshi department store in the center of Ginza area in Tokyo.
Many goldfishes are swimming in a lot of various artistic water tanks.
They are the aquarium and an art museum.
Ueno Zoo (上野動物園, Tokyo)
Ueno Zoo is a zoo in Ueno area in Tokyo.
It is the oldest zoo in Japan and was opened in 1882.
It has the largest number of visitors in Japan.
The site in a part of Ueno Park.
There are the old five-story pagoda of Kan'eiji temple and a part of Shinobazu Pond in the site.
Sunshine Aquarium (サンシャイン水族館, Tokyo)
Penguins in Sunshine Aquarium
Sunshine Aquarium is an aquarium on the top of a skyscraper.
It is in the commercial complex "Sunshine City" in Ikebukuro area in Tokyo.
It is in a building and the size is not so wide, but over 500 kinds of fish are exhibited.
Kamogawa Seaworld (鴨川シーワールド, Chiba Pref.)
Show of killer whales in Kamogawa Seaworld
Kamogawa Seaworld is a big aquarium like a theme park of sea animal.
It is located in the southern part of Chiba Prefecture and faces the Pacific Ocean.
Various marine animals are kept in captivity.
The performance of killer whales, belugas, dolphins and sea lions are populer.
Tainoura (鯛の浦, Chiba Pref.)
Tai around Tainoura
Tainoura is a sea area in the southern part of Chiba Prefecture.
There is Kominato fishing port about 1o km east of Kamogawa Seaworld, and the sea area is near the port.
Tai (red sea bream) is a kind of fish.
It swims in the deep sea and it doesn't form groups generally.
In this sea, tai swims in the shallow sea in herds.
Spots related to animal in central Japan
Koshinetsu Region
Jigokudani Yaen-Koen (地獄谷野猿公苑, Nagano Pref.)
Jigokudani Yaen-Koen is the natural facility protecting some groups of wild monkeys.
It is also called as "Jigokudani Monkey Park" or "Snow Monkey Park" in English.
It is in the mountain area locate about 35 km northeast of Nagano city.
It is known for the wild monkeys taking a bath in winter.
But they don't take a bath in warm season.
Lake Hyo (瓢湖, Niigata Pref.)
Lake Hyo is a small artificial lake.
It is in Agano city about 20 km southeast of Niigata city.
The lake is only about 0.7 km from east to west and 0.5 km from north to south in width.
But, from October to March, more than 5,000 swans and some tens thousand of migratory birds come to this small lake.
Toki in Sado Island (Niigata Pref.)
Toki in Sado Island had been an endangered species.
Toki is a type of bird and is called a Japanese crested ibis.
Around 1970, the Japanese government began trying to breed them by borrowing some toki from China, but the last purely Japanese Toki was dead in 2003.
Now, wild Tokis are increasing.
Hokuriku Region
Ptarmigan on Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route (Toyama Pref.)
Raicho in Tateyama mountain
Ptarmigan in Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route is a bird living only in high mountain.
(It is called "Raicho" meaning "Thunderbird" in Japanese.)
It is designated as a special national treasure and also as an endangered species.
Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route is a route crossing the Northern Alps from west to east.
The route passes beautiful Mount Tateyama (立山, 3,015 m) and huge Kurobe Dam.
The tourists may be able to see the birds around Murodo-daira highland on the route.
Dinosaur Museum (恐竜博物館, Fukui Pref.)
Dinosaur Museum is literally the museum about dinosaur.
It is in Katsuyama city in Fukui Prefecture.
It had been said that there were no dinosaur fossil in Japan, but fossils of crocodile in Cretaceous period were discovered around this area in 1982.
This museum was founded in 2000.
Tokai Region
Fuji Safari Park (富士サファリパーク, Shizuoka Pref.)
Elephants in Fuji Safari Park
Fuji Safari Park is a zoo that visitors can observe the wildlife of animals by bus or car.
It is located at the south foot of Mount Fuji.
To the park, the route bus is operated from JR Gotenba station in Shizuoka Prefecture.
Elefants, lions, tigers, bears, giraffes, etc. are seen.
The visitors can see the animals against the background of Mount Fuji.
Kakegawa Kachouen (掛川花鳥園, Shizuoka Pref.)
Kakegawa Kachouen is a unique amusement park in Kakegawa city in Shizuoka Prefecture.
In the huge greenhouse, tropical lilies are planted and various birds are free-flying.
And, in the outdoor area, there are swans, pelicans, etc.
The visitors can enjoy interacting with birds and beautiful scenery of flowers.
Kakegawa Kachouen in Kakegawa city
Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium (名古屋港水族館, Aichi Pref.)
Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium is a popular aquarium in Nagoya city and is by port of Nagoya.
The square measure of the total floor space of the aquarium is the largest in Japan.
Various fishes and sea animals are exhibited.
Some Killer whales are reared and we can see the training scene in a big pool.
Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium city
Nagara River Ukai (長良川鵜飼, Gifu Pref.)
Nagara River flows through Gifu city and it is known as the clear waters.
Ukai is an old fishing method to catch Ayu sweetfish using cormorants.
It is said that the ukai in Nagara River has been conducted for around 1,300 years.
The fishing is held from mid-May to mid-October.
The performance for tourist is seen as a show on the boat in the evening.
Spots related to animal in western Japan
Kansai Region
Kaiyukan (海遊館, Osaka Pref.)
Kaiyukan is one of the largest aquariums in the world.
It is located near Osaka Port in Osaka city.
There are 14 huge tanks and they show various scenes of the Pacific Ocean.
The visitors can see the exhibits from the top floor to the lower floors in order.
Bell cricket temple (鈴虫寺, Kyoto Pref.)
Bell cricket temple (Suzumushi-dera) is a Buddhist temple in the suburbs of Kyoto city and the formal name is Kegonji.
Bell cricket ("Suzumushi" in Japanese) is a kind of insects and it sounds gently like small bell.
This temple breeds thousands of bell crickets.
The visitors can listen to the teachings of Buddha by the head priest with the sound of bell crickets.
Nara Park (奈良公園, Nara Pref.)
Nara Park is the central park with historical spots such as Todaiji, Kasuga-Taisha, etc.
Many deer are living in the park.
They have been protected carefully since ancient times, because they are the messengers of God in Kasuga-taisha shrine.
The visitors can feed only deer cracker bought in the park to the deer.
Cat Stationmaster (Wakayama Pref.)
Cat Stationmaster is in Kishi station of Wakayama Dentetsu railway.
Wakayama Dentetsu is a small railway company and starts from Wakayama station.
Kishi is the terminal station.
From 2006, the stationmaster has been the cat.
Chugoku Region
Okunoshima (大久野島, Hiroshima Pref.)
Okunoshima is a small desert island in Seto Inland Sea.
It is located about 3 km off the coast of Takehara city in Hiroshima Prefecture.
About 400 wild rabbits are living in the island, so it is called "Rabbit Island".
It is said that the first rabbits in this island were moved from an elementary school in the mainland in 1971.
White Snakes in Iwakuni city (Yamaguchi Pref.)
White Snakes in Iwakuni city has been designated a natural monument in Japan.
Iwakuni city is located about 40 km southwest of Hiroshima city.
The white snakes have been found in some districts in Iwakuni city.
There is the museum in Kikko Park near famous Kintai bridge.
The visitors can see the snakes in the facility in Kikko Park.
Shikoku Region
Takamatsu Castle (高松城, Kagawa Pref.)
Fishes of the sea in the moat of Takamatsu Castle
Takamatsu Castle is a castle in Takamatsu city in Kagawa Prefecture.
It was built in 1587 and demolished in 1869.
The castle was built by the sea, so the moats were connected to the sea.
The fishes and oysters of the sea are living in the moat.
There are a few castle connected to the sea in Japan.
Monkey Park in Shodoshima (Kagawa Pref.)
Monkey Park is in Choshikei gorge in Shodoshima island in Kagawa Prefecture.
It is in the mountains in the center of the island.
It is a natural zoo and there are about 500 wild monkeys.
The monkey is a natural monument designated by the prefecture.
They have been fed by hand, but they are the wild monkeys.
Kyushu Region
Takasakiyama Monkey Park (高崎山自然動物園, Oita Pref.)
Takasakiyama Monkey Park is a natural zoological garden at the foot of Takasakiyama mountain.
It is located to the south of Beppu city which is a popular onsen town.
Many wild Japanese monkeys living in Takasakiyama gather the park by artificial feeding.
Cape Toi (都井岬, Miyazaki Pref.)
Cape Toi is a small cape at the southern end of Miyazaki Prefecture.
About 100 half-wild ponies are alive in the southern half of the cape.
Originally the ponies had been pastured for military use since 1697.
But the large horses from the Western countries had come to be used in the early 20th century, so the number of this pony decreased.
They are designated as national natural treasures.
Kojima island (幸島, Miyazaki Pref.)
Kojima island is a small island located about 12 km north of Cape Toi.
The wild monkeys in the island are well-known.
They wash potatoes in seawater before eating.
The unique behaviors were found by the investigative group of Kyoto University in the 1950s.
So, there is the facility of Wildlife Research Center on the shore near the island.
The reserchers pay attention to their behavior.
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium (沖縄美ら海水族館, Okinawa Pref.)
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium is one of the largest aquariums in the world.
It is in Nago city in Okinawa Island.
Huge water tanks with big fishes are attractive.
This aquarum was opened in the park in 2002.
The park around the aquarium is along the beautiful beach about 3 km long.