Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens

東山動植物園

Shabani the gorilla, koalas, gardens and a retro fairground

Hours

9am–4:50pm (last entry 4:30pm). Closed Mondays (next weekday after a holiday) and 29 Dec–1 Jan

Tickets

Adults ¥800 (raised Oct 2026), junior high and under free

Address

3-70 Higashiyama-motomachi, Chikusa Ward

One of Japan's busiest zoos, and the star is Shabani, a gorilla with a following of his own. The koalas sleep around twenty hours a day, so aim for feeding time. Inside the grounds there is also a botanical garden with greenhouses and a small old-fashioned amusement park, so half a day vanishes easily. The site is hilly; wear comfortable shoes.