Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens Tickets

Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens is Nagoya’s green lung, a sprawling hillside site that combines one of Japan’s largest zoos with an extensive botanical garden, all for a famously modest admission fee. Its resident western lowland gorilla Shabani became a national celebrity for his brooding good looks, and the koala house remains a point of pride, a legacy of Nagoya’s sister city ties with Australia.

Highlights of the zoo

The animal collection runs to several hundred species, from elephants and giraffes through to a strong showing of Japanese wildlife. The gorilla and chimpanzee complex is the standout modern enclosure, built with climbing towers that keep the apes active and visible. Signage is improving in English, and the sheer scale means you should pick priorities rather than attempt everything.

The gardens and the tower

Uphill from the zoo, the botanical garden shelters a historic greenhouse, themed gardens and quiet wooded paths that colour beautifully in autumn. The Higashiyama Sky Tower beside the park adds a panoramic view across Nagoya. Between zoo, gardens and tower you can easily fill a full day, and the picnic lawns invite a slower pace than most city attractions.

Getting there

Take the Higashiyama subway line from Nagoya Station or Sakae to Higashiyama Koen Station, about 20 minutes, and the main gate is a three minute walk from exit 3. Star Lake and the botanical garden have their own entrances one stop further at Hoshigaoka.

Frequently asked questions

How much time should we allow? Half a day minimum, a full day to see both zoo and gardens properly.

Is it hilly? Yes, expect a fair amount of walking on slopes, with an in park slope car assisting on some routes.

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