Akiyoshidai Safari Land

On the karst plateau country of Yamaguchi Prefecture, Akiyoshidai Safari Land runs the classic drive through safari formula: lions, tigers, bears and herds of grazing animals roaming enclosures you pass through at their level, not yours. It is western Honshu’s big animal day out, paired with a walk through zoo and amusement area for the smaller members of the family.

The safari drive

You can take your own car through the safari course or board the park’s special viewing bus, which gets you closer to the action and includes feeding opportunities where big cats and bears take food from feeding ports as the bus creeps past. The route moves from carnivore territory through plains of deer, zebra and other herbivores who treat vehicles as mobile furniture. The dedicated bus is the better choice for photos and for anyone protective of their rental car’s paintwork.

Beyond the drive

A walking zone offers close encounters with smaller animals, and white tiger and other rare residents have been stars here over the years. The park pairs naturally with the nearby Akiyoshidai plateau lookouts and Akiyoshido, one of Japan’s grandest limestone caves, for a full day in the region.

Getting there

This corner of Yamaguchi is best explored by rental car from Shin-Yamaguchi Station on the Sanyo Shinkansen, roughly an hour’s drive. Limited local buses serve the Akiyoshidai area for travellers without wheels, though timetables need checking in advance.

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