KawaZoo: The Interactive Frog Museum in Izu

Japan does single subject attractions better than anywhere, and KawaZoo may be the finest example: an entire facility devoted to frogs. Down in Kawazu on the Izu Peninsula, it houses one of the largest frog collections you will find anywhere, from jewel bright poison dart frogs to fat horned frogs the size of a bread roll, displayed in lush recreated habitats rather than bare tanks.

Meet the frogs

The interactive part of the name is genuine. Alongside the display zones there are supervised areas where visitors can get close to some of the more robust residents, and staff are happy to talk frogs at length. The greenhouse sections feel like walking into a terrarium, humid and green, with frogs hiding in plain sight; half the game is spotting them. It is catnip for kids, but plenty of adults leave as converts. The same group runs iZoo, a reptile focused sister facility nearby, and the two pair naturally if scales and amphibians are your family’s thing.

Getting there

Kawazu is on the Izu Kyuko Line down the east coast of the Izu Peninsula. From Tokyo, the Odoriko limited express runs direct from Tokyo and Shinagawa stations to Kawazu Station in under three hours; from there it is a short taxi or bus ride inland to KawaZoo. If you are visiting in late winter, Kawazu’s early blooming cherry trees are a famous bonus, drawing crowds well before the rest of Japan’s blossom opens.

Frequently asked questions

Can you actually touch the frogs? In designated areas, yes, under staff supervision and with hand washing on either side.

How long does a visit take? Around an hour for a quick pass, longer if you are photographing or combining it with iZoo.

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