ICHIHARA Elephant Kingdom in Chiba

Deep in the green hills of Chiba, closer to Tokyo than most people guess, lives the largest elephant herd in Japan. ICHIHARA Elephant Kingdom, lately restyled as ANIMAL WONDER REZOURT, is built around its elephants in a way no conventional zoo is: they are the headline act, the personalities and the reason busloads of families make the trip out from the capital.

Visiting the kingdom

The park runs daily programs that bring visitors unusually close to the animals, and the elephants share the site with a supporting cast of other species, from capybaras to zebras, many in walk up feeding areas. It is a rustic, hands on sort of place rather than a polished safari park, and opinions on animal performance attractions vary, so it helps to know the style before you go: this is an old school animal park with close encounters at its heart. Allow two to three hours.

Getting there

From Tokyo Station, JR trains run down the Uchibo Line to Goi Station in about an hour, where you change to the Kominato Railway, a gloriously slow one and two car country line that is an attraction in its own right. The park lies inland along that line, with connecting shuttle or taxi arrangements covering the last stretch; check the current access details on the booking page. Drivers can reach the park in around an hour from central Tokyo via the Aqua Line, traffic permitting.

Frequently asked questions

Is it good for young children? Yes, the feeding areas and sheer proximity to the animals land brilliantly with small kids.

Rainy day option? Only partly; much of the park is outdoors, so a fine day is far better.

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