Reviews of Asahiyama Zoo (Zoo)

Uwe Flumm

So nice ????????????????????. There have many kinds of animals that we've never seen before. (Some only in TV shows) Weather up there is so fresh we can feeled after walking up and up to each cages on the mountain. Also, the cages that are not too far from visitors. Staffs at zoo managed about stamps rally very well. Recommended!!!

Purna Lal Chakma

Every animal you get to view feels like its right in front of you. Make sure you are at the Wolves at 3pm! You will not be disappointed!

Jackson Seng

Very nice zoo. Strongly recommend to visit????

Richard Wu

It’s quite convenient to take a bus from Asahikawa station to the zoo. The bus stop is literally right outside of the station. Asahiyama Zoo is simply amazing, especially visitors can see the renowned penguin parade at 11am or 2pm, but please be prepared as these two time slots will be extremely crowded. There are also many local animals in Hokkaido. Visitors can also expect to see polar bears feeding show.

Tanvarat Sorasetsakun

If you are an an animal lover and loves nature, please do visit this place. The operation during winter season is from 1030-1530hrs and the place is big so be sure that you might find the operation hours too short to finish viewing all these adorable animals.

Rex Soriano

One of the most beautiful zoo in the world. I had purposely arrange 1 night stay here just to visit this zoo. No regret.

Rajat Singh

2019.3.11 me and my wife visited. this is such a lovely zoo. penguin walk is a major event and happens 11am and 230pm on 2019 march. recommend to check the time before visiting. not only the penguin walk, but also its coziness yields adorable vibe of the zoo. it's a small zoo in a countryside, but to me, experience is better than what you get at bigger zoos in the cities. totally recommend.

Cheung Wong

While the Penguin Walk is the biggest highlight of this zoo, there are also many other attractions here too. Highly recommend the snowy owls. If you are a Harry Potter fan, you would love them a lot. The time when I was there, they didn't really move much. One was camouflaged in the snow on the ground while the other was resting gracefully on a branch. It was such a peaceful scene and it was fun just to see them turning only their heads with their bodies stationary, scrutinizing the visitors around them.

Nicholas Lim

We were at Asahiyama Zoo in December 2019, just before COVID-19 hit. It was a magical place for me. I have been to many zoo's before but this place was my favourite. All the animals were amazing, and didn't give me the feeling that they were depressed or trapped. The day we went was a bit warm for the penguins so they couldnt be out to be closer to us. We would come back here one day with our young son.

Mitchell Fowler

Great for the family and worth half a day visit. Reason that 5 stars wasn't given is that for the big cats enclosure seems abit too small for them

Eizen Barleta

Few minutes bus ride from Asahikawa station. Tickets can be bought from the main entrance at the ticket counter or machines (usually for an adult 1000yen). We went in the winter. Better go and find a spot to watch the penguin walk around 11 am (tends to be crowded). If you walk up to East gate from the main entrance, you can nice panoramic view from the hill top while enjoying either some nice ice cream or hot and spicy ramen (kids meals also available). Don't forget to get a re-entry ticket before you walk to restaurant area. If you are taking a bus back, better to leave around 3.05pm.. Again tends to be crowded after 3.30pm.

Michael Gooding

The zoo is small but cozy, featured some local or high altitude region animals. The penguin walk was fun to participate and watch However the animal living conditions could be improved as living area in winter would be too small for them

Porsche Tan

I was able to get a good look at the animals. The facility is also very clean. There is also a rest area and a store. Mogumogu time is very interesting and I recommend it!

A Ouchi

It’s a nice medium sized zoo with lots of animals and exhibits. Times for feedings and special explanations are shown near the entrance. The only issue I had was seeing the polar bear having to be outside when it was 85F. He had some shade available and a small pool but still, it must have been hot for the bear. The bus ride from Asahikawa station took about 40 minutes each way.

kinman fg

Great zoo, all the animals looks very healthy. The facilities is good. And the restaurants have a reasonable price. Great experience to see cute walking penguins. Must go if you visit Asahikawa.

Ramadurai Ram

A great place to visit in Hokkaido. You’ll need to take a bus from Asahikawa station, which takes about 30-40 mins, as there isn’t much around the zoo itself. It’s a great zoo with well designed exhibits that let you get great angles on the animals there. You can see the penguins up close as well as many other animals. There is an English pamphlet available but minima English support as you walk around. Not a big issue, though. Lots and bathroom to make your day easier. It seemed like every time I turn around there was a bathroom close by. The entire zoo is on a hill so you will be walking up quite a bit. The benefit of this is that near the top you get a pretty nice view of the area. I wasn’t able to go while it was snowing but I can image it would be beautiful.

Ngoc Nguyen

Went here once and it was winter. There is nothing to feel bad about this place. It's my first time to see penguins and polar bears, and they're so adorable! Truly an unforgettable trip!

Gabriel Gonzalez

People come here and says it’s nice only because there is literately nothing to do in this city - so do I.

Krittathat Mekumpornpong (Krit)

Highly recommended in Asahikawa. Zoo is very nice with animal. Penguins walk start 10.30-11.00 (roughly 11.00 am). I was there around 11am and could see penguins walk back. (Just in time) Need some time to buy ticket since there are many people. I took around 20 mins waiting.

Franklin Lau

Good place for family , kids love love it. Many kinds of animal , good view in autumn leave change to red and yellow , very romantic place. The admission cost is cheap.

Honey Hong

Full of fun. Easy to walk in the park. Good place to go with kids

Nippon Bōken

Asahiyama Zoo is a municipal zoo opened in July 1967 in Asahikawa, Hokkaidō, Japan, and is the northernmost zoo in the country. In August 2004, over 320,000 people visited the zoo, the second highest number of visitors among all the zoos in Japan. Located in Higashi Asahikawa, on the outskirts of Asahikawa, the Asahiyama Zoo is accredited by the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums

Pei Fen Goh

Huge zoo with a lot of wild animals, along with birds and arctic animals too.

Naratorn Benjapattranon

It is maybe the best zoo in Japan. We enjoyed the animals and learning more about them. I just wished the animals had much more space for them and to move around.

Alan Yao

Probably the best zoo in Japan. It's well known that most of the zoo's have small enclosures which can detract from the experience. But here most of the enclosures are larger and the sheer variety of animals makes it a great day out. The emperor penguins were amazing!

mrjoey15

Not a big zoo but its enough to spend easily 2-3 hours here. Main attraction is feeding of penguin, polar bear and sea lion. Early December ice is not thick, so no penguin parade show.

Elia Rho

Location is great. Some of the exhibits are good - specifically penguins, polar bear, giraffe and mountain of monkeys. Rest of the exhibits, hard to see the animal clearly or they are hiding in a corner

Kenji Onozawa

definitely would come here again for the penguins and bring my kids

Mav Mav

Don't miss the penguin walk! Their polar bears and other winter animals are also quite unique and worth seeing. Also has reasonably priced casual food options.

Menaka Ariyarathne

It is really worth to go there. The ticket is only 1000yen. And I had so many kind of animal and insects to see. Because the zoo located in Hokkaido there are some special animals which can survive in cold weather. ????????‍❄️???? Moreover what I was interested in was infos on board which was made by university students and zookeepers. Those info was really unique that only people who take face animals everyday can write and not only good things which media show but also sad things such as die. I couldn’t see people read the boards but I recommend you to read those boards it will bring you to understand about life deeply. Half of infos were translated in English.

Andrew Ma

There's tons of animals to watch here. All the kids look lively and adorable. Good place to spend time here. I reccomend at least 3-4 hours to spend here.

Alexander Moore

It is a small room that focus on colder climate animals. The attraction is the daily penguin walk, please call to confirm because it can be cancelled due to weather conditions. Line up along the walk at least 15 minutes ahead for a good photo opportunity. Other exhibits are ok, and there are good food options within the zoo. The public bus leaves the zoo promptly after the walk so make sure you catch it. It is almost a 40 minutes ride to the nearest JR station.

Mia Channeru

The entrance ticket is only ¥820 which is relatively cheap compared to others (other countries). The animals are well treated, the penguins parade (at 2:30pm) is the main show for the zoo, they are just too cute :) You can easily spend a whole day there, however during winter the park close at 3:30pm which is quite early.

Edward Chang

You feel up-close to the animals like no other zoo I’ve ever been to. With that said, like most Japanese zoos, it feels like the care of the animals isn’t much of a priority. Many animals seem more like they’re going crazy in isolation and in cages with little stimulation. The chimps look the worst of all. Heart breaking.

Hossein Rad

Very nice place, penguins are extremely abundant here, and is said to be their most popular exhibit. The bird park however, is badly maintained and in disrepair when I visited. The rest is what you’d expect from any other zoo. If you wish to indulge in a snack, I highly recommend their soft serve ice cream. They sell it in several locations in the zoo and is quite rich. Highly recommended for families and kids!

まーちゃんマーちゃん

wonderful place with lots of animals! very suitable to visit with kids. They got penguin walk, polar bear feeding etc. event. However, it may only take u half days for visiting all animals as the size of the zoo is not very big.

H. J. I.

Animals are lively, the enclosures are big and nicely designed. First time seeing some animal, especially this close. Very good 3-1/2 hours, and they provide trolley and wheelchairs. Excellent accessibility for wheelchairs. Highly recommend, fun for all ages. Also have multiple food stall or vending machine, price sensible.

Chika Kusakawa

Nice but a bit old. Charming place.

Harris Wong

I came to Asahikawa zoo with my 8 mo baby. At first I really underestimated the zoo, but after I came, I have really good time and it was really different with other zoo in Japan!! The also have a lot of bench for you to rest and clean place to rest! The foods also really delicious and I really like feeding time, because they’re not only explained about the animals but about their origin. Why just 4 stars? Because there is no baby chair in rest area for baby to eat their food. I wish they have plenty of it, it will be such a help.

WS Lee

It's a cool zoo! Rather hilly so keep that in mind. But well worth the trip.

Constans -

Nice place to visit Animals r so close to u and walking distant between each attraction r near. Very well organized. ¥820 per entry.

shikei aesrie

Get to see many animals up close. Although some of the exhibits are indoors/closed spaces, you can also see many from the open outdoor sections (probably even better).

C L

A fantastic zoo and a must visit destination if you are in the area. Drove up from Furano for the visit and it was well worth it.

Chandra Budiman

A lovely zoo to be in, especially if you grew up in the tropics. Here you can really see the winter animals in a climate close to their natural habitat, and quite up close too! We can tell that the zookeepers have much love for the zoo and it’s animals; most signs and info boards are hand drawn and handwritten, which render the zoo a personal touch. Not too English friendly though, but the animals and the feeding shows are enough to evoke a sense of wonder that you may have lost as an adult. The crowds disappeared after lunch so I had a nice quiet stroll around the grounds looking at the animals and scenery in the cool late-November air. The zoo is clean and the food affordable (:

A K

Asahiyama zoo is probably the most popular zoo in Hokkaido. We recommend you to come early just before the zoo is opened because the queue can get very long. The zoo is pretty big so you can spend half a day or a day taking your time here looking at various animals. The highlight of this trip for us was the penguin parade, so better find a spot early because a lot of people will gather along the walk. The penguins are super cute and you can see them really close. I bet children will enjoy this activity. We visited in winter so it was a little bit cold, but they also have a lot of indoor exhibits too. I found that there are many tourist agency arranging a one day tour and included this zoo too. Imho it might be a good option if you only have a short time in Hokkaido and want to visit a lot of places like me and my friends, though the time you spend will be limited. But still it’s worth it too visit this place especially if you come from tropical countries that has no snow, totally a different experience you wouldn’t want to miss!

Pi Er

Well known for being good at how to present animals attractive and catching those eyes True! Too interesting! Recommended even for no-zoo-person

Yoana Arifin

This was such a cute zoo. They had a lot more animals than I thought they would. It was a hot day when we went but they had vending machines all over. My favorite place was the seal area, they were adorable and the room was Air Conditioned ????

Kanyarat Lekk

If you visit Asahikawa you must definitely come to the Asahiyama zoo, one of the .let famous in Japan. Most of the exhibits are unique in the way they display the animals and allow you to get up close (or under, or on top) to have a look. Feeding time is very popular and if you can, experience the zoo in both summer and winter as they're quite different.

Hui Ning Lau

Nice winter animal zoo. But many of them are depressed me, some animal looks lonely, some looks leisurely even they have to be energetic. But in holistic view for tourism. This place is great.

Justin

Love the zoo. I visited the zoo during winter and got to see penguins, polar bears, snow owls etc. If you want to see penguins parade, you have to go during mid winter, when there is more snow on the ground. The snow is to "protect" the feet of penguins when they are matching.

Harry

It is a good place to visit. The penguin walk is cute. Polar bear, tiger, chimpanzee, and many other animals. They all look heathy.

esee

Really enjoyed the zoo, I was able to watch animals so close and it was rare and first time I was watching those animals. It was snowing and the animals were on the own world and it was fun watching, it was closed by 3:30 so better hurry soon if you visiting

Clay

Vast and nice place. Different kinds of animals. Everything is explained in English as well. First time watching a wolf howling

k h

Best zoo visit ever for my family. It's beautiful in snow & the highlight was definitely the penguin walk. Do not miss if you visit Asahikawa.

L T

One of the greatest zoo I has visited in my life. There are not much of species, but some species is quite rare to see. The penguin was amazingly cute, the red panda also interesting. Another animal I really enjoy to see is polar bear and grey wolf, I never seen it before. They are taking care of animal very well and the way they build the cage is amazing. Likes you can observed the penguin and hippopotamus from under the cage. Must visit attraction is Asahikawa.

Tan Monica

Very famous zoo in Hokkaido, it is a very good place for family with kids and young people. You would learn a lot of knowledge about different kinds of animal and still enjoy walking around. The overall design of the zoo is one of the best I have ever seen in Japan.

Eric Chen

There are more than 600 animals and they're kept in a reasonable environment and as far as I think, they're not trained to please visitors, their presence is already pleasing. Polar bears, penguins, red pandas, giraffes, hippos... And spotted seals! It's definitely one of my favourites zoo and I think it'd be great to revisit in winter.

Pat Roesner

Can definitely recommend this place. Winter zoo experience is a first for me. Penguin walk was quite nice. Polar bear feeding was also amazing. Easy to take photos of most of the animals. All of them were very active during our visit.

Yongyuth Laitavorn

Loved the penguin walk! Japanese red crown crane, red panda, polar bears, snowy owl, snow leopards, sea lions were fun to watch.