Kōbe Ōji Zoo (神戸市立王子動物園, Kōbe-shiritsu Ōji Dōbutsuen), or simply Kobe Zoo or Ōji Zoo (王子動物園), is a municipal zoo in Kobe, Japan.
Kobe Oji Zoo | |
---|---|
34°42′36″N 135°12′50″E / 34.71°N 135.214°E | |
Date opened | 1951 |
Location | 3 Chome-1 Ōjichō, Nada-ku, Kōbe, Hyōgo Pref., Japan (兵庫県神戸市灘区王子町3-1) |
Memberships | JAZA[1] |
Major exhibits | Pandas, polar bears, big cats |
Public transit access | Railway: Ōji-kōen, Nada or Iwaya station |
Website | www |
Attractions
edit- Panda House (パンダ館)
- Giant pandas since 2000.[2]
- Zoological Science Center (動物科学資料館)
- An indoor educational center featuring skeletal specimens and a reading room.
- Big Cats Circle (円形猛獣舎)
- tigers, lions, leopards, snow leopards, and jaguars.
- Polar Bear House (ホッキョクグマ舎)
- Aboveground and underwater viewing areas
- Animals' Land & Children's Zoo (動物とこどもの国)
- red pandas, otters, koalas and some farmyard animals.
- A small amusement park (遊園地)
- Rides and games for children, includes a Ferris wheel and chair swing ride.
- The E.H. Hunter House (旧ハンター住宅)
- The former residence of the founder of Osaka Iron Works, Edward Hazlett Hunter. An elaborate example of a 19th-century ijinkan (異人館, "foreign home"), it is at the northeast corner the zoo (hence not accessible outside zoo hours). The interior – with roped-off period furniture – is only open a few months each year.[2] It was designated an Important Cultural Property by both the prefecture and the nation.[3]
Animals in other sections include giraffes, zebras, kangaroos, ostriches, flamingos, hippos, some species of apes, crocodiles, bobcats, sea lions, snow owls, and elephants.[2]
Surrounding
editTechnically the zoo is within Ōji Park (王子公園, Ōji Kōen), but the zoo is enclosed and has admission fees. Surrounding the zoo are the various parts of a sports complex. To the zoo's northwest is the Ōji Sports Center (王子スポーツセンター, Ōji Supōtsu Sentā). To the northeast are some tennis courts; to the east is Ōji Stadium; to the southwest is the Museum of Literature.