Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Garden

Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Garden is a municipal zoo and botanical garden in Motomachi, Higashiyama, Chikusa Ward, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, located in Higashiyama Park. It first opened in 1937.

In 2017, the yearly visitor count was at 2.4 million, second only to Ueno Zoo in Japan. It was ranked third after Asahiyama Zoo in Hokkaido for the five years from 2005 to 2009 (Heisei 21). The number of breeding species in Japan is the highest as of 2017 (Heisei 29). The property has one of the greatest areas in Japan. Admission is free for junior high school children and under, and 500 yen for adults, making it less expensive than other zoos. According to the "Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Garden," since 2010.

Nagoya City Higashiyama Park Zoo and Botanical Garden is the official name.

Opened in 1937 (Showa 12)

59.58 hectares of land (zoo: 32.21 hectares, botanical garden: 27.37 hectares)

3-70 Higashiyama Motomachi, Chikusa Ward, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan

Nearest station: Nagoya Municipal Subway Higashiyama Line Higashiyama Koen Station Exhibits: 15,690 points representing 550 animal species, 7,000 species representing 230 plant families (as of 2009)

Nagoya City is in charge of management and operations.

It evolved from the 'Namikoshi Educational Zoo,' which Shichigoro Imaizumi, an animal dealer, introduced to the public in 1890. It began as a city zoo in 1918 (Taisho 7) with the inauguration of the'Nagoya City Tsurumai Park Zoo'in Tsurumai Park, based on the animals brought from Imaizumi. Because it had grown too tiny, it was relocated to Higashiyama Park, which had just been constructed at the time (Showa 12), and renamed Higashiyama Zoo. When it initially opened, the park was dubbed "the greatest zoo in the Orient."

Before WWII, it was a vast zoo with 1,200 animals from 700 different species, including elephants, giraffes, lions, and tigers. Many animals were slaughtered during the war, exactly like at Ueno Zoo and Tennoji Zoo, since they felt it would be a nuisance if they went wild during air raids (wartime culling of wild animals), or starved to death owing to a shortage of food, and just five species survived until the conclusion of the war26. There were simply a few dots (2 elephants, 1 chimpanzee , 2 crowned cranes , 20 ducks, 1 swan). However, because to the efforts of the zoo's director, Eiichi Hokuo, and Colonel Ohno, the leader of the Chikusa Police Department, only two elephants were killed. However, thanks to the efforts of the zoo's director, Eiichi Hokuo, and Colonel Ohno, the leader of the Chikusa Police Department, just two elephants remained here until the conclusion of the war. A crowd of primary and junior high school pupils gathered (also see the elephant train item).

The number of animals recovered after the conflict. Animal performances starring elephants and gorillas were popular from the late 1950s through the early 1970s, but as societal conditions changed, the zoo began to focus on teaching, research, breeding, and other activities rather than merely enjoyment. progressively transformed into

Koalas arrived in Japan for the first time in 1984 (Showa 59), and there was a wait at the koala house every day. It debuted on March 3, 1937, before to the zoo's opening (Showa 12).

The enormous greenhouse at the botanical garden's entrance structure was erected when the park first opened and is Japan's oldest extant greenhouse. It was dubbed "the greatest crystal palace in the Orient" at the time. It was designated an important cultural property in December 2006. Furthermore, more than ten varieties of palm palms established during the park's inception may still be found in the front structure. From 2014 until September 2020, the greenhouse's front room will be refurbished, after which the plants will be restored and united with the Italian-style Western-style garden, which will be completed in 2021.

The entire botanical park is designed to make the most of the natural forest, and strolling routes, including unpaved roads, go in all directions. There are many gardens such as Yaarien, which is named for Yayu Yokoi, a well-known listener of the Owari realm, in addition to a plum garden, a cherry garden, a camellia garden, and a flower garden. Aside from the gassho-zukuri style, which was transported from the castle and is now available to the public, the ruins of the old Higashiyama kilns discovered in 1971 (Showa 46) are still visible near the Japanese garden.

Furthermore, despite being a botanical park, there is a small bird and squirrel forest as well as a children's zoo in one area where children may engage with animals. metres, with a height differential of about 28 metres) is also installed.