Kumamoto City Zoo and Botanical Gardens
About 110 animal species and 700 plant species share 24.5 hectares beside Lake Ezu.
piggybackjapan.com
Kumamoto City Zoo and Botanical Gardens
SaveAbout 110 animal species and 700 plant species share 24.5 hectares beside Lake Ezu.
The zoo grounds also hold a fairground, so giraffes and a Ferris wheel are a short walk apart.
Note: the merry-go-round and Dolphin Paradise rides are out of service after the 2026 Kumamoto earthquake, and part of the savanna area is closed for construction
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- ElevatorElevator：not checked
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The grounds run 24.5 hectares along Lake Ezu, in three parts. Monkeys greet you inside the main gate, with tigers, elephants and giraffes further in, and golden snub-nosed monkeys among them. Touch Ai Land is a contact area with a play zone and a hands-on zone. The plant side has a Japanese garden, an arboretum and a glasshouse of tropical plants. The fairground holds ten large rides and forty small ones, including a Ferris wheel and a children's train.
| Stroller friendly | Yes | Free stroller loan for children aged 7-24 months; numbers are limited and groups are not lent strollers. Coin lockers (¥100/¥200) at the West Gate and by the Ferris wheel; bag holding ¥300 per piece at the main-gate shop | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | ezooko.jp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing space | Yes (3) | Three rooms in the park: inside the main gate, near the information desk, and near the children's train. The main-gate room has hot water for formula | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | ezooko.jp |
| Indoor / outdoor | Indoor & outdoor | Mostly outdoors over 24.5 hectares beside Lake Ezu, with indoor spots including the large greenhouse and orchid room at the botanical zone | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | ezooko.jp |
| Diaper changing table | Not checked yet | ||||
| Family restroom | Not checked yet | ||||
| Diaper disposal bin | Not checked yet | ||||
| English support | Not checked yet | ||||
| Outside food allowed | Not checked yet | ||||
| Kids' toilet seat & step stool | Not checked yet | ||||
| Elevator | Not checked yet |
Worth a look before you go
Japanese · opens translatedFirst-hand
Kumamoto City Zoo and Botanical Gardens: a guide to the grounds, and the trick for skipping the queue
Enter by the west gate at 9am or 3pm, not the main gate. Rides ¥200 each from age 2; hot dog ¥430, shaved ice ¥300.
yutarin-daily.com2022
Japanese · opens translatedGuide
A full day at Kumamoto City Zoo and Botanical Gardens, using the free Welcome Passport
The fairground has 10 large rides and 40 small ones, ¥10-200 each. Golden snub-nosed monkeys are only here in Japan.
cckuma.com2024
Japanese · opens translatedFirst-hand
A Kumamoto trip to the city zoo and botanical gardens — the popular animals were in their dens and we missed them
Ten minutes on foot from Doshokubutsuen-iriguchi tram stop; a tram day pass cuts the fee. The zoo side alone took 2 hrs.
4travel.jp2024
Japanese · opens translatedOfficial
Summer night opening
Open to 21:00 on summer Saturdays (last entry 20:30), with a light show at 19:30. Eight species are off view at night.
ezooko.jp2026
Kumamoto City Zoo and Botanical Gardens · Links & reads ▾
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Basics
- Fee：¥500 adults & high school students · ¥100 elementary/junior high · preschoolers free. Free for elementary/junior-high residents of Kumamoto, Fukuoka, Kitakyushu or Kagoshima with proof of address, and for disability certificate holders plus one carer. Parking free on weekdays, ¥200 per car on weekends and holidays■
- Hours：9:00-17:00 (last entry 16:30). Closed Mondays (next weekday if a holiday); the 4th Monday is open and the following day closed instead. Closed Dec 30-Jan 1■
- Booking：No online ticket sale is stated on the official site; groups of 30+ apply in advance via the city's e-form■Official booking site ↗
- Note: the merry-go-round and Dolphin Paradise rides are out of service after the 2026 Kumamoto earthquake, and part of the savanna area is closed for construction■