Tennoji Zoo Osaka
One of the oldest in Japan (opened 1915). In the guide it was written that it is a small family type Zoo. Both small and family do not sound very encouraging even if you are with small kids but we had no choice and once the Tennoji Koen was reached the Zoo was our main destination. It turned out that the Zoo is definitely not so small and it is actually quite fun (we really didn’t expect to end up in the middle of African savanna/jungle (you’ll see the pictures later)).
First – this is a view toward the Zoo from the Tennoji Koen (the picture was taken just in front of the Osaka Art museum – the second picture):
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The main entrance (I think the white bear on the photo is kind of celebrity in the Zoo):
We are already inside the zoo:
Actually the Zoo is situated on both sites of this road leading toward/from the Osaka Art Museum. As to the family part of the Tennoji Zoo the Disney composition sums a good part of it (colorful – isn’t it?:)):
Now a short pause to present you some of the Zoo inhabitants (the chimpanzees were particularly interesting – non stop arguing for something and quite noisy).
Of course you cannot have a real Japanese Zoo without Anpanman and all of the rest of the heroes (the white bear from the entrance was also here – it definitely must be one of the Zoo’s main mascots):
Apparently the Tennoji Zoo is famous for its artificial savanna. The idea is that the animals are situated in such a way that it looks like they are in their natural habitat and there are no barriers between them. When we reached the savanna part it was too late (almost 16:30) so we had to hurry but still here are a few photos from it (I think they succeeded with the imitation of savanna quite well but you decide on your own):
Here is another part of the Zoo – the area around the elephants. It looks more like a jungle (than a Savanna) to me so I grouped the photos separately:
Now this is an interesting one (you may want to click on the image to enlarge it):
I really had to touch this thing to confirm that it is not real (it was from something like concrete). The Tennoji Zoo people definitely like to craft the details!
And again – if you have any doubts you are in a Japanese Zoo – you will be reminded :) :
At 5:00 p.m. everything is over and you must go (usually toward Tennoji station unless you are Osaka-jin). But we’ll be back that’s more than sure – still too much left to bee seen from both Tennoji Park and Zoo.
Just one last photo for goodbye (taken from the road above the Zoo):
5 Comments on Tennoji Zoo Osaka
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I walked past this place several times, and it does look big from the outside. Now that I’ve seen some of your photos and read your story I might actually give the inside a try too when spring comes back. Thanks for yet another well-written, well-pictured post.
Thank you for showing the areas of my school boyhood. I prefer the area of Chausuyama and Isshinji temple, northern neighborhood of the Art museum, too.
Thank you Wouter even though I am still struggling with my English. This was actually and one of the reasons to start this blog (to improve my English writing skills).
BTW I think I have a few photos of local Kobe baths which I must send to you (together with google Map locations of course). I just need some time to dig them out from my photo archives.
Thank you for the comment jtomi.
We saw the top of enormous temple behind the trees and now (thanks to you) we know it is Isshinji. It is definitely in our plans for near future.
We leave in Kobe and Osaka is natural destination for us but the last year we were avoiding trips to it because we have a very small baby and because of the shingata influenza (just to avoid the trains and crowds). Now the baby is not so small and the shingata influenza is going away so here we come Osaka :)
Thank you one more time for the Isshinji temple tip.
PS. I took some photos and movies from Tennoji station and surroundings so if I have time I will make a separate blog entry with them.
All the best.