Zoos in Japan: Tennoji Zoo (Osaka Municipal Tennoji Zoological Gardens)

(Photo: January 2014)

Tennoji Zoo, located in the southern part of Osaka City, is like an island of green in an ocean of gray concrete and black asphalt. For that reason, even in the middle of the zoo grounds, you are often reminded of the surrounding buildings, and you can sometimes hear the sounds of traffic on the highway bordering the western perimeter of the zoo or the JR trains to the south. But despite the background urban noise, Tennoji has enough green areas that Osaka citizens can make a short escape from the “concrete jungle” and relax. Tennoji is also a good place to practice animal photography because a number of the exhibits allow for clear views of the animals, with no obstructions between camera lens and the subject.

(Photo: January 2014)

Tennoji zoo opened in 1915, and is recognized as the third oldest zoo in Japan (after Ueno in Tokyo and Kyoto Municipal). Not surprisingly, some parts of the zoo have an older and out-of-date look and feel, and sometimes receive sharp criticism on word-of-mouth internet web sites, especially from visitors from other countries. The land area of Tennoji zoo is only about 11 hectares, so visitors who usually visit zoos that have large spacious enclosures are often disappointed by what they find at Tennoji. Owned and operated by the City of Osaka, adult admission to the zoo is only 500 yen, and improvements and updates to the zoo appear to be constrained by the whims of city hall’s annual budgets. Despite its shortcomings, Tennoji Zoo has a number of good exhibits and rest areas that are well worth a look.

Enter the Jungle

There are a number of landscape immersion design-type exhibits at Tennoji which attempt to recreate the animals’ natural habitats. The best of these are the Asian Tropical Rainforest area, the African Savanna area, the Bird Paradise aviary, and the IFAR reptile house. The display methods and decorative props in these areas really succeed in creating an engaging atmosphere.

Asian Tropical Rainforest Area

There are multiple entrances to this exhibit, and to get the full effect of the designed environment, it is best to enter from the opening closest to the monkey enclosures.

(Photo: November 2013)

First, you take a walk through the jungle.

(Photo: January 2012)

Decorative signs written in Thai language add to the Southeast Asian atmosphere.

(Photo: November 2013)

This tree stump is a man-made replica!

(Photo: November 2013)

This fake snake and fake bee hive are quite convincing. I’ve seen a number of startled visitors.

(Photo: November 2013)

A replicated village elephant watch station complete with warning gong.

(Photo: November 2013)

(Photo: January 2012)

Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) “Haruko”, was born in Thailand in 1948 and came to Tennoji in 1950. Advanced in age, she has cataracts in her right eye and other physical characteristics appropriate to a grand old lady. The other Asian elephant, “Rani Hiroko”, was born in India in 1969 and came to Tennoji in 1970. In the photo below, Haruko is in the foreground, Rani Hiroko in the background.

(Photo: November 2013)

African Savanna: “Nzabi National Park in Tennoji”

This part of the zoo features landscape immersion type enclosures that recreate an African savanna. This area hosts many of the larger animals and larger exhibits, and for many people, this is the most attractive zone in the zoo.

(Photo: January 2010)

Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibious) exhibit

(Photo: January 2011)

You can also see the hippos underwater.

(Photo: January 2012)

Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) exhibit

(Photo: April 2013)

The mixed species exhibit includes Grant’s zebras (Equus burchelli bohmi), a Common eland (Taurotragus oryx), Reticulated giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulate), and various birds.

(Photo: January 2010)

Lion enclosure

(Photo: January 2010)

(Photo: January 2014)

Up close with a lion (Panthera leo).

(Photo: November 2013)

The African Savanna area includes many well-done bilingual explanation signs (Japanese and English). Visitors from outside of Japan often complain that many of the older parts of the zoo do not have enough English signage.

(Photo: April 2013)

Sometimes, the restraining wires get in the way of a good photo.

(Photo: January 2010)

Free Fly Zone: Bird Paradise Aviary

The Bird Paradise aviary at Tennoji is the largest that I have seen in Japan. It is probably close to 100 meters long, and probably about 40 meters tall. (Caution: I am not very good at visually calculating measurements.)

(Photo: June 2014)

These photos show the exhibit in mid-summer. Everything is green and lush.

(Photo: June 2014)

The enclosure is very large, and birds can fly very naturally. See the video below:

There are many birds that nest in this exhibit. Perhaps that is an indication that the environment in this exhibit closely approximates natural conditions.

European White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) (Photo: June 2014)

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) (Photo: June 2014)

Even birds that live outside of this enclosure seem to want to come inside.

(Photo: June 2014)

A waterfall.

(Photo: June 2014)

Spotbilled Duck (Anas poecilorhyncha) (Photo: June 2014)

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) (Photo: June 2014)

Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) (Photo: June 2014)

Live fish for lunch!

(Photo: January 2010)

The middle of winter is not the best time to visit the aviary. Most of the trees are bare of leaves, and the bird guano seems to be everywhere. I find it better to visit in the summer when the vegetation is green and lush. Another good time to go is in the spring when the cherry blossoms are in bloom.

(Photo: January 2010)

(Photo: June 2014)

(Photo: March 2013)

IFAR Reptile House

The IFAR Reptile house is home to various snakes, frogs, alligators, salamanders, fish and even a couple of birds. Entering the facility, you get the illusion that you are going underground.

(Photo: April 2013)

The tree in the right foreground is man-made. The environmental controls in this area are set to maintain a humid climate, and every few minutes, a fine mist was sprayed from the ceiling.

(Photo: June 2014)

Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis) (Photo: June 2014)

This area recreates the surroundings of a

Japan

mountain stream. They even have a Japanese Giant salamander.

(Photo: June 2014)

Opportunities for Animal Encounters

At the “Hitsuji Hiroba”, the area for domesticated farm animals, a visitor can buy a small dish of pellets to hand feed the goats and sheep. The pellets cost 100 yen for a small dish, and the zoo apparently puts a limit on how much feed is allowed per day because if you arrive around noon, they are usually already sold out.

(Photo: January 2010)

Food and Souvenirs

Tennoji Zoo has a number of concessions with food and drinks. The offerings available include what the Japanese call “B-class gourmet” items such as curry and rice, takoyaki, ramen, fried noodles, and other “Japanese fast food”. The food concessions are each paired with souvenir shops where visitors can buy plush toy animals, keychains, books, toys, cookies, etc. The concessions are operated by vendors who are chosen through a city bidding process. Perhaps that is the reason there is some variation between the concessions regarding the quality of food offerings and souvenir goods.

(Photo: January 2012)

(Photo: November 2013)

Getting There

It is very easy to get to Tennoji Zoo. It is about a 5 minute walk to the Shinsekai Gate from the Sakaisuji Subway line Doubutsuenmae Station, the Sakaisuji Subway line Ebisucho Station, or the Midosuji Subway line Doubutsuenmae Station. It is also a 5 minute walk from the JR Tennoji Station to the Tennoji Gate. Depending on which entrance you choose, you get a different first impression of the zoo. The approach through Shinsekai takes you through a bustling commercial area full of Kushikatsu restaurants and bars.

(Photo: June 2014)

From the Shinsekai area, you walk under a highway to reach the gate. For the first time visitor, this can create a first impression that is unnecessarily drab and gray.