月岡動物園, Zoo in Tsukioka, Niigata Prefecture, Japan
Tsukioka Zoo, also written as 月岡動物園, was a zoo in Shibata, in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It sat within a broader leisure area and housed animals from many parts of the world on its grounds.
The zoo opened in 1935, and part of its first animal collection was connected to discoveries made during oil drilling operations in the Niigata region. It remained open for decades before closing in 1991.
For families in the Niigata region, this was the only place where they could see exotic animals from distant parts of the world. Many people who visited as children still remember it as a central part of their childhood outings.
The site no longer operates as a zoo, as it was converted to other uses after closing. Visitors to the area can still find the former grounds as part of a broader trip around Shibata.
Part of the animals that stocked the zoo when it first opened are said to have been found or acquired through oil drilling activities in the region, giving the place an unusual origin story. When it closed, the grounds were turned into a hotel, so the site continued to welcome visitors under a very different purpose.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
