Suzaka Zoo, Animal park in Garyū Park, Suzaka, Japan

Suzaka Zoo opened in 1962 inside Garyū Park, its cages arranged along the western, southern and eastern slopes of Mount Garyū; Japanese deer are kept on the hillside itself. The main zoo displays mammals and birds, while the South Garden holds a small aquarium that closed in May 2015. A D51 steam locomotive, number 401, stands at the main gate by Ryūga Pond.

The facility opened in 1962 and became an educational resource for the Nagano area. Since its creation, it has served as a place where local communities and visitors could learn about animal life from around the world.

The zoo functions as a gathering place where visitors of all ages can observe animals living in settings that resemble their natural habitats. Families and school groups come to spend time together in an outdoor space designed around viewing and learning about creatures from different parts of the world.

The zoo is open from 9:00 to 16:45, with last entry at 16:00. It closes on Mondays (or the next day if Monday is a holiday) and from December 29 to 31, but remains open daily in April, May, and August. Access is via the Suzaka Station bus to Garyū Park, then a 10-minute walk; parking is free except during the cherry blossom festival.

At the main gate by Ryūga Pond stands D51 steam locomotive No. 401, a display piece rather than a working engine. The zoo also became known nationwide after its red kangaroo Hatch appeared on Japanese television, lifting annual visitors from 63,562 in fiscal 2003 to a record 237,663 in fiscal 2006.