Asahiyama Zoo, Zoo in Asahikawa, Japan
Description
Asahiyama Zoo is a zoological garden in Asahikawa on the Japanese island of Hokkaido, focused on presenting natural animal behavior. Visitors walk through transparent tubes surrounded by penguin pools and step into observation domes built directly into bear and wolf habitats.
History
The park opened in 1967 with 75 animal species after roughly a year of construction. It faced near closure in the 1990s, but a new design featuring naturalistic enclosures rescued the facility and turned it into one of Japan's most visited attractions.
Culture
The name comes from nearby Mount Asahi-dake, considered sacred in the region and visible from the grounds. Enclosures mimic the natural environment of Hokkaido animals, showing visitors how species move and hunt in winter conditions.
Practical
The facility sits roughly 40 minutes from Asahikawa Station, reachable by buses 41, 42, or 47. Winter snow can make paths slippery, so sturdy footwear helps, and viewing opportunities change with the season.
Did you know?
A vertical tube in the seal pool lets seals swim up and down, offering unusual viewing angles. Orangutans move on elevated trapezes built to encourage their natural climbing movements.
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