Hirakawa Zoo — Attraction in Kagoshima

This place was amazing. The best zoo I've ever been to. Quiet and huge. Very little smell from animal dung. Really well managed and spruced up. We went on a monday and it felt like we owned the place. I'd go to Kagoshima just for this zoo. It's not Disney Land, but the lush environment make the zoo feel like it's a natural part of the landscape. (in a way it is) the fee is so cheap, too. 500 yen for an adult and my kid got to go in for free!! I'm normally not a fan of zoos, but I felt in love with this one. The staff were also very friendly and some spoke very good english, including the lady that sold tickets at the entrance. the cleaning lady at the bus stop was a really kind soul who would insist on holding an umbrella over an old man with disabilities even though she was getting wet from rain. getting to the zoo is tricky, though. you'd have to walk a lot from the nearest train station, so I took a bus (No. 2) that would drop me off right at the zoo and it was not easy for a foreigner to find the bus stop (bless the hotel staff for pinpointing that place on the map) and it took about an hour to get to this place because there were so many stops in between. Had it been easier to get to this zoo, it'd be a classic international attraction. Still worth the traveling effort. The little ride park next to the zoo is also good. At first sight it looks old and almost deserted, but it's still manned by friendly staff. the zoo is certainly not brand-new as its humble entrance would suggest, but it's so well managed and tidy it is still...

📄 Description of the area:

———————— 🗺 - Address: 鹿児島県鹿児島市平川町5669-1.

🚌 - Access: Kagoshima Airport → approx. 75mins. Taniyama I.C → approx. 15mins. Kagoshima Chuo Station → approx. 35mins. Tenmonkan → approx. 40mins. Kagoshima Aquarium → approx. 40mins.

💴 - Entrance Fee: Adult - (500 yen). Students - (100 yen).

🕒 - Hours: [9:00 ~ 17:00]. Last entry at 16:30. Some animals may not be viewable after 16:00.

🐅 - Hirakawa Zoological Park: There are approximately 1,000 animals of more than 100 species in the park. Visitors can touch some animals and soak their feet in the footbath which commands a view of animal fields and Sakurajima. Animal-shaped buses which are wheelchairs and pushchairs friendly run in the park. The park is also open at night on Saturdays and Sundays in August so visitors can see animal life that is different from daytime and participate in special events. ————————

🌳 🦒 🌳 Thanks For...

The weather was very nice. It was rainy in July but just we just have one nice weather day, and we decided to go to the zoo.

The zoo is huge, at the hill side, so you should expect walking up and down slopes. Old people and children may be a bit tired visiting there. But it worths a lot. The zoo contains various kinds of animals with spacious living environment, and kept in very good condition. I expect everyone could enjoy very good time there.

I forgot the entrance fee but it is very cheap. Souvenirs are cute and we bought a bit. Sadly it also means the zoo may not be earning money, and some parts of it are not in good condition, etc. the polar bear's pool is dry out. I hope I could donate some money to make animals living in a even better place.

Please visit and make...