Nasu Safari Park — Attraction in Nasu

Interacting with animals has always been a special moment for me. But after more than two decades of traveling in Japan, I have yet to visit a place where captive animals seem genuinely happy and fairly treated (zoo, cat cafe, pet shop). Perhaps I have a biased western point of view and I am sure that workers at those parks love taking care of their animals. Nevertheless, the overall experience is often a let down.

Sadly the Nasu Safari Park doesn't deviate much from that fact. The theme park aspect is great, the souvenir shop is huge and the staff is super friendly. You can access the safari tour with your own vehicle, with a rental car provided on site (recommended) or by funny buses designed as animals. There is also a restaurant but it was closed so I can't speak of the food.

The real downside is that the tour is timed and since all the vehicles are following each other, there's almost no time to stop to take pictures or simply watch.

On the animal side, the safari offers lions, giraffes, antelopes, bisons and such. But most weren't too lively aside from the ruminants that stick their tonge onto your car hoping to receive treats that you can buy at the ticket counter. That was kind of funny. However some seemed really depressed like the tiger at the entrance who went around in circles or the birds at the petting zoo in their minuscule cages. A little bit heartbraking.

Anyway, if you're passing nearby, you can go and judge by yourself. If you have kids they'll...

A great place to get up close, and really see the animals. Entry was a little expensive, 2 adults plus bus fee was 7800 yen. They sell animal biscuits for another 1000 yen.

You can take your own car, chartered bus, or special bus through the park.

It was great to see all the animals in such a short distance. We took the guided bus, which was the perfect speed to enjoy looking at, and feeding all of the animals. The bus driver aso gives information about the different animals.

The restaurant was also really good, but amazingly crowded. Even going for lunch during off hours, there was over an hour wait.

There's a small petting zoo with rabbits, goats, sheep, and llamas.

Overall, it's well worth the cost to go...

When I visited here first, I did not expect something because I thought it existed for kids.

However, As I was experiencing all the course of Safari I felt that it was changed.

You can drive safari car by yourselves and meet lots of animals there. You have to know the feed which you can buy is not enough for all animals. If you can ask the feed some staffs in every spots and entrance, you can buy more.

Alphaka is so smart that it block your car to eat some feed. Some deers which have cornu are little bit more dangerous than lions and tigers because they pull down side mirrors of the car.

Anyway you can experience real safari world and feel excited. Visit there and experience...