New Year's events at Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens
Spending New Year's the natural way
Note:
• Open from Thu, Jan 2 from the new year.
Events
Year-end/New Year Walkathon
Walk around to the most popular 10 animals of 2024, getting a sense of their charm while also learning about them.
• Period: Sat, Dec 21, 2024–Sun, Feb 24, 2025
• Location:
Walkathon sheet: Available at each gate, 9:00 am–3:00 pm
Gift reception: Main Gate information desk, North Park Gate, Kamiike Gate, and Sky Tower Gate until 4:30 pm
Note:
• Recieve popular animal stickers as a special present, Thu, Jan 2–Sun, Jan 5.
Greetings from Zoobo
Zoobo offers New Year's greetings and the chance to take a picture together!
• Dates and times:
From 10:30 am; Sat, Jan 4
From 10:30 am; Sun, Jan 5
(Held for 15 min. each session)
• Location: Outside the giraffe enclosure (canceled should rainy weather occur)
Photo spots
Photo stand-ins with the Chinese zodiac theme and cute illustrations let you take a commemorative New Year picture.
• Period: From Tue, Dec 17, 2024
• Location: North Park Gate and Kamiike Gate plazas
Trying Your Luck with Japanese Omikuji Fortunes amusement park event
Shake a big box and pull out a fortune for gifts!
• Date and time: From 1:00 pm (tickets available from 12:00 pm); Thu, Jan 2, 2025
• Location: Event area outside the teacups ride in the amuseument park
Notes:
• Available for the first 50 people.
• Canceled should rainy weather occur.
Other events
2025 Chinese zodiac snake quiz details (Japanese)
Wind a lottery drum for prizes—everyone wins!
Amusement park lottery details (Japanese)
Get a sticker wishing you luck on passing tests if you ride the Golden Koala Boat during the event period!
Higashiyama Boat House New Year's event details (Japanese)
Nagoya Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens
- Don’t miss the Asian tropical rainforest area opened in 2023 and the new jaguar enclosure!
With the largest number of species kept in Japan, from tiny medaka fish to huge Asian elephants, visitors can observe a wide variety of animals.
At the Gorilla and Chimpanzee House, home to Shabani, the handsome Western lowland gorilla famous for his good looks, as well as diverse exhibition facilities such as Zoogium (the Asian elephant house) and the koala house, visitors can do more than just observe the animals. There are also abundant educational displays introducing their ecology and habitats, allowing you to learn while having fun.
The botanical garden displays about 7,000 species of plants, making use of a large greenhouse and the natural forest of the hilly area. In spring, the Cherry Blossom Corridor is adorned with 1,000 cherry trees of about 100 varieties. In autumn, around 500 trees centered around Okuike Pond and the Japanese garden turn brilliant colors, making it one of the city’s leading spots for autumn foliage. In addition, you can enjoy seasonally charming scenery such as the camellia garden, rose garden, and flower fields.
Details
| Schedule | Sat, Dec 21, 2024–Sun, Jan 5, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Regular Holiday | • Mon (the following weekday should Mon coincide with a national holiday) • Dec 29–Jan 1 (year-end/New Year holiday) |
| Time | 9:00 am–4:50 pm (admission until 4:30 pm) |
| Venue | Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens |
| Cost | Requires a fee |
| Price Details | • Adults: JPY 500 • Junior high school ages and younger: Free of charge |
| Contact | Higashiyama Multipurpose Park |
| TEL | +81-52-782-2111 |
| FAX | +81-52-782-2140 |
| Home Page | https://www.higashiyama.city.nagoya.jp/# |
| Access | • Main Gate: 3-min. walk from Exit 3 of Higashiyama Koen Station on the Higashiyama Subway Line. • Hoshigaoka Gate/Botanical gardens: 15-min. walk from the Mitsukoshi Department Store connection of Higashigaoka Stationo n the Higashiyama Subway Line. |
