[Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture] Enjoy the zoo in nature! Morioka City Zoological Park ZOOMO has reopened!

its opening in 1989 , Morioka City Zoological Park has been a popular place for Morioka residents to interact with animals.

The zoo is located in a hilly area on the outskirts of Morioka City, adjacent to Iwayama Park and Iwayama Parkland .

You can observe local animals such as bears, foxes, and raccoons, as well as elephants, giraffes, and lions, roaming freely in exhibition spaces that make use of the natural terrain

The park has been closed since September 2021, but reopened as "ZOOMO" on April 20, 2023 , and has been attracting many visitors every day.

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What does ZOOMO mean?

the philosophy of "One World, One Health," which holds that the health of people, animals, and the environment are interconnected was chosen the following four origins

ZOO MORIOKA

It expresses our desire to remain a zoo rooted in the local community as a zoo for the people of Morioka

Much more

It is our hope that the zoo will remain in Morioka for a long time to come, and continue to be loved by both the people of Morioka and the animals

Zumona

In the Tono region of Iwate Prefecture, folktale storytellers begin their tales by saying, "Mugaasu, attazu mo na (It seems that there was once upon a time)."

We hope to be a zoo that will be passed down forever like a fairy tale, and also a storyteller that conveys the lives and relationships between nature, people, and animals

ZOOM ON

As a new type of zoo, it businesses that focus on the welfare of captive animals, wildlife, and environmental conservation , and aims to become the only zoo of its kind in Japan.

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ZOOMO BASE & MONKEY CORT

Across the road from the parking lot, at the bus stop, there is an entrance with a large "ZOOMO" logo

The path that leads up to the entrance gate, ZOOMO BASE, is lined with signboards with animal silhouettes and their philosophies written on them, and at the end of the path is ZOOMO BASE

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ZOOMO BASE

There is a ZOOMO STATION where you can purchase admission tickets and get directions, and they also rent out strollers, assisted tricycles, and electric wheelchairs

The clean restrooms are equipped with diaper changing cribs for both men and women, with a spacious nursing space next to them

At the SHOP, you can purchase handmade goods from welfare workshops and craft artists in Iwate Prefecture, and a portion of the sales will be donated to support wildlife and environmental conservation efforts

Admission tickets can be purchased from the ticket vending machine

You can purchase tickets with cash, credit card, electronic money, or QR code payment, and ZOOMO BASE has free Wi-Fi, so you can even pay with your smartphone

Wi-Fi is also available here and elsewhere in the park and is free to use

At the entrance, which resembles a train ticket gate, you scan the QR code on your purchased ticket and the gate will open, allowing you to enter

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MONKEY CORT

Monkey Mountain, which was previously located to the left of BASE, has been remodeled into MONKEY CORT, a free-to-enter space where you can meet the monkeys at any time.

Monkey Mountain, which used to be just rocks, has now been renovated to include a wooden tower where the monkeys can play happily.

There is also an unmanned monkey food vendor near the entrance to ZOOMO BASE, with a cup containing 5-6 monkey biscuits for 100 yen .

This an attempt to bring the group of Japanese macaques closer to their wild state by feeding them small amounts of food at random times, in line with their habits .

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The five areas connected by the ZOO LOOP

From the base, you can visit five areas by following the three red lines and arrows painted on the route

There are many toilets and rest areas along the route, as well as vending machines

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Satoyama area where you can encounter familiar animals

This area displays familiar animals such as raccoons, foxes, and squirrels that can be found in the woodlands of Japan.

The Asiatic black bear exercise area a "Black Bear Terrace" where you can observe the bears through glass , so you can view them without worrying about the wire mesh.

of this zoo is that you can observe the animals from different angles than at other zoos, such as a loop path that runs over the wild boar exercise area and a tunnel that allows you to look up from below inside the large cage of the Japanese golden eagle.

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What is IWAYAMA LAB?

this area has been utilized as it is, and it is a space where you can observe the wild animals and plants that live on the rocky mountains in their natural state , and you can see wild birds, Japanese squirrels, and more.

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The savanna area is a small part of Africa

African animals such as lions, elephants, giraffes, and zebras are waiting for you

The "Giraffe Terrace," built within their playground, is a space where you can observe these animals up close

There is a rest house here, with a terrace that offers a panoramic view of the area, a mobile food and drink vendor, and free Wi-Fi available in the rest house

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A grassland area where kangaroos gather

There are North American bison and animals from Oceania, and the grassland area where kangaroos bask in the sun is a "pass-through" area that visitors can enter, and when they feel like it, the kangaroos may come close enough to touch them.

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Enjoy interacting with animals in the ranch area!

This is an area where you will be greeted by familiar livestock such as goats, sheep, cows, alpacas, ponies, and donkeys

Goat and sheep feed is sold in gachapon machines for 100 yen each, and when you hold one, the goats and sheep will come up to you with their adorable sparkling eyes

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Victoria Area: A Bridge to Canada

The museum exhibits pumas, Canadian river otters, and bighorn sheep, gifts from Morioka City's sister city, Victoria, Canada , and free Wi-Fi is available at the Victoria Rest House rest area.

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NATURE LOOP

This route deviates from the main zoo loop and takes you through the natural forest within the zoo, where you can also enjoy trekking and trail running

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Lunchtime at PICNIC FIELD!

It is a large grassy area where you can see the animals in the ranch area, and there are many wooden studios (Azumaya) where you can sit and spread out your lunch

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Event planning where you can interact with animals

Various events are available in each area (prices are current as of June 7, 2023)

Some events are first-come, first-served, and there are also many events that are only held on certain days or are held irregularly, so be sure to check the official website in advance

• Feeding the giraffes (Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays): 100 yen per person per time
• Feeding the pumas (Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays): 500 yen per person
• Feeding the lions (Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from October to November): 1,000 yen per group (up to 5 people)
• Feeding the elephants (April to September, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from December to March): 500 yen per group (up to 5 people)
• Elephant care experience (April to October, November to March, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, limited to the first three groups): 3,500 yen per group
• Pakapaka Square (pony rides available on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays): 500 yen per person (200 yen if you just want to ride)

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summary

At ZOOMO, where you can interact with animals in their natural environment, you may spot wild animals in and around the zoo, which shows that the animals are kept in an environment as close to nature as possible

It's easy to get to the zoo by car, but there are also Iwate Kotsu buses that depart from Morioka Station, and it's also easy to get to the zoo on foot, so if you love animals, why not stop by when you're in Morioka?

*Morioka City Zoological Park ZOOMO was temporarily closed from June 3, 2023 due to the possibility that a wild Japanese black bear had entered the zoo, but reopened on June 10 after safety was assured

Morioka Zoo ZOOMO <Information>

• Facility name: Morioka City Zoological Park ZOOMO
• Address: 60-18 Shimoyagida, Shinjo, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture
• Opening hours:
  • Regular season (April 1st to October 31st): 9:30am - 4:30pm (entry until 4:00pm)
  • Winter season (November 1st to March 31st): 10:00-16:00 (entry until 15:30)
• Closed: Regular season / Wednesdays Winter season / Wednesdays and Thursdays
  • If the closed day is a public holiday, the park will be open and closed on the following weekday (excluding Golden Week)
  • Closed from December 29th to January 3rd
• Phone number: 019-654-8266
• Admission fee: Adults (high school students and above) 1,000 yen, elementary and junior high school students 500 yen (group discounts and special discounts available)
• URL: Morioka Zoological Park ZOOMO Official Website
• Parking: 300 yen per day for standard cars, 1,000 yen per day for large vehicles (472 standard cars, 5 large vehicles)
• Bus: Take the bus bound for Zoo Park from bus stop number 5 at the east exit of Morioka Station
• Bus inquiries: Iwate Prefecture Transportation Information Center (TEL: 019-654-7755)

Google Maps

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