Zoo

[Kahoku Town, Yamagata Prefecture] Completely free "Kahoku Town Children's Zoo" is open 24 hours a day, all year round! Enjoy 30 types of animals

Yamagata Prefecture has only one zoo within the prefecture. That is the Kahoku Children's Zoo. Zoos in Tokyo and elsewhere often hold "night zoos" for a limited time, such as during the summer

This is an event where the zoo will be open until 9 pm instead of the usual closing time of 6 pm. It is a very popular event as it allows visitors to see animals at night, which they normally cannot see

I once went to the zoo in Ueno, Tokyo at night and was shocked to see giraffes running around in circles at full speed inside their enclosures

This limited-time event is extremely popular, but at Kahoku Children's Zoo you can enjoy it all year round. What's more, there are no time restrictions, such as closing at 9 pm, and you can enter and see the animals at any time 24 hours a day

A zoo like this that is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year is extremely rare, even nationwide

Free admission to the zoo

Another great thing about the Kahoku Children's Zoo is that it is open every day and admission is free. It has a long history as a popular place for local residents to drop in anytime

Local people often call it Yachi Zoo instead of Kahoku Children's Zoo, and it is said that the name comes from Yachi, a place in Kahoku

There are no large animals, so children can feel safe

One drawback of this zoo, and also its charm, is that it has almost no large animals, such as giraffes, gorillas, lions, and tigers, which are popular at major zoos that charge admission fees

The largest animals are bears and ponies, but you can also see peacocks, goats, sheep, and owls

As it is a free, community-based zoo, rather than attracting people to see lively, popular animals, the zoo has an atmosphere where visitors can relax and enjoy the peaceful lives of relatively small animals

Major, lively zoos that many people visit are great, but peaceful zoos like this one also have their own charm as they allow you to enjoy them in a relaxed atmosphere

This is a great spot for adults who want to explore at a leisurely pace, especially if you have small children and don't want to take them to crowded places

About 30 species of animals live here

There are many small animals, but there are about 30 different species, so you won't get bored of looking at them. In addition to the animals mentioned above, there are also raccoon dogs, monkeys, deer, and swans

You can also interact with and feed the rabbits, sheep, and goats. Feeding them usually costs around 200 yen

However, at the Kahoku Children's Zoo, this is also free, and you will receive a paper cup filled with cut carrots and cabbage

Particularly popular with girls is interacting with guinea pigs, newborn rabbits, and chicks. They are so cute that even adults can't help but reach out to touch them

Main Spot

Bird release house

The "Bird House" is one of the largest cages in the zoo. It houses mandarin ducks, chickens, ducks, and more. You can enter the enclosure and get a close-up look at the birds living happily

It's fun to watch them flying around actively and bathing in the pond

The mandarin duck is designated as the bird of Iwate Prefecture. It is a fairly rare bird, so it is a rare opportunity to observe it up close

waterfowl pond

The Waterfowl Pond is home to swans and ducks. Swans are usually seen from afar, but here you can see them right up close

If you reach out a little, you can reach out and touch them. You can see that the swans are surprisingly large. You can also watch the zookeepers feeding them

At that time, they shake their wings vigorously and beg for food, which is a different kind of charm from the calm and collected image of swans that we usually see

Interactive animal cage

In the "Petting Animal Cage," you can enjoy interacting with the rabbits, goats, and chicks mentioned above. Please note that this interaction experience is not available all year round

It is only open from May to June and September to October. Furthermore, there are set days and times every Sunday from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM (1:30 PM to 2:00 PM for sheep and goats, and 2:00 PM to 2:30 PM for rabbits and chicks). If you want to interact with the animals, you should go on one of these days

Peacock Cage

At the Peacock Cage, depending on the season, you can see the peacocks spreading their beautiful feathers. This is a rare sight, and you can't see it all the time

You'll be lucky if you can see them. They are one of the most popular animals in the zoo

Taxidermy Museum

The Taxidermy House is the only indoor facility in the zoo. There is a taxidermy corner on the first floor, where taxidermy specimens such as crocodiles, wild boars, and wallabies are on display

There is also a video corner where you can learn about the ecology of wild birds, and on the second floor you can observe tropical fish

You can take a walk with the animals

Jumbo rabbits, raccoon dogs, and ducks are occasionally taken for walks around the zoo. It's a rare experience to be able to walk around freely with the animals

Summary of Kahoku Children's Zoo

The facility was originally established with the motto of animal welfare and emotional education, so it is filled with love for the animals, and looking at them will make you feel kind

Various events are planned to allow children to feel enriched through interaction. Since admission is free, local residents can visit several times a month to enjoy watching the animals grow

Children can experience animals growing up alongside them. Zoos like this are rare across the country. This is a recommended zoo that is a little different from the ordinary, not only for families with small children but also for adults

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