I visited Tennoji Zoo recently, and it was a delightful experience overall. The zoo is clean and well-maintained, providing a comfortable environment for both the animals and visitors. It’s a great spot for families, especially those with kids, as it offers an educational and fun outing with plenty to see and explore.
While the zoo has a good variety of animals, some areas were under renovation during my visit. This meant that a few exhibits were temporarily closed, and some animals weren’t visible. It seems that spotting certain animals depends on timing and luck, but that adds a bit of unpredictability to the experience, which can be fun in its own way.
Despite the renovations, the zoo has done a commendable job in keeping the grounds organized and welcoming. The paths are easy to navigate, and there are plenty of shaded areas, which is great for taking breaks, especially on warmer days. The enclosures are well-kept and designed to provide a natural habitat for the animals, which is always reassuring to see.
One of the highlights of the visit is how family-friendly the zoo is. Kids can enjoy seeing the animals up close while learning about their habits and habitats. There are also interactive elements that make the experience more engaging for younger visitors.
Overall, Tennoji Zoo is worth a visit if you’re in Osaka, especially if you’re traveling with children. It’s a pleasant way to spend a few hours and a nice escape from the city’s hustle and bustle.
This is the easiest zoo to visit. You can see a wide variety of animals here. I recommend getting a map at the entrance.
The zoo entrance fee is 500 yen. Accordingly, it is easier to visit if you follow the roads.
If you have a suitcase or bag with you, there are lockers at the entrance that you can use for 500-800 yen.
Very clean facilities. The staff is helpful, polite, and always happy to welcome you. I'm so pleased with how many animals we were able to see, even in the middle of the day when I expected them to be sleeping. Holding pens are generous in space and well-maintained; animals seemed comfortable. Lots of places to sit and relax. Crowd sises were reasonable and never felt cramped.
I was very sad to see how small the enclosures were for the animals. Coming from the UK, we have extremely strict welfare standards in our zoos. This zoo seemed to have very little welfare standards. The polar bear seemed very distressed, pacing back and forth. The monkeys should be in groups, not on their own. There was only one Giraffe...they should be in groups too. Basically, most of the animals were in small enclosures, on their own and stressed out. Please don't visit here. I know it sounds like I'm being dramatic but if you really love animals you will feel sad seeing it.
It’s my daughter 2nd visit, 7 yrs apart..but my first visit. Am truly amazed they able to carve out a huge piece of land to plant a zoo in the middle of city. Place is clean and amenities are plenty and strategically place. Quite a number of animals are made available… I love their hippo (it’s huge) and off course their polar bear..ops their red panda too… even though it’s weekday.. many parents took their kids to enjoy and appreciate the animals.. one point worth mentioning, the curator did a great job in placements of viewing points..it gives you great visibility and closeup views of the animals…definitely recommended place to go..
P/s..after the journey…there’s a great place to savor their local food nearby….
