Taken on January 2024
Approximately 120 species, a total of 1200 animals, including a rare species of white tigers live in the zoo. You can have exciting experiences, such as feeding the animals and interacting with the small animals.
From scary rides to heartwarming family attractions, there are more than 30 kinds of attractions for every visitor to enjoy all day.
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SUMMER in Saitama - Quick link to the best summer events and places to visit in Saitama, near Tokyo!
One of Saitama’s best known: Tobu Zoo and amusement park
White tiger Tobu Zoo
I’ve brought the kids to Tobu Zoo a few times over the years. Our initial visit was about seven years ago and we weren’t as impressed with the zoo side on that first visit. However, they have improved the zoo over the years and we have grown to like it enough for the very occasional visit. But I personally wouldn’t put it in “the best of Saitama” list by any means.
Our kids are a better age for Tobu Zoo now that we have no-one in nappies. I feel it is a zoo best suited to children upwards of preschool age. It is quite large, but not nearly large enough for the amount of animals they have. If you concentrate your visit to the zoo side it is certainly manageable. Accordingly, this post introduces only the zoo with only a little about the amusement park, summer pool and seasonal events.
Tobu Zoo opened in 1981 as the 80th anniversary project of Tobu Railway. It is a popular hybrid theme park, comprised of a zoo, an attraction park and a swimming pool in an area of 530,000 sq. meters. There are so many ways to have fun, because of all the different kinds of activities and highlights packed into one space! You can either take it slow while watching the animals or enjoy all the different attractions. Everybody, from children to adults, can surely have a great time visiting this park.
(Source: 東武動物公園)
White Tiger: Symbol of Tobu Zoo
The symbol of Tobu Zoo is the white tiger. These white tigers, native to India, are so rare that there are only 30 of them in all Japan. Exhibited in a glass cage, go take a look at the powerful white tiger.
(Source: 東武動物公園)
From Fierce to Fluffy
You can see all kinds of animals, from fierce, wild ones with dynamic movements to small, fluffy creatures that will soothe your mind when you see and touch them. Popular activities are the alpaca's snacking time (additional fee applies) inside the "interactive forest" or picture-taking with the snowy owl.
(Source: pixta)
Over 35 Attractions
At Tobu Zoo, there are over 35 attractions of various kinds, from thrilling rides to mellow rides that can be enjoyed by children. No matter your age, you can spend an entire day without getting bored!
(Source: 東武動物公園)
Roller Coaster "Kawasemi" and "Regina"
Signature attractions are the over-water roller coaster Kawasemi (kingfisher) and over-water wooden roller coaster Regina. The up-and-down swift movements of Kawasemi is indeed just like a kingfisher. On Regina, which means the queen of fear, you can experience the typical rocking of a wooden ride and a thrill you cannot experience elsewhere.
(Source: pixta)
Heartful Land
This area inside the attraction park is themed after a lively farm, where humans and animals live together in harmony. The area is like a charming world out of a picture book, with "Mr. Coquette's seeding airplane" and "Pirate Butahige's spinning tugboat".
(Source: 東武動物公園)
Illumination in Winter
The Tobu Zoo Winter Illumination held during winter holds the second spot out of all the illumination in Saitama prefecture. A fantastic, lively atmosphere is created using projections of giant shapes created using LED lights and cylinder-shaped LED effects, music, screens and light.
Rare and wonder living things are here it’s a worthy place to visit. There is huge rollercoaster and big space for game zone. Inside zoo there is food stall , gift 🎁 shops. parking space is also big and I don’t know why there everywhere strictly instructed that don’t take photos showing tattoos . I had visited this park at July it’s very hot 🥵 day luckily they had moisture mist machines all over park
I went with friends there for illumination. Unfortunately, there was no bus at all from 17:00 so we had to walk for a while and we were alone on the street at that time which scared us, afraid if we were lost or something.
The ticket cost about 1300 yen if I'm not mistaken, and you get 200 yen off the next time you come to see the illumination again, so make sure to not throw away the ticket if you plan to go again.
Because of the access, there were not many people there and we didn't have to wait to ride an attraction. Oh, you can buy the pass for all attractions or you can buy ticket inside and just ride ones that you would like to ride. There are many ticket machine inside, so no worries. They have lots of toilet too, very convenient. I recommend this place if you want to see beautiful illumination without many people so you can take photos as much as you can, as long as you are willing to walk a bit to reach the zoo from the train station.
if i can give 0 stars, i will.
ENTRANCE FEE:
1900¥ for adults
-not worth it in my opinion.
PARKING FEE:
1000¥
from what i have seen, some animals in their enclosure "feels like" they are not well-taken cared of. they look stressed and very unhappy. it was cold, and some of the animals are left very cold without any source of a little "heat".
-some animals looks very sick, like the white tiger on one of my videos who limps and looks hurting. it was traumatizing to see an animal walking back and forth limping in agony with no one to help him. 👎
-i have been to other zoos, tobu zoo is the worst one, me and my kids have been to. (my opinion)
