Zoorasia Yokohama with Kids: A Local Mom’s Guide
Visited multiple times | Kids: 1 & 5 years old, 2 & 6 years old
If you’re looking for a zoo experience in Japan that actually feels different — not just animals behind glass, but real, immersive, “wait, is that lion right there?” moments — Zoorasia in Yokohama is the one.
We’ve been twice, once when my kids were 1 and 5, and again when they were 2 and 6. Both times, my son was completely glued to the animals. My daughter, whose interest in wildlife has been gradually replaced by interest in playgrounds, still had a great time — because Zoorasia has those too.
Here’s everything you need to know before you go.
Quick Info
| Would I recommend it? | Yes — one of the best zoos in Japan for families |
| Best for | ✔ Animal lovers · ✔ All ages · ✔ Picnic families |
| Not ideal for | ✘ Families with very limited time or energy for walking |
| Best age | Any age — stroller-friendly throughout |
| Crowd level (weekends) | Busy, but the park is so large it never feels crowded |
| Stroller-friendly? | Fully accessible — rental strollers also available |
| English support | No English website, but maps available in multiple languages |
| Parking | Available on-site |
| Time needed | Full day |
| Our kids | 1-year-old & 5-year-old / 2-year-old & 6-year-old |
Why We Loved Zoorasia with Kids
1. The animals feel shockingly close
This is what sets Zoorasia apart from most zoos I’ve been to in Japan. The enclosures are huge and designed to mimic natural habitats, which means the animals actually move. My son, at just 2 years old, was completely captivated — pointing and shouting “they’re swimming!” at the polar bears and “they’re running!” at other exhibits. He barely blinked.
The lion exhibit has a glass wall, so you can come face to face with a lion at eye level. My 5-year-old daughter crept towards it very slowly, half terrified, half fascinated. The walk-in bird cage lets birds walk right past your feet. For a 1-year-old, an elephant looming nearby was apparently a bit much (he was scared 😅), but by age 2, that same closeness had become the highlight of the day.
2. It’s also a really good park
Scattered throughout the zoo are large playground areas with climbing structures and open spaces. By the time my daughter was 6 and starting to lose interest in animals, these became her main reason to keep walking. If you have a mix of animal-obsessed and playground-obsessed kids, this place genuinely works for both.
3. Big enough that it never feels overcrowded
We’ve visited on weekends and yes, there are people — but the grounds are so expansive that it rarely feels congested. Unlike Ueno Zoo in central Tokyo, where you’re often shuffling along in a crowd, at Zoorasia you can take your time at each exhibit without feeling rushed or jostled. As someone who’s done a lot of Tokyo-area zoos with young kids, that breathing room makes a real difference.
What My Kids Loved Most
Son (visited at 1 year old)
- Immediately overwhelmed by how close the elephant was — clung to us! 😅
- Fascinated by any animal that moved near him
Son (visited at 2 years old)
- Completely absorbed by the giant polar bear exhibit — watched them swim from multiple angles
- Kept running ahead to see what was next
Daughter (visited at 5 years old)
- Fascinated and slightly terrified by the lion through the glass wall
- Loved the walk-in bird area where birds walked right past her feet
Daughter (visited at 6 years old)
- Less into the animals by this point, but fully into the playgrounds
Things to Know Before You Go
It’s a big park — plan your route
Zoorasia covers a huge area, and you genuinely won’t see everything in one visit. If you have young children who tire easily, check the shuttle bus route before you go — there’s an in-park bus that can save tired little legs (and tired parent legs too).
Bring a stroller if you have one, or rent one at the park. The paths are fully accessible and stroller-friendly throughout.
Some animal activities happen in the morning
If there are specific animals your kids are desperate to see active, arrive early. Like most zoos, animals tend to be more lively in the morning and can disappear into their enclosures by midday.
No English website — but multilingual maps are available
There’s no English version of the official site, which can make planning ahead a bit tricky. That said, maps are available in multiple languages at the entrance, and the park itself is easy to navigate.
Food
There are cafés and restaurants inside the park.
→ Restaurant & café info (Japanese)
That said — we’re a bring-your-own-lunch family, and Zoorasia is genuinely one of the best parks for it. There are plenty of benches and open picnic areas throughout the grounds. Eating outside with animals in view? Hard to beat. If the weather is good, I’d strongly recommend packing your own food and finding a picnic spot.
Getting There
By car: Parking is available on-site. We drove both times and had no trouble finding a space.
By train & bus: Take the Yokohama Municipal Subway Green Line to Nakamachidai Station, then take the shuttle bus (よこはま動物園行き) directly to the zoo entrance.
Honest Rating
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Fun for animal-loving kids | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Fun for non-animal kids | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Ease of getting around | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Food options | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| English friendliness | ⭐⭐ |
Tips from a Local Mom
- Arrive early — animals are most active in the morning
- Bring a stroller or rent one on-site — the park is large and little legs will tire
- Pack your own lunch and find a picnic spot — there are plenty of open spaces and it’s much more relaxing than queuing at a café
- Use the shuttle bus if your kids (or you) start running out of steam
- Budget a full day — there’s more here than you can cover in half a day
- Check the map at the entrance — pick up a multilingual map and loosely plan your route
Would I Visit Again?
We already have — twice. Zoorasia is one of those rare places that works at almost every age, and the sheer size of it means there’s always something new to discover. If you’re heading to Yokohama with kids, this is an easy yes from me.
FAQ
Is Zoorasia good for toddlers? Yes — we first visited when my son was 1 year old. The close animal encounters are exciting (and occasionally overwhelming 😅), but the stroller-friendly paths and open spaces make it very manageable.
How long do you need at Zoorasia? A full day is ideal. The park is large enough that you won’t see everything even in a full day.
Is there parking at Zoorasia? Yes, there’s on-site parking available.
Can you bring your own food? Yes — there are picnic areas and plenty of benches throughout the park. We always bring our own lunch and highly recommend it.
Is Zoorasia stroller-friendly? Fully accessible. You can also rent strollers at the park if you don’t want to bring your own.