Fuji Safari Park

What to know

Fuji Safari Park (富士サファリパーク) is a wildlife park on the southern slopes of Mount Fuji. Visitors can take a safari through simulated habitats where animals roam freely, including lions, tigers, bears, giraffes, cheetahs, elephants, rhinoceroses, zebras, and bison. It is one of Japan's largest and most popular safari parks.

There are several ways to explore the safari zone: by your own car, a rental car, a bus, or on foot. Driving your own car through the safari zone incurs no additional fee. The drive typically takes about an hour, but the road is wide enough for each car to go at its own pace.

Bus tours last about an hour and use large, caged buses designed to resemble the park's animals. During the tour, participants can feed bears, lions, and camels through the caged windows. The tours cost an extra 1500 yen per person, including food, and may sell out on busy days.

Rental 4WD vehicles painted in a zebra stripe pattern are available. They come with a navigation system for a self-guided tour through the safari zone. The rental fee is 6500 yen, and the vehicles seat up to seven passengers. Along the way, you can feed large herbivores like camels and gazelles through caged windows. A valid Japanese-recognized driver's license is required.

Another great way to explore the park is on foot along a 2.5-kilometer nature trail that circles the safari zone. The trail is open from late March to November and takes about two hours to complete, including stops at observation decks and blinds where you can view animals in their habitats.

At various points along the trail, you can purchase food such as leaves, pellets, and raw chicken to feed the animals. The walking safari costs an additional 600 yen per person and is for visitors aged four and above. Food prices range from 100 to 500 yen.