Zoorasia

What to know

Zoorasia (ズーラシア) is one of Japan's newest, largest, and best-kept zoos. Opened in 1999, it operates under the themes of "Symbiosis of Life" and "Harmony with Nature." Animals are housed in spacious enclosures that mimic their natural habitats, a standard rarely seen in Japanese zoos.

The zoo's animal exhibits are spread across eight ecological zones: Asian Tropical Forest, Subarctic Forest, Oceanian Grassland, Central Asian Highland, Japanese Countryside, Amazon Jungle, African Tropical Rainforest, and African Savannah. Highlights include elephants, polar bears, black bears, okapi, and proboscis monkeys. There are also several restaurants and cafes, plus nature trails and play areas for children.

Zoorasia is located about eight kilometers west of central Yokohama. The easiest access is via the Sotetsu Railway or JR Yokohama Line, followed by a bus ride.

From Nakayama Station on the JR Yokohama Line, take a bus (10 minutes, 210 yen from Shin-Yokohama Station or 20 minutes, 350 yen from Yokohama Station). The bus ride takes about 20 minutes and costs 240 yen one way, with 2–3 departures per hour. Get off at the Yokohama Dōbutsuen (横浜動物園) bus stop.

The closest station is Tsurugamine Station (14 minutes, 210 yen from Yokohama Station, frequent departures; also direct trains from JR Shinjuku Station, Tokyu Shibuya Station, and Shin-Yokohama Station). From Tsurugamine, take a bus bound for the zoo (15 minutes, 240 yen via Sotetsu Bus every 30–45 minutes, or 260 yen via Kanagawa Chuo Kotsu bus every 60 minutes). Get off at the Yokohama Dōbutsuen (横浜動物園) bus stop.