Zoo ・ Wakayama · JAZA member

Wakayamajou Kouen Doubutsuen和歌山城公園動物園

A zoo inside Wakayama Castle Park, a historic site in the city of Wakayama. It opened in the Taisho era as a keeping ground for deer, monkeys, and waterfowl, making it a rare "zoo inside a castle," and has been free to enter since it opened. It keeps and exhibits 19 species and 52 mammals, 26 species and 62 birds, and 8 species and 12 reptiles, for a total of 53 species and 126 animals (as of April 1, 2026).

Opened
1919 (month/day unconfirmed) · about 107 years of history

Updated: ／ Source: wakayamajo.jp www.jaza.jp www.jaza.jp

Exterior of Wakayamajou Kouen Doubutsuen
Photo: KishujiRapid / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Source / cropped

Basic Information

TypeZoo
LocationWakayama
JAZA MembershipJAZA member
Opened1919
Official / Social

Highlights

  1. Kishu dog exhibit and petting sessions

    The zoo keeps two Kishu dogs, Ayame and Satsuki (a Natural Monument breed), and holds free petting sessions (weekdays 11:00–11:15; weekends and holidays 11:00–11:30 and 14:30–15:00). Source

  2. Dowa-en and Suikin-en

    The zoo is divided into two areas: Dowa-en, mainly for mammals, and Suikin-en, mainly for waterfowl. Source

Hours and Admission

Hours9:00–17:00. Closed on Tuesdays in June–September and December–February (the next weekday if Tuesday is a holiday). Source
AdmissionFree. Source

Hours and admission may change.Check the Official Site for the latest information.

Animals You Can Meet

0 animals

Verified individual animal records will be added as official information becomes available.

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Latest news

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Source links to official sites, official YouTube channels, and news aggregators such as Zoo Ring. Visit the publisher for the full item.

Events

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Nearby facilities

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FAQ

How much is admission?
Free. The zoo has been free since it opened in the Taisho era. Source
What are the hours and closing days?
9:00–17:00. Closed on Tuesdays in June–September and December–February (the next weekday if Tuesday is a holiday). Source
Can I pet the Kishu dogs?
Free Kishu dog petting sessions are held near the Suikin-en entrance on weekdays 11:00–11:15 and on weekends and holidays 11:00–11:30 and 14:30–15:00 (suspended in summer, July–September). Source
Show the remaining questions 2 items
When did the zoo open?
The exact opening date is unknown, but a newspaper record from 1919 (Taisho 8) mentions it, giving it a history of more than 100 years. Source
What animals are there?
19 species and 52 mammals, 26 species and 62 birds, and 8 species and 12 reptiles, for a total of 53 species and 126 animals (as of April 1, 2026). Source

Compare nearby facilities

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Operating facilities near Wakayamajou Kouen Doubutsuen
Facility Adult admission Hours Visit time Parking Named residents
Wakayama Prefectural Museum of Natural History ¥480 — — — —
Awaji Island Monkey Center — 09:30–17:00 — 40 spaces —
Awajifamu Park Ingu Land Nooka Doubutsuen ¥1,500 — — — —
Kobe Suma Sea World ¥2,900 — — — 2
KOBE ANIMAL KINGDOM ¥2,400 10:00–17:00 — — —

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Learn More About This Facility’s Animals

Learn More About This Facility’s Animals 350 species

Data attribution

www.jaza.jp www.jaza.jp wakayamajo.jp wakayamajo.jp wakayamajo.jp

Last verified: ／ Source: www.jaza.jp www.jaza.jp