About Inokashira Park Zoo

Our goal

As an "introductory zoo," you can enjoy it casually at any time, and through a fulfilling interaction experience,
A zoo that fosters a spirit of protecting wild animals and works to conserve and raise awareness of wild animals that live in Japan.

Features

Inokashira Park Zoo Zoo covers roughly one-third of the area of Inokashira Park and is divided into two parts: the "Zoo (Main Park)," which has animal exhibits, a museum, and a sculpture garden, and the "Aquatic Life Park (Branch Park)," which has Aquatic Life House and waterfowl exhibits.

Of the approximately 160 species of animals kept at the zoo, 140 are native to Japan, allowing visitors to encounter a variety of creatures that inhabit the country, such as Japanese Serow and Oriental White Stork.
We are also focusing on efforts to protect endangered animals in Japan, such as Tsushima Leopard Cat cat and Amami-oshima Island Spiny Rat.

We offer exhibits that allow visitors to feel closer to animals, such as the "Squirrel Trail," where you can enter the same area as Japanese Squirrel and observe them up close, and the "Creature Plaza," a field where you can encounter familiar creatures of the seasons.

The sculpture garden also displays over 200 works by sculptor Seibo Kitamura (1884-1987).
In addition to the "Atelier Hall" where the prototype for the Nagasaki Peace Memorial Statue was created, you can see sculptures in two Sculpture Museum (A and B), as well as in various other locations throughout the park. The plaster prototype for the Peace Memorial Statue is located in Sculpture Museum A.

history

Inokashira Park Zoo opened on May 17, 1942, during wartime, based on the philosophy that "it is necessary to understand the workings of the natural world comprehensively and scientifically."
At the time, the word "culture" meant "cultivation" or "education," and the park was named as "a garden that fosters culture (education) based on natural science." After its opening, the park was equipped with a museum, botanical garden, and aquarium, and as its name suggests, it has remained a facility where nature and culture are in harmony to this day.
In addition to the zoo, the park also includes a sculpture garden and other facilities, creating a place where nature and culture are in harmony, as its name suggests.

This facility houses many animals native to Japan, and features exhibits designed to spark interest in the familiar natural environment of Japan, such as the walk-through "Squirrel Trail" where visitors can see Japanese Squirrel up close.

We also cooperate with the Ministry of the Environment's domestic biodiversity conservation project. We began raising Tsushima Leopard Cat in 2006, and since then, we have been conducting research toward breeding, and opened the facility to the public in 2007. In 2020, we began raising Amami-oshima Island Spiny Rat, and in 2023, we successfully bred them twice. We opened the facility to the public in 2025 and are also engaged in public awareness activities.

In 2011, we opened the "Wildlife Plaza," which is designed to attract a variety of wild animals, and we are also focusing on enhancing environmental education by implementing initiatives that allow people to feel closer to living creatures.

1901 - 1950

1917 Taisho 6

Inokashira Park opens.

1934　昭和9年

A small zoo will open on Nakanoshima Island in Inokashira Pond.

1936　昭和11年

An aquarium specializing in freshwater fish, the Aquatic Life House, will open within Nakanoshima Small Zoo.

1942　昭和17年

1943　昭和18年

Tokyo City and Tokyo Prefecture merged to form Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and the area became "Tokyo Inokashira Park Zoo."
As part of the wild animal cull, one Polar Bear, two Japanese Black Bear, and three camels will be disposed of.

1945　昭和20年

The park is effectively closed from January to September.

1947　昭和22年

The previously closed Aquatic Life House has reopened.

1949　昭和24年

Inokashira School (the precursor to the summer school) is open to the public.

1951 - 2000

1951　昭和26年

The first outdoor sculpture exhibition is held.
A mobile zoo will be held in the Tokyo metropolitan area.

1953　昭和28年

Seibo Kitamura sets up a studio within the park and begins creating a life-size plaster prototype for the Peace Memorial Statue.
"Sportsland" opens.

1954　昭和29年

Hanako the elephant from Ueno Zoological Gardens is visiting the zoo.
The elephant house is completed.
Plaster prototype of the Peace Memorial Statue completed

1956　昭和31年

1958　昭和33年

Civet cats are visiting the park.
Kitamura Seibo donated the plaster prototype of the "Peace Memorial Statue," as well as over 350 other works, his studio building, and general auxiliary facilities.
Japan's first "aquatic botanical garden" is completed.
"Sculpture Garden Building No. 1" opens.

1959　昭和34年

The ostrich house and wallaby house are completed.
The poet Noguchi Ujo's study, Doshinkyo, was donated by the Ujo Association and relocated.

1960　昭和35年

Ostriches will be coming to the zoo from Africa.

1961　昭和36年

"Sculpture Garden Building No. 2" opens.

1962　昭和37年

1963　昭和38年

As the water level in Inokashira Pond has dropped significantly, fish are captured and protected.

1964　昭和39年

Yaku Is Sika Deer and muntjac enclosures are completed.
"Sculpture Garden Building No. 3" opens.

1966　昭和41年

A camellia garden is opened.

1975　昭和50年

A new "Aquatic Life House" will be opened.

1978　昭和53年

Renovation of the elephant house.

1981　昭和56年

Red-crowned Crane are coming to the park.

1982　昭和57年

The veterinary hospital is completed.
Sculpture Garden Building 4 (now Building B) opens.

1983　昭和58年

Two Kyushu Japanese Hare will be visiting the zoo from Tama Zoo.

1984　昭和59年

A celebration will be held to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the arrival of the elephant Hanako at the zoo.
The camel house facility is completed.

1985　昭和60年

The "Squirrel Forest Project" is being launched to revive Japanese Squirrel that were once seen in the Musashino Forest.

1986　昭和61年

The squirrel house (breeding building A) is completed.

1987　昭和62年

Main Gate and shop of the park are completed.

1988　昭和63年

The "Wadori House" is completed.

1989: The first year of the Heisei era

Part of the "Squirrel Trail" is completed.

1990　平成2年

The squirrel house (Breeding Building B) is completed. A new Mandarin Duck breeding area is constructed.
Mandarin Duck will be released into Inokashira Pond in accordance with the Mandarin Duck Ducks Plan.

1991　平成3年

New Japanese Marten enclosures and red coati enclosures will be built.
Fennec Fox House will be partially expanded.

1992　平成4年

"Squirrel Trail" completed.
Events held to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the park's opening.

1993　平成5年

The New Sculpture Garden is completed.

1995　平成7年

The Waterfront Path is completed.

1997　平成9年

The renovated Aquatic Life House has reopened.

2001 -

2002　平成14年

Completion of the Wild Bird Forest. Celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the park's opening.
The paths in the aquatic park (branch) will be improved to make it barrier-free.
Local conservation activities for newts began in the Tama Hills, and captive breeding began the following year.
guided tour by Animal Guide begins.

2003　平成15年

The wildcat house is completed.

2004　平成16年

Asian Elephant elephant Hanako celebrates her 50th anniversary at the zoo.

2006　平成18年

Two Tsushima Leopard Cat wildcats have arrived at the park.
Commence in situ and ex situ conservation activities for medaka.

2007　平成19年

2009　平成21年

The first "Wildcat Festival" was held to raise awareness of Tsushima Leopard Cat.

2010　平成22年

Call Duck enclosure is completed at the aquatic park (branch).

2011　平成23年

"Komorebi" and "Hanako Cafe" open.
The "Living Things Square" is completed.

2012　平成24年

Asian Elephant Hanako is 65 years old, tying the record for longevity in Japan.
Events held to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the park's opening.

2013　平成25年

The Tropical Bird Conservatory closes after 50 years.
A dredging event was held at Inokashira Pond (Ochanomizu Pond/Boat Pond) (Dredging 25).

2014　平成26年

A penguin house opens at the zoo (main zoo).
On March 17th, Amur Leopard Cat gave birth for the first time through artificial insemination.

2015　平成27年

The Swing Plaza has been renovated and reopened.

2016　平成28年

From November 2015 to March 2016, dredging was carried out across the entire Inokashira Pond (Dredging 27).
Asian Elephant Hanako dies (aged 69).
A farewell party for Hanako was held.

2017　平成29年

Eurasian Otter, Oriental White Stork, and Black-faced Spoonbill have visited the park.
"feeding time for the animals" begins.

2018　平成30年

Red-headed Wood Pigeon, Japanese Night-heron, and Japanese Wild Boar have visited the park.
The Natural and Cultural Gardens will be holding its first event, "Long Autumn Nights," with opening hours extended by three hours.
Drilling will be carried out throughout Inokashira Pond (Drilling 29).

2019 Heisei 31 Reiwa 1st year

To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the opening of the Squirrel Trail, the Cultural Garden Spring Squirrel Festival was held.

2020　令和2年

To prevent the spread of COVID-19,
This will be the second time the park will be temporarily closed for an unprecedentedly long period of time.
① March 28, 2020 - June 1, 2020 ② December 26 - June 3, 2021
Amami-oshima Island Spiny Rat have arrived at the park.

2021　令和3年

"Creature Square" reopens after renovation.
Certified by the Ministry of the Environment as a "rare species conservation zoo, botanical garden, etc."
Land Snail open to the public.

2022　令和4年

Event held to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the park's opening.

2023　令和5年

New interaction program "Hello Guinea Pig" begins.

2024　令和6年

Lidth's Jay and Tsushima Marten have visited the park.
Topical exhibit begins at the Aquatic Life House.

2025　令和7年

Amami-oshima Island Spiny Rat open to the public.