"Children's Zoo STEP" celebrated its 5th anniversary since its reopening on July 11, 2022.

This year, we've added two new animals to our collection: a Holstein cow and Striped Skunk. This marks the first time in 15 years that Holstein cows have been exhibited at Ueno Zoo, and the first time in a remarkable 39 years that we've seen Striped Skunk.

*The cow returned to its home farm on October 12, 2022. It is no longer on display. Please see this article for more details.

Cattle (Holstein breed)	Striped Skunk

In 1948, amidst the chaos of the post-war period, Japan's first children's zoo was established at our park, and in 2017, it was reborn as "Children's Zoo STEP."

Children's Zoo STEP features a "First Time Room" exclusively for young children, a "Wakuwaku Base" where children can learn about animal ecology and the importance of life using small animals they can touch, a "Shinobazu Lab" where children can learn about the nature around them through introductions to the creatures that live in the nearby Shinobazu Pond, a "Futaba Ranch" exhibiting native Japanese livestock, and "Birds' House I" and the "Capybara and Porcupine Area" which gather wild animals that can be compared to livestock and poultry. It is packed with features that children and adults can enjoy together. And while maintaining the founding philosophy of conveying the warmth of animals to children, it has taken a new step forward as a place to experience, feel, and think about animals.


In 2018, the Children's Zoo celebrated its 70th anniversary. Over the course of about six months, we held commemorative events befitting a children's zoo, including a photo exhibition showcasing our history, greetings from costumed characters, the installation of photo spots, coloring and Eurasian Moorhen keychain making activities, picture book readings by professionals, guided tour and storytelling sessions by animal keeper, and much more. Many people participated in these events.


Due to the spread of the new coronavirus infection from the end of 2020, it has become difficult to conduct the same programs of interaction and environmental learning as before. However, in order to provide a safe and secure learning place for both animals and people, we have been studying the contents and methods of the programs, and are now restructuring them.

We hope you will continue to support Children's Zoo STEP as we take the next step forward.

Ueno Zoo Kako Torikai, Children's Zoo Section

Chronology of the Children's Zoo
1948 "Kodomo Dobutsuen" (Children's Zoo) opens (site area: approx. 1650 m2)
1949 (Second) "Children's Zoo" opened (site area: approx. 3,000 m2)
1972 (Third) "Children's Zoo" opened at West Garden
1990 (Heisei 2) (Fourth stage) "Children's Zoo" opened
2017 (Heisei 29) Opening of "Children's Zoo STEP
2018 (Heisei 30): Held events to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the opening of the Children's Zoo (March - August)
2020 (2020) The zoo is closed to prevent the spread of the new strain of coronavirus. Even after reopening
Experience Program and First Time Room will be suspended even after reopening.
2021 (3rd year of the 20th year) Mishima cow, Capybara, dies.
2022 (2022) Exhibitions of "Cattle (Holstein breed)" and "Striped Skunk" begin.

140th Anniversary Project Zoonet Serialization "Ueno Zoo This Decade
​Conservation of Rare Japanese Wild Animals

(August 15, 2022)
(December 13, 2022: Addition regarding the removal of cattle)