Wow, Kobe Animal Kingdom left me with mixed impressions. There are areas where small monkeys and birds roam free. Some areas for certain animals are pretty spacious as well. The squirrel cage, for example. But then there are animals stuck in very small containers. Animals that would naturally move around a lot Wild pigs, pumas, smaller wild cats, ... in lots of these cages, the animals can't even see the sky. The sheep in the outside area live on a dirt plane with no grass, even though these animals usually graze in fields. The sea lions only have shallow water with no place to swim... Honestly, this park would be great with a couple of free roaming small animals and areas where social creatures have enough space. I saw plenty of kids quickly passing by the inactive and frankly, sad looking tiger, bear and wolves while spending much more time in the petting area, feeding birds and playing with the house cats and dogs. Also, the area with nocturnal animals is a sad sight to behold as well. The owls have no space to fly, the animals live behind glass in rooms with naked walls. At the exit, there is an owl tied to a stick so it can't fly alway. In the pictures you can see a nocturnal cage, the shallow water of the sea lions, the grass less area of the sheep, the small cage of the wild pigs and the view from the puma cage :(

Oh wow, I just had the most incredible time visiting this place, thanks to all those social media recommendations! It was beyond amazing, and here are the top reasons why: Interactive and touchable animals - So cool to get up close and personal! Inclusive show - It's part of the ticket, and oh-so-awesome! Exceptional animal care - Healthy, vibrant fur colors, and chill vibes all around. The habitats? Carefully designed and super comfy for the animals. The staff? Pleasant, helpful, and ready to mingle. It's simply the perfect spot for a day out, and you can't help but feel the excitement in the air! In short: A must-visit, highly recommended, unforgettable experience!

We had so much fun here! One of the main draws for us to come to Kobe was to touch the Capybaras!!!!!!! All the animals were cute and the exhibits were well thought out. But nothing beats the Capys!!!

We came from Osaka for a fun afternoon in Kobe and we're thrilled to have come upon this amazing zoo. Having been to many zoos outside of Japan, this was a completely different experience seeing the animals up close and getting to feed the kangaroos, capybaras and deer. The facility was clean and the landscaping was really well done. The staff are also very kind and enthusiastic. I highly recommend coming here for a unique experience as it's a fun activity for all ages!

It is not a outdoor park that you can ride on a cage truck and feed tiger kind of things. The animals are smaller but we can interact with them very close. There are outdoor that you can feed camel , sheep, kangaroo. Super big tortoise. It is a good experience and you need about 3-4 hours. We arrive at 1pm and leave at 5 something. It is good

I had such a great day at Animal Kingdom in Kobe! This all-weather park is based on the concept of contact with animals and flowers. There are many different exotic species living in large open spaces. Here animals can freely roam and you can walk among them! It's an amazing experience!🤍 The exhibition area reproduces the habitat of the animals, and you can see the lively appearance of the animals up close. The outside park is an open pasture, with animals like sheep, camel, alpaca, kangaroos etc… In the inside park there is a domestic section called “Contact Animals” with dogs, cats, rabbits that you can pet as much as they like. There are many other animals and you can also feed some of them! The cutest animals for me were the red panda, the Prairie Dog and the Ringed Teal Duck😭😍 I would love to come back soon!🥰

ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS PLACE! We visited 3 different zoos during our Japan trip but this is our favourite!! You can get really up & close to the animals sometimes as you walk around the different habitats & there were plenty to see. Many interactive elements such as the rabbit petting & dog+cat petting (this one is really popular so if you're close to the timeslot, do queue as they only let 20 pax in at each time for approx 10mins). You get to feed the animals during feeding time and prices were reasonable. We really enjoyed ourselves here! Ps do claim your stamp at the main entrance counter if you're collecting those!

A very nice place for both adults and kids! Lots of animals that you can’t see in other zoos. My mum and I spent the whole afternoon there and enjoyed so much!

A looooooot of animals for you to see and even play with! I have visited quite a number of zoos in different countries and this one is the best one in my opinion. You can tell that they treat everything very serious - look at the cleanliness of the glass. Most animals don’t smell which is a mission impossible but they did it. It was my second visit and I can see that they are making constant improvement. We visited this zoo during weekday so there’s no queue and you don’t need to purchase a ticket in advance. Even though it’s a bit far away from the city and the ticket is a bit pricey, it’s still worthy to pay a visit!

Best place if you love seeing animals really close and being able to touch some of them is really great. It was the best place in Kobe for us. A sloth tried to bite me lol 😂 it was very slow and didn’t hurt at all, the staff was apologizing and I couldn’t be happier. The animals that can be “tamed” are free, but for the wild animals such as wolves, wild cats and birds they are kept in really small spaces which is not cool. 😢 Overall, is a good place to visit with small children and sloth-loving adults such as myself. 🤦🏻‍♀️😍

Fantastic zoo and great day out. You can get closer to some of the animals than any other zoo I have been too and it's so interactive. The Capirbara roam around the park freely so you can feed and stroke them. Over animals are in open enclosures meaning you get get so close to them. There's interactive areas where you play with cats, dogs and rabbits. All the animals look well looked after and look happy. I had a great day there and would definitely visit again.

We came here before noon and it wasn't that crowded yet so we got to see a lot without much fuss. Though after noon is quite busy with school kids. There's plenty to see here and will keep you occupied for a few hours.

We had the most wonderful time here back when we visited in January! This is by far our favorite animal spot we visited during our time in Japan. The capybara experience was our favorite activity!

This place hidden in a Kobe industrial district had much more to see then we expected. The animal closures were very nicely laid out and lots of stuff on hand to make sure things went smoothly. Also the variety of animals and the sheer amount of them was also a surprise.

The animals are so crazy crazy close! The park is beautifully arranged with a myriad of plants. Be careful not to miss even smalle beautiful l fish! Definitely one of the most fun zoos in Japan! Staffs are incredibly friendly! Highly recommended! Too bad we can only give five stars, six might not even be enough.

Best Zoo ever!!! You can touch many animal and feed the animals. I was really close to animal not just look animal through the windows. And there is horse ride and camel ride. They took really good care of animals.

Pros: conveniently accessible through Portliner monorail, able to feed animals, some areas are air conditioned, some animals can move freely in some areas Cons: depressingly small enclosures for some animals, outdoor areas are extremely hot during summer with little to no shade, confusing layout Layout is confusing and difficult to navigate if you want to go to a specific place. My group circled the zoo twice before we could find the bird show and by that time it was halfway finished. Outdoor lunch area had benches, but only half of them had umbrellas, highly recommend eating indoors.

Even though the price for entry is more expensive than most zoo/similar establishments, this is very worth every yen. They allow most of the animals to roam around freely and there are petting zone for cats/dogs/rabbits. Can easily spend 2 to 3 hours here.

This place has changed a lot over the years, both in size and the number of exotic animals added. It's nice to see a business that actually reinvests back into their business, it's a rarity in Japan. They have friendly staff that tend very well to the animals. You can probably spend the whole day there as there are some spots to relax. There is also food and drinks. Best to visit on weekdays as it gets quite busy on weekends.

📄 Description of the area: ———————— 🗺 - Address: * Chuo-ku, Kobe, Minatojima Minamimachi 7-1-9. 💵 - Fee: * Adults - (1500 yen). 🕒 - Hours: * [10am-6:30pm]. * Closed Thursdays. 🎍 - Kobe Animal Kingdom: An all-weather theme park located on Port Island in Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture. Its predecessor was the Kobe Flower and Bird Garden, a facility which brought guests in contact with flowers and birds. The park contains numerous greenhouses and outdoor exhibition spaces where tropical flowers bloom in profusion. Numerous varieties of animals and birds are also allowed to roam the park freely, or can be view up close in special exhibits. Visitors can enjoy getting close to and even feeding rare birds, capybara, alpacas, and penguins. The park’s seasonal buffet can be enjoyed by all ages, from children to senior citizens, making it well-received with families. ———————— 🌴 🦜 🌴 Thanks For Watching 🙂!

This place is adorable. We loved feeding kangaroos, llamas, camels, bunnies, and fish. It was such a cool experience and the interaction at the zoo truly can’t be beat! From monkeys swinging above us to watching the soaring bird show, this zoo is a real gem.

An interactive zoo which provides an outstanding and "close-up" experience. Highly recommended if you are in the Kansai area.

Great place to see various animals! The place has nice interior design. There are 7 areas I think and each area provides different experience. Personally I like the tropical forest area since you can feed and touch capybara!!!!! If you want to have a full experience, you want to get there early as some animal touching experience requires line up. Also feeding animals may be stopped after the first round of feeding. ——————- If you are travelling from Namba or Udema try to get the package ticket from the Hansin station. It saves a lot of money!

Very nice experience even it's not a hot season can see camel. Unfortunately were raining but highly recommend bring with children's as can give food to some animals

Hier kann man capybaras streicheln und füttern. Nur deshalb sind wir hergekommen. Schade um die anderen Tiere die in extrem kleinen Käfigen gehalten werden und teilweise auch alleine. Die Tiere zeigen schon Auffälligkeiten welche nicht üblich sind. Es ist schon solche exotischen Tiere so nah zu sehen allerdings sind die Bedingungen schrecklich.. Die Sterne gibt es nur für den günstigen Eintritt und die capys

A lot of unique experiences can be found here. Riding a camel, petting kangaroos, and standing within inches to several other animals. Can easily spend a couple hours here.

It was a lot of fun to see all those wonderful animals. In some areas, it is possible to interact with them. Some seem to get mentally affecte and spin around their small space all the time. I felt bad for them.

If you want to feed the animals you need to buy the food (around 100 yen), but everything else we did was included! The park was very nice. My partner and I were impressed with the enclosures. Definitely go here if you love animals!

Different from a regular zoo. About 75% was under the cover of sun which was great because it was so hot outside. You can get really close to the animals and have many opportunities to feed them, buying food for ¥100. First time to feed and touch a capybara. Make sure to buy a package of entrance fee and round-trip train ticket from the Portliner station in Kobe. It ends up you get free round-trip tickets for the same cost as a standard entrance fee

A nice zoo where you get to see most friendly animals up close and personal. Entrance fee is 1000 yen per person and closes at 5pm. This place is kids friendly if that matters to you. I can't remember any exotic animal of sorts except some birds that are caged up. Depending on how much of a zoo person you are, the one in Hokkaido might interest you more.

I have never experienced a zoo like this. Please don't research to much about it and just visit it. It is by far the must interesting and cutest zoo i have ever seen.

A one of a kind interactive experience. The admission is a little steep, 1800 yen but well worth it. There are areas where you can pet and feed various animals including capybaras, kangaroos and penguins. They also have animal performances several times a day.

Best zoo I've ever been to, anywhere. TONS of different animals you can see and pet, and the service is excellent. Crowds are moderate but not too bad, which makes it a great place for a date or if you want to bring children.

An amazing experience! So much more different than American zoos, all of the animals are up close! When I say up close I mean, mostly harmless animals are free to roam around several areas, and hang right overhead! The zoo workers might not speak much english, but they are all super enthusiastic and helpful and it seems that they take excellent care of most of if not all the animals!

Way better than a zoo. Lots of animals roaming freely within each section. Sloths hanging above your head and monkeys stealing their food.

I was blown away by this place. Most of it is indoors and the exhibits are quite big. Huge areas devoted to letting the animals move around and we could get up close and personal with some of them. My son even got to feed a tortoise and a capybara! I highly recommend this place to anyone visiting Kobe or even in the surrounding area. We took a quick day trip to Kobe from Kyoto and it was just the perfect distance.

Another great Kobe attraction. The animals seem very well looked after and there is lovely interaction between the guests and animals when it comes to feeding, etc. Very good cafes too, can easily spend a whole day there with lunch as a nice mid point/rest to the day.

Super close with animals!! Unlike any other zoo!!! Animals are right above your head or just next to u! Can touch or feed some of the harmless ones (gently of course) ☺️ There were a lot of kids coming, either with family or school, thus it’s very kid-friendly! And the variety of animals is large! I’ve never seen wolf or Malayan tapir in any zoo! Penguins, squirrels, camel, deers, kangaroos, otters… you name it! It’s even my very first time to see, to touch and take a selfie with a Capibara! ❤️❤️❤️ love this place so much! (If you come from KIX, just take the ship to Kobe Airport and get off the portliner on the next stop!)

An amazing experience at a great park featuring all sort of plants and animals, except lion :) I searched loin cage but there wasn't any. Hope they bring one in the future. Strongly recommend for families. Between, there is a IKEA store at close by, if you want to buy home furniture and also want to serve lunch or dinner please visit.

Great zoo with lots of possibilities to interact with animals. In contrast to many other zoos in Japan, the animals have a lot of space and are treated nicely by highly skilled people that obviously care about the well-being of the animals. A special highlight is the possibility to touch turtles and kangaroos.

Really one of the best zoos in Japan. The landscaping blends well with the animals and the experience is truly magical. Highly recommended for all and not just kids. Many animals are rarely seen elsewhere. Get your discounted train and entrance combined ticket at the Okayama portliner ticket service centre for a free round trip ticket (1800 yen in total per person).

A charming zoo that offers a great experience for children and adult animal-lovers alike. It is right by the train station, so accessibility is good It is very clean and well maintained, and it doesn't have strong smells that is often noticeable at other zoos. The animals here appear to be healthy and well taken care of, and some of them have the option of being pet and fed by the visitors. Lastly, the udon shop here was surprisingly quite decent. Definitely would recommend.

Good place to bring children.. there's petting areas for cats, dogs, rabbits etc and smal animals like ducks, birds are let to roam freely.. there's some shows going on every now and then.. you can pay 300yen/feed for the certain animals (eg capibara, sheep, parrot etc)

Went here as a time filler after visiting the Waghu and Kobe beef restaurant. I'm in my 50's and didn't expect much but I really enjoyed it. Definitely one for families but I fitted in as a child at heart. The pond and plants were great too. Always leave zoos wondering if the animals are happy, can't help but think some aren't when you see them pacing back and forth. I really hope they have more space for them to roam.

The small animal exhibits were great and there was a lot of room for the animals to move around, however the larger animal exhibits like the tiger, wolves, and miniature horse were excruciatingly tiny. The petting zoos also didn't have great standards and one of the cats had an eye infection. The animals are tired in the afternoon and just want to be left alone and it would probably be better if they closed the petting zoos in the afternoon and gave the animals a decent break. Both the bird show and dog show were interesting to watch, but if you had to pick one, I would go with the bird show. There are also coin lockers if you need to store items as well as restaurants and plenty of souvenir shops (though a little pricey).