1. What is Kahoku Town Children's Zoo?

Kahoku Children’s Zoo is a municipally-run zoo located in Kahoku Town, Yamagata Prefecture.

Parking is available in the spacious parking lot at the adjacent Kahoku Town Hall.

The park is home to approximately 130 animals of 30 different species, and is open all year round with free admission 24 hours a day!

The museum is barrier-free and has been designed to allow visitors with strollers or wheelchairs to enjoy the exhibits with ease.

Now, let’s go meet the animals!

2. An outdoor area filled with animals

The first thing that will surprise you when you enter the zoo is how close you can get to the animals!

You can get up close and personal with friendly animals such as rabbits, ponies and sheep.

The Japanese sika deer are especially friendly, so they may even approach you.

There are no impressive animals like lions or tigers, but this actually makes it feel more comfortable. It is also recommended for small children’s “zoo debut.”

If you’re lucky, you might even see a peacock spreading its wings!

You can also feed the deer and ponies for free! It’s a fun and easy experience that’s great for kids and adults alike .

Come and experience the warmth of life through interacting with animals!

▼Click here for the feeding experience schedule for 2025

Also, once a year, an event is held where you can enjoy the zoo at night!

“One Night Only Kahoku Good Food Stalls – Night Zoo”

Date
Early August every year
Venue
Kahoku Town Hall Parking Lot, Kahoku Town Children’s Zoo

There will also be food stalls and limited edition food, so the whole family is sure to have a great time!

3. New Area: Kahoku Manabikan Zoo

・The only exhibit in Tohoku! Toco Toucan

Let’s take a look at the new and popular spot, the Kahoku Manabikan Zoo-Iku!

You will be greeted by Toro-chan, a toco toucan from Argentina! This rare bird can only be seen here in Tohoku.

The toco toucan is a bird that lives mainly in the Amazon region of South America, and is also known as the ” jewel of the Amazon” because of its colorful appearance.

With its adorable big beak and blueberry blue eyes, it looks like it’s jumped straight out of a storybook!

・Fully equipped facilities for peace of mind even when traveling with babies

There is an elevator in the building and the following spaces too:
・Kids’ space
・Nursing room
・Diaper changing station

The facility is fully equipped with amenities, creating an environment where even families with small children can feel safe.

・Relaxing space on the second floor

On the second floor, where hedgehogs and rabbits are on display, there is a rest area where you can eat and drink.

You can also freely browse the animal encyclopedias and books about animals provided!

It will naturally bring out in your child the desire to “learn now!”

Enjoy a light meal while watching the cute animals, or relax while reading an illustrated guide.

The unique charm of Kahoku Children’s Zoo is that you can spend time at your own pace.

4. Learn more about animals and fall in love with them!

Kahoku Children’s Zoo is not just a place to “view” animals.

There are lots of fun ideas to help children become more familiar with animals and to serve as learning opportunities.

・Interact with animals at events

This event, held about once a month, is a fun opportunity to learn about unknown ecology through interacting with animals!

▼Event to be held in July 2025: “Give ice to monkeys”

Adults and children alike are sure to be fascinated by the stories told by the zookeepers, which can only be heard on that day!

・It also serves as a wildlife rescue facility.

The Kahoku Town Children’s  Zoo is designated as Yamagata Prefecture’s Wild Bird and Animal First Aid Station, and is also a place where injured wild animals and birds are brought from all over the prefecture.

Some animals are rehabilitated and released back into the wild, while others stay at the zoo to recover and live out their lives in peace.

When you think of monkeys in a zoo, you might imagine them being kept in groups on “Monkey Mountain,” but the monkeys at Kahoku Town Children’s Zoo are kept individually.

This is apparently a precaution to prevent conflicts between the monkeys, as they were protected at different times and live in different areas.

Even though they are missing parts of their bodies or are deformed, they still live their lives to the fullest every day.

Because it is a place where you can get a glimpse of the real lives of wild animals, it will naturally make you pay attention to the importance and individuality of life.

Kahoku Town Children’s Zoo is also a place where such “spirits can grow.”

5. Playground space for kids to feel like adults!

“After seeing so many animals, I want to get some exercise!”

The play area, which accommodates the energetic children, has also been renovated!

You can see, learn, play and spend a day full of memories!

6. Message

This time, curator Toshikazu Abe gave us a tour of the Kahoku Children’s Zoo.

Mr. Abe is a true professional in zoo management, having served as deputy director at Yagiyama Zoo (Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture), one of the largest zoos in the Tohoku region.

We have also been involved in the opening of “Zooiku” from the design stage.

Finally, Mr. Abe gave a message to everyone reading VISIT YAMAGATA.

“Kahoku Children’s Zoo is the only zoo in Yamagata Prefecture where you can see animals for free, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

It is also a place where you can have fun learning about the fascinating ecology of animals that you won’t find in picture books or on the internet.

We also have Toro-chan, a toco toucan that can only be seen here in Tohoku, so please come and meet him.”

7. After the zoo, how about some funny chocolate bananas?

We also visited Crackers, a greengrocer located just a one-minute walk from Kahoku Town Children’s Zoo.

There are so many unique chocolate bananas in front of the shop! It’s hard to decide which one to choose.

After having fun at the zoo, how about some cute animal-themed chocolate bananas?

Speaking of crackers, fruit sandwiches are also highly recommended!

The mildly sweet cream and the juicy fruit that you can only get at a greengrocer are a perfect match, making you feel happy when you eat it.

Be sure to stop by to make some memories of your trip!