Created in 1937, the Higashiyama Zoo is continually undergoing modifications and redevelopments in an effort to provide the residents with better living conditions while offering a more realistic experience for visitors. It also features a number of attractions not found in other zoos, such as the Worldwide Medaka Hall which contains several hundred varieties of medaka, tropical freshwater Japanese Killifish, including some that accompanied a Japanese astronaut on his Space Shuttle Mission. Dinosaur statues, said to be the oldest of their kind adorn one of the many childrens play areas dotting the 60 hectare site.
Nagoya and Aichi are proud of the Higashiyama Zoo, one of the many great attractions in this great area.

Get Close To Nature at Nagoya’s Impressive Higashiyama Botanical Park.

Adjoining the Higashiyama Zoo is one of Asia’s most comprehensive Botanical Gardens, featuring over 7,000 varieties of plant life, and Japan’s oldest glasshouse, now designated an Important Cultural Property. Another important property on the extensive grounds is a traditional wooden A-framed Gassho-Zukuri house with its distinct thick, rush thatch roofing. The home was relocated here from the Shirakawa-Go World Heritage Site.

A traditional Japanese Garden, ponds and various vegetation themed plantations and specialty growing areas make the ever beautiful botanical gardens an ideal location year round. In spring, the new leaves and flowering plants offer exciting scenes of nature. Summer sees the gardens as a shady area in which to relax. Autumn sees the best in fall foliage, while winter walks through the wide area will get the blood pumping.

Reach For The Sky, at Higashiyama Sky Tower.

Standing 134 meters high atop Mt. Higashi and providing a 214m high superb view of the zoo, botanical gardens, Nagoya city and surrounding areas, is the glass needle-like Higashiyama Sky Tower. At the base of the landmark tower is the Atelier Ciel Café offering a wide array of popular sweets. On the very top floor is the Sky Restaurant, offering casual Italian and French lunch courses, and romantic French cuisine in the evenings. Sunset and night views from the sofa set observation deck are spectacular, with the tower being chosen as one of Japan’s top 100 sunset viewing spots.