Overview and History
Ikeda Zoo opened in 1953 under the name Ikeda Industrial Zoo. It was established by the married couple Takamasa Ikeda, a grandson of Akimasa Ikeda, a former lord of the Okayama Domain, and Atsuko Ikeda, the fourth daughter of Emperor Showa. In 1960, the facility was renamed Ikeda Zoo, the name it retains today.
One of the zoo’s most distinctive features is its location on the wooded slopes of Mount Kyoyama. Zoos built into a hillside are relatively uncommon in Japan, and this unusual landscape is one of the attractions frequently highlighted in travel guides.
Animals and Special Events
The zoo houses many popular animals, including giraffes, red pandas, Magellanic penguins, and ring-tailed lemurs. Visitors can also enjoy hands-on experiences with animals such as goats and chicks, as well as observe flamingos up close.
Seasonal events are held throughout the year. Special programs have included a night zoo and Christmas concerts, offering visitors a different way to experience the grounds and their animal residents.
The zoo also contains the Okayama Folklore Museum, created by relocating a traditional Japanese house. Exhibits include agricultural tools, household furniture, and other objects from everyday life in the past. Dolls traditionally displayed in the imperial court are also exhibited for limited periods.
Exchanges with China and Special Animal Exhibitions
In 1986, Ikeda Zoo exchanged animals with Xi’an Zoo in China. Ikeda Zoo sent ostriches and Japanese green pheasants, while Xi’an Zoo presented red pandas in return. This exchange led to a special giant panda exhibition held in conjunction with the Seto Ohashi Bridge opening celebrations in 1988. The pandas were displayed for three months beginning in late March.
In fiscal year 2008, the zoo welcomed approximately 110,000 visitors. The following year, its penguin enclosure was renovated at a cost of around ¥2 million. A new viewing walkway allowed visitors to observe the penguins from closer range.
Atsuko Ikeda has served as the zoo’s director since 2012. However, financial difficulties have prompted discussions about how the zoo can continue operating in the future.
The grounds once included an amusement area with arcade games and rides, which had been operating since 1988. Due to aging equipment, the area closed on October 31, 2022.
On April 3, 2024, the zoo opened Ashiato Shop & Gochisou Kitchen after renovating its shop and restaurant buildings, which were more than 40 years old.
Gochisou Kitchen
Gochisou Kitchen serves a variety of meals and desserts. It is connected to the zoo shop, and a large tented rest area opposite the building provides a comfortable place to sit and enjoy food.
Ashiato Shop
Ashiato Shop sells a range of original Ikeda Zoo merchandise. Popular items include plush toys and keychains featuring animals found in the zoo. White tiger merchandise is particularly popular with visitors.
Watching Cycle
The Watching Cycle offers a two-person ride that lets visitors observe animals from above. The elevated viewpoint provides a different perspective on the zoo and its inhabitants, making it a distinctive experience during a visit.
Folklore Museum
The Folklore Museum features a traditional house relocated from an area in northern Okayama Prefecture that was submerged during the construction of Kawamoto Dam. Inside, visitors can see historical objects such as farming implements, tea utensils, and household furniture.
Historic Railway Vehicles
The zoo grounds also display a steam locomotive formerly operated by the Ikasa Railway and a passenger carriage from the Saidaiji Railway, both of which once served the Okayama area. Visitors can climb aboard and explore the driver’s cab and passenger seating, experiencing a little of what railway travel was like in the past.
Close Encounters with Animals
Ikeda Zoo uses a variety of exhibit designs to bring visitors closer to its animals and make observation more engaging.
Red Panda Terrace
Part of the red panda enclosure has been converted into a terrace-style viewing area. The traditional barriers have been replaced with glass, allowing visitors to observe the red pandas more clearly.
Otter Lagoon
The Asian small-clawed otter enclosure features an acrylic pool that extends toward the visitor side. This design allows visitors to watch the otters swimming overhead, offering an unusual view of these playful animals.
Geoffroy’s Spider Monkey Footbridge
A footbridge stands in front of the Geoffroy’s spider monkey enclosure, allowing visitors to meet the monkeys at eye level when they climb high into their habitat.
Deer Garden
Making use of the natural hillside terrain, Deer Garden provides a habitat where deer can move along sloping ground in surroundings designed to resemble their natural environment.
Access
Ikeda Zoo is located in Kita Ward, Okayama City, and can be reached by public transportation or car.
By Public Transportation
From the west exit of JR Okayama Station, take an Okaden Bus and get off at Kyoyama Iriguchi. The zoo is approximately a 12-minute walk from the bus stop. A taxi ride from JR Okayama Station takes around eight minutes.
By Car
From Okayama Interchange on the Sanyo Expressway, the zoo is approximately a 15-minute drive toward central Okayama City.