Japanese Zoos Are Cheap: 600 to 1,000 Yen for Adults, and How That Compares with Zoos Abroad
Quick answer
- Adult admission at the major Japanese zoos we checked is 600 to 1,000 yen: 600 yen at Ueno Zoo, 800 yen at Tennoji Zoo and 1,000 yen at Asahiyama Zoo.
- Famous zoos abroad cost several times more on their official pages: San Diego Zoo is US$78 (about 12,400 yen) and Taronga Zoo Sydney is A$57 at the gate (about 6,300 yen).
- Many Japanese zoos let children in free, and most close one weekday a week (Monday at Ueno Zoo and Tennoji Zoo), so check the day before you go.
Adult admission at the major Japanese zoos we checked is 600 to 1,000 yen: 600 yen at Ueno Zoo in Ueno (Tokyo), 800 yen at Tennoji Zoo in Osaka (Osaka) and 1,000 yen at Asahiyama Zoo in Asahikawa (Hokkaido). Famous zoos abroad cost several times more on their official pages: San Diego Zoo is US$78 (about 12,400 yen), Taronga Zoo Sydney is A$57 at the gate (about 6,300 yen), and Zoo Berlin starts from €16 online (about 2,800 yen). On top of that, many Japanese zoos let children in free.
- Official adult prices, child rules and closed days at 7 Japanese zoos
- Official prices at 5 famous zoos abroad, and how they change by date
- Free-admission days at Ueno Zoo and Tama Zoological Park, and how to pay at the gate
Adult tickets at 7 major Japanese zoos
These are the prices on each zoo's official page, checked on October 13, 2026. "Adult" means high school age and older at most zoos. Many zoos close one weekday a week and over the New Year (December 29 to January 1), so check the day before you go.
| Zoo | City | Adult | Children, students and seniors | Closed | Official site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ueno Zoo | Ueno (Tokyo) | 600 yen | Free up to 6th grade of elementary school. Junior high 200 yen. Age 65 and over 300 yen. | Mondays (the next day if Monday is a holiday), December 29 to January 1 | tokyo-zoo.net |
| Tama Zoological Park | Hino (Tokyo) | 600 yen | Free for elementary school age and younger. Junior high 200 yen. Age 65 and over 300 yen. | Wednesdays (the next day if Wednesday is a holiday), December 29 to January 1 | tokyo-zoo.net |
| Tennoji Zoo | Osaka (Osaka) | 800 yen | Elementary and junior high students from outside the city 200 yen. Preschool children free. | Mondays (the next day if Monday is a holiday), December 29 to January 1 | tennojizoo.jp |
| Oji Zoo | Kobe (Hyogo) | 600 yen | Junior high and younger free. | Wednesdays (open if Wednesday is a holiday), December 29 to January 1 | kobe-ojizoo.jp |
| Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens | Nagoya (Aichi) | 800 yen (the ticket also covers the botanical garden) | Junior high and younger free. | Mondays (if Monday is a holiday, the next weekday), December 29 to January 1 | higashiyama.city.nagoya.jp |
| Zoorasia | Yokohama (Kanagawa) | 800 yen | High school 300 yen. Elementary and junior high 200 yen. Under school age free. On Saturdays, elementary to high school students get in free with a student ID. | Tuesdays (the next day if Tuesday is a holiday), December 29 to January 1 | hama-midorinokyokai.or.jp |
| Asahiyama Zoo | Asahikawa (Hokkaido) | 1,000 yen | Junior high and younger free. | Opening periods change by season; see the zoo's opening calendar | city.asahikawa.hokkaido.jp |
Some zoos also have lower prices for local residents, such as 700 yen at Asahiyama Zoo for people who live in Asahikawa (Hokkaido). The table shows the price a visitor from abroad pays.
Famous zoos abroad: what their official pages showed
Many zoos abroad now change their price by date or by how early you book. The prices below are exactly what each official page showed on October 13, 2026, for one adult and one day. "From" means the lowest price on the page; on busy days it can be higher.
| Zoo | City | Adult day ticket (official page) | In yen (about) | How the price works |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego Zoo | San Diego, United States | US$78 (ages 12 and over, "Any Day" 1-day pass) | 12,400 yen | US$73 (about 11,600 yen) on selected "Value Days" if you buy ahead |
| Bronx Zoo | New York, United States | From US$28.95 (ages 13 and over) | From 4,600 yen | "Flex pricing": the price changes by date |
| Zoo Berlin | Berlin, Germany | From €16 online, up to €25 at the ticket booth (ages 16 and over, zoo only) | 2,800 to 4,400 yen | Online prices change by date |
| Taronga Zoo Sydney | Sydney, Australia | A$57 at the gate, from A$51.30 online | 6,300 yen (gate) | Online tickets cost less |
| Melbourne Zoo | Melbourne, Australia | From A$58 | From 6,400 yen | Children get in free on weekends and holidays |
Exchange rates used: the euro foreign exchange reference rates published by the European Central Bank for October 12, 2026 (1 euro = 177.33 yen, 1 euro = 1.1181 US dollars, 1 euro = 1.6032 Australian dollars). From these, 1 US dollar is about 158.6 yen and 1 Australian dollar is about 110.6 yen. Yen amounts are rounded to the nearest 100 yen. Your card company's rate will differ.
A few of these zoos explain their prices themselves. Zoo Berlin says its ticket includes a voluntary conservation contribution of €0.50 for its wildlife protection program, which you can remove when you buy. The Bronx Zoo says its flex pricing lets people visit at a lower price at less busy times and helps spread out the crowds.
Why are Japanese zoos so cheap?
None of the official pages we checked explains the price level directly, so we won't guess. What the pages do show is that all 7 zoos in our table are public zoos. Ueno Zoo and Tama Zoological Park are Tokyo Metropolitan zoos, and their official site is run by the Tokyo Zoological Park Society. Oji Zoo is run by the city of Kobe (Hyogo), Higashiyama Zoo's site is part of the website of Nagoya (Aichi), and Asahiyama Zoo's pages sit on the website of Asahikawa (Hokkaido). Zoorasia is managed for the city of Yokohama (Kanagawa) by a foundation, the city's Green Association, and Tennoji Zoo is run by a local public corporation (a local incorporated administrative agency) of the same name.
Free days and other ways to save
- Free days at Ueno Zoo and Tama Zoological Park. Ueno Zoo is free for everyone on March 20 (its opening anniversary), May 4 (Greenery Day) and October 1 (Tokyo Citizens' Day). Tama Zoological Park is free on May 4, May 5 (its opening anniversary) and October 1. Expect crowds on these days.
- Children. At Oji Zoo, Higashiyama Zoo and Asahiyama Zoo, junior high students and younger get in free. At Ueno Zoo and Tama Zoological Park, children up to elementary school age are free.
- Saturdays at Zoorasia. Elementary, junior high and high school students get in free on Saturdays with a student ID.
- Tsutenkaku and Tennoji Zoo. Adults pay 720 yen at Tennoji Zoo if they show their Tsutenkaku ticket receipt or online ticket, until the end of the month after their Tsutenkaku visit. See our guide to Tsutenkaku Tower.
Buying tickets and paying
- Ueno Zoo and Tama Zoological Park: credit cards, Suica and other transit IC cards, and QR code payment work only at the staffed ticket windows. You can also buy a date-specified online ticket by card and show the QR code at the gate. Ticket sales and entry end one hour before closing.
- Tennoji Zoo: the gate windows take credit cards, e-money (including ICOCA and Suica) and QR code payment. If your card or app balance is short, you can't pay the rest in cash; the whole amount has to be cash. Last entry is 16:00.
- Higashiyama Zoo: you can pay by cash or by credit card and other cashless methods at each gate. Ticket sales end at 16:30.
- Opening hours differ by zoo and by season, and some animals go inside before closing time, so arriving early helps.
Not sure which card to carry? See how to pay for things in Japan.
Last reviewed: October 13, 2026. Zoo prices, closed days and exchange rates change. Please check the official pages below before you go.
References
- Ueno Zoo: Opening hours, closed days and admission (Japanese)
- Ueno Zoo: About Ueno Zoo (Japanese)
- Tama Zoological Park: Opening hours, closed days and admission (Japanese)
- Tennoji Zoo: Admission, opening hours and closed days (Japanese)
- Oji Zoo: Hours and admission (Japanese)
- Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens: Opening hours and admission (Japanese)
- Zoorasia: Opening hours and admission (Japanese)
- Asahiyama Zoo: Opening periods, admission and tickets (Japanese)
- San Diego Zoo: Tickets (English)
- Bronx Zoo: Tickets (English)
- Zoo Berlin: Tickets and pricing (English)
- Taronga Zoo Sydney: Ticket prices (English)
- Melbourne Zoo: Tickets (English)
- European Central Bank: Euro foreign exchange reference rates (English)
