Kobe Oji Zoo is located in Nada Ward, Kobe City .
The surrounding area is tranquil with many cultural sites, despite its close
proximity to Sannomiya, the city center of Kobe . Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art is also
nearby, and the course from the museum to Oji Zoo is called the Museum Road .
The
former Hunter’s House is the best place for viewing cherry blossoms in Oji Zoo.
The
Hunter’s House is the former residence of Edward Hazlett Hunter, a British
entrepreneur. This house was originally situated in the Ijinkan area in Kitano,
Kobe and was
moved to the northeast corner of the zoo to preserve it for future generations.
It is one of the largest of all the foreign residences existing in Kobe .
The
building is open to the public in April, August and October every year. Looking
down from the building provides a beautiful view of the cherry blossoms in
blooming season. The Hunter’s House is a very popular spot among Kobe citizens to enjoy viewing
cherry blossoms.
It is also possible to view and walk through
the illuminated cherry blossom trees at night.
More
than 800 kinds of animals can be seen at Oji Zoo, and the most popular animal
in the zoo is the giant panda! The zoo's highlight, Tan Tan, is a female giant
panda from China .
Visitors can enjoy seeing this adorable panda close up in a special pavilion, “the
Panda House.”
The facilities
for the animals in the zoo are elaborated to replicate environments that are
close to each animal’s natural habitat while allowing visitors to admire the
animals close up.
It
introduces post-Meiji famous literary figures who have a connection with Kobe with photographs
also illustrating the times.
This spring, why not pay the animals a visit
or get acquainted with the literature of Kobe ?
Address: 3-1 Oji-cho, Nada Ward, Kobe
Access: 5 minute walk north from JR Nada Stn.,
3 minute walk west from Hankyu Oji Koen Stn. or a 10 minute walk north from
Hanshin Iwaya Stn.
Opening hours: 9:00-17:00 (March-October), 9:00-16:30
(November-February)
Closed: Wednesdays (Open when Wednesday is a
national holiday), December 29-January 1
Fee: Adults: ¥600, Junior High School
Students and younger: Free
Useful links:
http://www.city.kobe.lg.jp/culture/leisure/ojizoo/(Japanese)
http://feel-kobe.jp/_en/sightseeing/spot/?sid=130(English)
The Hunter’s House (National Important
Cultural Property, Kobe City)
http://www.city.kobe.lg.jp/culture/culture/institution/foreigner/sub6.html(Japanese)
http://www.kobe-np.co.jp/info/bungakukan/(Japanese)
We will
feature Tanto Tulip Festival” as part three of out【Spring Flower Series】.
Be
seeing you!
Ping(Hyogo
Tourism Association)