About this location: Asahiyama Zoo
Asahiyama Zoo in Asahikawa pioneered 'behavioral display' — enclosures designed to showcase animals' natural abilities. Penguin walks, polar bear dives, and seal cylinder tanks make it a wildlife photographer's delight.
Key features
- Penguin Walk (winter only) — mid-December to March, a single-file procession through snow; the king penguin parade is overwhelmingly popular
- Polar Bear Hall — a diving pool with capsule-shaped observation domes that show the bears swimming overhead
- Seal Hall «Marine Way» — seals shuttling through cylinder-shaped tanks, a world-first innovation in display
- Penguin Hall — 360° underwater observation; penguins appear to «fly» as they swim, beautifully lit by natural light
- Mogu-mogu (feeding) Time — keepers explain animal behavior during feedings, offering rich photo opportunities
