Winter Animals
Winter Animal Encounters With Kids: Snowy Zoos, Farms and Hot Springs
Hotels with animal encounters and farm experiences, and areas near the zoos that are at their best in winter, from Hokkaido to Okinawa
19 areas ยท 1063 hotels (total listings across these areas)
For a child who loves animals, winter is the season that turns a zoo in the snow or feeding time at a farm into a memory that stays with them. Long walks outdoors are hard in the cold, so choosing an area where you can meet animals on the hotel grounds or nearby makes for a rewarding experience in a short amount of time.
In this collection we have lined up the areas with a good cluster of hotels offering animal encounters and farm or agricultural experiences, along with the areas close to zoos and farms that are especially good in winter. On each area page you can filter by conditions such as animal encounters, farm and agricultural experiences, and kids' programs and hands-on activities.
Winter opening hours and whether hands-on animal encounters are running vary by facility and by season. Farms and outdoor facilities in particular may close for the winter or run shorter hours, so check each facility's latest information before you set out.
Features to look for in this collection
Hokkaido (zoos and farms in the snow)
Animals as you only see them in the snow season. Combine it with indoor exhibits and hot springs.
Asahikawa
Known for Asahiyama Zoo's winter exhibits. Easy to get around from a hotel in the city
Furano
Snowy hills and hotels with farm experiences. The ski slopes are close too
Niseko
Hotels with farm experiences and animal encounters, plus the big resorts
Hokkaido
All of Hokkaido's hotels with animal encounters and farm experiences in one place
The highlands of Tohoku and Kanto (farms and hot springs)
Easy to reach by car from the Tokyo area, with many hot-spring towns close to farms and zoos.
Nasu Highlands
A highland area with a cluster of zoos, farms and hands-on attractions. Some let you meet animals indoors even in winter
Kita-Karuizawa
The highlands at the foot of Mount Asama. Hotels with animal encounters
Yatsugatake
Farms and animal encounters on the Kiyosato highlands. Lots of clear days
Urabandai & Inawashiro
Hotels with farm experiences in Urabandai and Inawashiro
Fuji Five Lakes
Farms and animal encounters at the foot of Mount Fuji
Minami-Boso
The Boso Peninsula stays mild in winter. Many hotels with farm experiences and animal encounters
Tochigi
All of the prefecture's hotels with animal encounters and farm experiences in one place
Chiba Prefecture
All of the prefecture's hotels with animal encounters and farm experiences in one place
Gunma
All of the prefecture's hotels with animal encounters and farm experiences in one place
Chubu, Kansai and Kyushu
Hotels with farms and animal encounters scattered across the hot-spring towns and highlands.
Nagano
All of the prefecture's hotels with animal encounters and farm experiences in one place
Kyoto
All of the prefecture's hotels with animal encounters and farm experiences in one place
Aso
Hotels with farm experiences on the grasslands of the outer crater rim. You can meet animals even in winter
Kumamoto
All of the prefecture's hotels with animal encounters and farm experiences in one place
Okinawa (outdoors with the animals even in winter)
A mild winter, with places to meet sea creatures too.
Okinawa's Main Island
Resorts on the main island with animal encounters. Easy to pair with the aquarium
Okinawa
All of the prefecture's hotels with animal encounters in one place
Tips for traveling with kids
- checkOutdoor facilities may run shorter hours or close for the winter. Check the zoo's or farm's official information before you leave
- checkTime with animals is rewarding even in short doses. Choose a hotel with the experience on its grounds or within walking distance and you cut down on getting around in the cold
- checkActivities such as feeding the animals and horseback riding often have set age limits or require a reservation. Check the hotel's kids' program information when you book
- checkDon't forget to wash hands and change clothes after handling animals. With a baby or toddler, a carrier lets you control how close they get
- checkA zoo in the snow means slippery footing. A carrier beats a stroller, and adults should wear non-slip shoes
Recommended hotels in this collection (38)
Selected automatically from the top-ranked hotels in each area.
Hotel WBF Grande Asahikawa
JR Inn Asahikawa
Hotel Naturwald Furano
Chalet Fuyuri Furano
Ki Niseko
Niseko Annupuri Onsen Yugokorotei
Kitayuzawa Mori no Soraniwa
Kitakobushi Shiretoko Hotel & Resort
Grand Mercure Nasu Highlands Resort & Spa
Hotel Epinard Nasu
See all hotels in this collection (38)expand_more
- Hotel WBF Grande Asahikawa
- JR Inn Asahikawa
- Hotel Naturwald Furano
- Chalet Fuyuri Furano
- Ki Niseko
- Niseko Annupuri Onsen Yugokorotei
- Kitayuzawa Mori no Soraniwa
- Kitakobushi Shiretoko Hotel & Resort
- Grand Mercure Nasu Highlands Resort & Spa
- Hotel Epinard Nasu
- Hotel Green Plaza Karuizawa
- Karuizawa Club Hotel Karuizawa 1130 / Hewitt Resort
- Kids Pension Maple
- Grand Mercure Yatsugatake Resort & Spa
- Hotel Listel Inawashiro Wing Tower
- Bandai Atami Onsen Hotel Hananoyu
- Mars Garden Wood Gotemba
- Fujilake Hotel
- Kisui no Yado Monya
- Grand Mercure Minamiboso Resort & Spa
- Kinugawa Onsen Hotel
- Nikko Hoshi no Yado
- Kameyama Onsen Hotel
- Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel
- Ooedo Onsen Monogatari Premium Matsunoi
- Hotel Matsumotoro
- Dormy Club Karuizawa
- Shirakaba Resort Ikenotaira Hotel
- Hilton Garden Inn Kyoto Shijo Karasuma
- Mercure Kyoto Miyazu Resort & Spa
- La Vista Minamiaso
- Kamenoi Hotel Aso Park Resort
- Kurokawa Onsen Yumerindo Hanadomari
- Kurokawa Onsen Kurokawaso
- PGM Hotel Resort Okinawa
- Fukugi Terrace
- Fusaki Beach Resort Hotel & Villas
- Vessel Hotel Campana Okinawa
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there hotels where we can meet animals in winter?
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On this site you can filter hotels by animal encounters, farm and agricultural experiences, and kids' programs and hands-on activities. What is on offer and the opening hours can change in winter, so check each hotel page and the hotel's latest information before you book.
Is a zoo in the snow enjoyable with kids?
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Seeing animals become lively in the snow is an experience you only get in winter. Check where the indoor exhibits and rest areas are first and plan a short route, and even a small child will enjoy it. The footing is slippery, so a carrier is sometimes easier to move around with than a stroller.
From what age can children take part in farm experiences?
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Many facilities let young children join in feeding and petting the animals, while activities such as horseback riding and milking may have set age limits. Check the age requirements and whether a reservation is needed in the hotel's kids' program information and the facility's official information.
Where can a child who does not do well with cold still meet animals?
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In areas that stay mild through winter, such as Okinawa and Minamiboso, you can enjoy outdoor farms and animal encounters without worrying about the cold. In the highlands of Kanto and Tohoku, the better plan is to combine indoor exhibits with hot springs and keep your time outside short.
What should we be careful about after handling animals?
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Wash hands and change clothes before moving on to a meal or a bath. The fabric of carriers and strollers picks up dirt easily too, so bring a spare. A reservable private bath or a bath in the room, so you can warm up as soon as you are back, makes the rest of the day much easier after a winter day with the animals.