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Family-friendly hotels near Kumamoto City Zoological and Botanical Gardens
Information checked on 2026-10-23. Hours, admission and facilities can change; please confirm on the official site before you go.
About Kumamoto City Zoological and Botanical Gardens
Kumamoto City Zoological and Botanical Gardens is a municipal zoo and botanical garden on the shore of Lake Ezu, with an amusement park on the grounds as well. The total area is 24.5 hectares, home to about 110 species and 550 animals and about 700 species and 70,000 plants. The zoo zone has elephants, giraffes, and tigers, as well as golden snub-nosed monkeys, known for their shimmering golden coats. The petting area, "Touch Ai Land," is divided into a play zone and a hands-on animal zone, themed after the American West. The botanical zone has a Japanese garden and a large greenhouse, and the amusement park has 10 types of large rides and 40 small ones.
Visiting Kumamoto City Zoological and Botanical Gardens with kids
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Admission categories
Admission is 500 yen for adults and high school students, 100 yen for elementary and junior high school students, and free for infants and young children. If you are traveling with little ones, the admission cost is mostly just the adults' tickets.
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Ferris wheel at the amusement park
Rides in the amusement park zone cost from 10 to 200 yen. The official website recommends the Ferris wheel for young children and older visitors.
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Touch Ai Land
This area has a play zone and a hands-on animal zone, and it was built as a place where children can build their senses by looking, touching, and playing.
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Living Things Learning Center
There is a facility inside the park where kids can learn about animals in a fun way. It suits families who want to go beyond just looking at the animals and learn about them too.
Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays are expected to be crowded, so the official guidance recommends using public transportation.
Hotels within 15 km of Kumamoto City Zoological and Botanical Gardens (3, nearest first)
Of the family-friendly hotels listed on Kids Stay, 3 are within 15 km of Kumamoto City Zoological and Botanical Gardens. They are sorted from nearest to farthest, with the distance to each.
Ryotei Matsuya Honkan Suizenji
ANA Crowne Plaza Kumamoto New Sky, an IHG Hotel
Kamenoyu by HATAGO INN
Other attractions near Kumamoto City Zoological and Botanical Gardens
Areas near Kumamoto City Zoological and Botanical Gardens
Seasonal picks for Kumamoto City
New Year Holidays With Kids
Skip the crowds and the cold. Choose from three ways to relax as a family: a big resort with meals included, a warm southern island, or a snowy hot spring town
Winter Onsen With Kids
Winter onsen towns from north to south, where an in-room bath, a reservable private bath and meals in your room mean you never have to go out
Autumn Leaves With Kids
Peak color timing, plus hotels in autumn leaf areas you can manage with a baby or toddler, from Hokkaido to Kyushu
Travel tips
The park opens at 9:00 a.m., and the last admission is at 4:30 p.m. It is closed on Mondays, so it is a good idea to check this when planning your dates. You can exit through the South Gate inside the park to Suizenji Ezuko Park, so you can also add a stroll along the lakeshore.
Best season
The flower beds in the park bloom with rapeseed blossoms in spring and cosmos in autumn, so you can enjoy flowers in every season. The large greenhouse displays tropical and subtropical plants, so you can enjoy flowers and greenery all year round. Summers can get very hot, so it is wise to bring hats and plenty of drinks.
Getting there
From the Zoological and Botanical Gardens Entrance stop on the Kumamoto City Tram, it is about 800 m to the entrance on the zoo zone side. By car, it is 5 km from the Mashiki Kumamoto Airport Interchange on the Kyushu Expressway.
Access and basic information
| location_onAddress | 5-14-2 Kengun, Higashi-ku, Kumamoto, Kumamoto Prefecture |
|---|---|
| scheduleHours | 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (last admission at 4:30 p.m.) |
| calendar_monthClosed | Mondays (on the fourth Monday the park is open and closed the next day; if a Monday is a national holiday, closed the next weekday); December 30 to January 1 |
| paymentsAdmission | Adults and high school students 500 yen, elementary and junior high school students 100 yen, infants and young children free |
| trainNearest station | About 800 m from the Zoological and Botanical Gardens Entrance stop on the Kumamoto City Tram (to the zoo zone entrance) |
| local_parkingParking | 1,225 standard cars and 58 buses. Free on weekdays; on Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays, 200 yen per standard car per entry |
| callPhone | 096-368-4416 |
| languageOfficial site | https://www.ezooko.jp/ |
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FAQ
How much is admission for children?
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Admission is 100 yen for elementary and junior high school students and free for infants and young children. Adults and high school students pay 500 yen. Groups of 30 or more get a 20% discount.
Are there any rides for little kids?
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The amusement park zone has a Ferris wheel, which the official website recommends for young children and older visitors. Most rides cost 200 yen per ride, and the mirror house is 100 yen.
Is parking free?
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Parking is free on weekdays and paid on Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays. It costs 200 yen per vehicle per entry for kei (compact) cars, standard cars, and mid-size cars, and the lot holds 1,225 standard cars.
When is the park closed?
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It is closed every Monday. However, on the fourth Monday the park is open and closed the following day instead, and when a Monday is a national holiday, it is closed on the next weekday. It is also closed from December 30 to January 1.
Are there family-friendly places to stay nearby?
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The closest is Ryotei Matsuya Honkan Suizenji, about 2.3 km away, which has Japanese-style rooms and Japanese-Western style rooms. It also offers strollers, baby chairs, and bouncers to borrow, plus a hot water pot for mixing formula, bottle sterilization, and a diaper trash bin.