Kōbe Ōji Zoo (神戸市立王子動物園, Kōbe-shiritsu Ōji Dōbutsuen), or simply Kobe Zoo or Ōji Zoo (王子動物園), is a municipal zoo in Kobe, Japan.

Attractions

Panda House (パンダ館)

Giant pandas since 2000.

Zoological Science Center (動物科学資料館)

An indoor educational center featuring skeletal specimens and a reading room.

Big Cats Circle (円形猛獣舎)

tigers, lions, leopards, snow leopards, and jaguars.

Polar Bear House (ホッキョクグマ舎)

Aboveground and underwater viewing areas

Animals' Land & Children's Zoo (動物とこどもの国)

red pandas, otters, koalas and some farmyard animals.

A small amusement park (遊園地)

Rides and games for children, includes a Ferris wheel and chair swing ride.

The E.H. Hunter House (旧ハンター住宅)

The former residence of the founder of Osaka Iron Works, Edward Hazlett Hunter. An elaborate example of a 19th-century ijinkan (異人館, "foreign home"), it is at the northeast corner the zoo (hence not accessible outside zoo hours). The interior – with roped-off period furniture – is only open a few months each year. It was designated an Important Cultural Property by both the prefecture and the nation.

Animals in other sections include giraffes, zebras, kangaroos, ostriches, flamingos, hippos, some species of apes, crocodiles, bobcats, sea lions, snow owls, and elephants.

Surrounding

Technically the zoo is within Ōji Park (王子公園, Ōji Kōen), but the zoo is enclosed and has admission fees. Surrounding the zoo are the various parts of a sports complex. To the zoo's northwest is the Ōji Sports Center (王子スポーツセンター, Ōji Supōtsu Sentā). To the northeast are some tennis courts; to the east is Ōji Stadium; to the southwest is the Museum of Literature.