TAKASAKIYAMA NATURAL ZOOLOGICAL GARDEN / Oita City

The Takasakiyama Natural Zoological Garden in Oita City offers a close–up look at wild Japanese monkeys in a cage–free naturalistic setting. Around 900 monkeys can be seen in the park, split into two groups, group B and group C. During feeding time every half hour, you can observe a large number of monkeys gathering together. Visitors find themselves amazed by the monkeys’ energy as they rush for their food, occasionally even weaving through people’s legs. On the other hand, visitors can also witness calmer moments such as the sight of baby monkeys playing and grooming each other.

The park staff have a strong bond with each individual monkey, and hold an annual contest highlighting funny stories about each monkey to showcase their unique personalities. This contest offers a fun way to appreciate each monkey as if they were idols.

It takes about six minutes on foot uphill from the park entrance to reach the area where the monkeys are. The park also offers a monorail service, making it accessible for families with children and those who may not feel comfortable walking.