Inokashira Park Zoo: 5 Kid-Approved Attractions for a Wild Family Adventure

As a mom of two daughters (ages 7 and 5), I recently spent a delightful afternoon exploring Inokashira Park Zoo with my family on January 19th, 2025. Planning a family trip to Tokyo with young children and wondering if this zoo is worth the visit? Unsure about what attractions will keep your little ones entertained and excited?

This article will guide you through 5 kid-approved attractions at Inokashira Park Zoo, complete with real photos and insights from our recent family visit.

Essential Information

Location and Access

Nestled in the charming Kichijoji area, Inokashira Park Zoo is easily accessible from central Tokyo. A 10-minute walk from Kichijoji Station (JR Line and Keio Inokashira Line), the zoo is situated within the beautiful Inokashira Park, home to a picturesque shrine, pond, boat ride and walking paths. This compact zoo offers a perfect half-day adventure for families with young children.

Opening Hours and Admission Fees

• Opening Hours: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM (Last entry at 4:00 PM)
• Closed on Mondays (If Monday is a holiday, closed the following day)
• Admission Fees: Credit Cards and Suica (PASMO) accepted
  • Adults (15 years and older): ¥400
  • Children (under 15): Free
  • Seniors (65 and over): ¥200

Zoo Map and Layout Overview

Inokashira Park Zoo is divided into two main sections. Here is a link to English map at their website.

1. Main Zoo Area: Home to various animals and the popular guinea pig experience
2. Aquatic Life Display: Features local freshwater life and small mammals

What makes this zoo special for families with young children:

• Compact size (approximately 3.8 hectares)
• Flat, stroller-friendly paths
• Perfect for children aged 2-10 years
• Manageable walking distances between attractions

💡 Local Parent Tip: Start your visit by checking the bulletin boards near the entrance, which display daily schedules for animal feeding times, free guided tours (in Japanese), and special events. Even if you can’t read Japanese, you’ll find the animal illustrations match those on the English map – making it a fun game with kids to match the pictograms to animals. My daughters enjoyed guessing which symbol represented which animal as we planned our route through the zoo.

5 Must-See Attractions at Inokashira Park Zoo

1. The Famous Squirrel Trail -リスの小径

During our afternoon visit to the Squirrel Garden, my daughters were initially bubbling with excitement to see lots of squirrels. However, we quickly learned that these cute creatures have their own schedule! Around 2 PM, most squirrels were enjoying their afternoon naps. Can you find him in the photo above?

Reality of Squirrel Watching:

• Most squirrels rest during afternoon hours
• The habitat features several wooden houses connected by bridges
• Even seeing one squirrel can be exciting for young children
• The viewing windows are at perfect height for kids

💡 Local Parent Tip: Set realistic expectations for your Squirrel Garden visit. Nevertheless, my daughters had fun spotting a sleepy squirrel nestled in one of the wooden houses. For livelier squirrel sightings, zoo staff suggest early morning visits. The enclosure houses two distinct squirrel species

2. Mini Amusement Area – 井の頭スポーツランド

During our January visit, this charming section proved to be my daughters’ favorite part of the zoo! The collection of vintage-style rides offers just enough excitement for toddlers and young children.

Ride Information:

• Cost: 100 yen per person, per ride
• Age Requirements:
  • Children under 1: Free
  • Ages 1-3: Must ride with parent (Needs 2 tickets per ride, one for an adult and one for a kid)
  • Ages 4 and up: Can ride independently
• Payment: Purchase tickets from the vending machine before lining up

💡 Local Parent Tip: To save time and money, I recommend purchasing a “のりもの券11枚” (1,000 yen for 11 rides )- that’s one free ride compared to buying individual tickets! This saved us multiple trips to the vending machine and made the experience much smoother with excited kids.

Other Available Rides:

The real highlight for my daughters was the sense of independence these rides offered – they felt like they were operating “grown-up” vehicles all by themselves!

Coin-Operated Stationary Rides (100 yen per ride)

• Choose from police bike, airplane, bus, and many more.
• Perfect for toddlers and younger children (ages 1-6)
• Conveniently located near the main rides area
• No queuing required – just pop in a coin and start the adventure

Self-Driven Mini Cars (100 yen per ride)

• Individual motorized vehicles on a safe, enclosed track
• Children control the vehicle themselves
• Younger children can ride with parents
• Parents watch them from queuing areas

💡 Local Parent Tip: Each self-driven ride has its own separate queue marked by white lines on the ground, though this might not be obvious at first glance. Let our children choose their preferred vehicle first, then join the specific line for that ride.

3. Animal Petting Area: Guinea Pig Experience -ふれあい動物

One of the beloved activities at Inokashira Park Zoo is the special guinea pig petting experience, but it requires some advance planning!

Guinea Pig Petting Session Details:

• Time: 13:30-14:30 daily
• Reservation Required: Opens 7 days in advance
• Online booking only: Make reservations through the official website
• Limited slots available each day

💡 Local Parent Tip: We unfortunately missed the guinea pig experience as all slots were fully booked. I learned that these sessions are extremely popular, especially on weekends and holidays. Set a reminder to book exactly 7 days before your planned visit date to secure your spot!

4. Playground　ぶらんこ広場

A play area near the entrace.

5. Seasonal Events and Stamp Rally Adventures 干支スタンプラリー

During our January visit, we encountered this engaging activities – a special New Year’s stamp rally event that had my daughters absolutely thrilled! While the quiz questions are in Japanese, you can easily use Google Lens translation technology to participate. The questions are observation-based, such as “Which leg pattern matches the goat in the picture?” These quizzes cleverly encourage children to observe animals more carefully and engage with the exhibits. As a parent bonus, all that walking around collecting stamps helps tire out the kids – perfect for their afternoon nap while you enjoy a peaceful coffee break!

How the Stamp Rally Works:

1. Pick up your stamp card with a map at the welcome area near the entrance
2. Find quiz stations scattered throughout the zoo (Can easily pot by red flag)
3. Read each question and choose your answer
4. Collect stamps along the way
5. Receive a small gift at the final checkpoint!

💡 Local Parent Tip: Stamp collecting is a beloved Japanese tradition that adds an extra layer of fun to any attraction. My daughters were incredibly motivated to explore every corner of the zoo to complete their stamp collections. The zodiac (干支) themed stamp collection appears to be an annual New Year’s event at the zoo.

⭐️Fun Fact: If your children enjoy this type of activity, you’ll find similar stamp collecting opportunities throughout Japan! Train stations, temples, museums, and various cultural venues often have unique stamps available. It’s a wonderful way to create lasting memories of your Japan adventures. Consider buying a plain notebook at any stationery store and start collecting stamps from all the locations you visit during your trip – it becomes a personalized, interactive travel journal your kids will treasure.

Food Options and Dining Facilities

The zoo features two charming Gifts and food: KOMOREBI and HANAKO’s cafe, located near the entrance and at the rear of the zoo. Both offer kid-friendly menu items including hot snacks, curry, soup, cakes and cofee. During our visit, my daughters enjoyed the freshly made french fries! For quick refreshments, you’ll find vending machines throughout the zoo offering a variety of drinks and ice cream

Picnic Areas:

• Several picnic spots with tables
• Limited roofed eating areas
• Close proximity to restrooms

💡 Local Parent Tip: While snack shops at the park offers decent food options for kids, you may want to check out bent around Kichijoji Station.

Family-Friendly Facilities and Amenities

Stroller Accessibility

The zoo features wide, paved pathways throughout the grounds. The entire area is well-tiled and mostly flat, making it easily accessible for both strollers and wheelchairs. For detailed accessibility information, you can refer to the zoo’s wheelchair and stroller-friendly map (available in Japanese) on their website.y PDF map may come in handy for you (in Japanese).

Rest Areas and Nursing Rooms

Nursing Room Facilities: Nursing Room: Located in the Administration Office near the main entrance, the zoo offers a private nursing space (women only).

Rest Areas:

• Multiple benches throughout the zoo
• Exhibition Hall library is great rest space with climate control

Photos from Exhibition Hall

Restrooms:

💡 Local Parent Tip: Multiple restrooms with baby changing stations are conveniently located throughout the zoo, making it easy to find facilities wherever you are during your vis

Why I like Inokashira Park Zoo

After experiencing this hidden gem firsthand with my own children, I can confidently say that Inokashira Park Zoo is perfectly suited for families with children under 10 years old. The compact zoo offers an ideal blend of wildlife encounters and family-friendly activities, all in a manageable setting that won’t overwhelm young visitors.

As a parent who understands the challenges of keeping young children engaged and happy during outings, I was impressed by how well this zoo caters to little ones. My daughters were thoroughly entertained throughout our visit, and the zoo’s intimate scale made it easy to explore at their pace.

Extending Your Adventure Around Inokashira Park

After your zoo visit, there’s plenty more to explore in Inokashira Park! Choose between swan-shaped paddle boats or traditional rowing boats on the central pond (rental fees apply). The park is especially beautiful during cherry blossom season in spring and when autumn colors peak, with walking paths winding through these scenic spots. On weekends, the park comes alive with street performers and artists, adding to the festive atmosphere.

Just minutes away from the park, you’ll find yourself in vibrant Kichijoji, one of Tokyo’s most energetic and trendy neighborhoods. The Ghibli Museum is a 10-minute walk from the zoo (advance reservation required – book months ahead!). The area around Kichijoji Station is a treasure trove of experiences:

• Sun Road Shopping Street: covered arcade with trendy shops
• Food paradise in Harmonica Yokocho
• Modern shopping complexes like PARCO and Atre
• Endless dining options from casual cafes to family restaurants

The youthful energy of Kichijoji makes it a perfect area to explore after your zoo visit, with plenty of food choices to satisfy hungry families!