Now, what was beyond the gate?
You don’t have to imagine, or ruminate in your head. Just listen. Listen to the voices in the wind. I could hear something chattering or roaring. Now you can tell what it was? Yes, a Zoo!!
Hamamatsu Zoological Garden is very popular among kids and adults. They say there are about 130 species of animals in this zoo, and some animals such as lions, tigers, monkeys stay not in the room during the day but in the isolated field so that you can see them live a natural life.
Needless to say, your safety has been ensured.＾＾

How was the zoo in the rain? It was great!! A false bravado, I admit…＾＾； But there were some advantage against it. For example, many animals were sheltered from the rain into the rooms behind the field. That made me see them just in front. Too big to go close to, I took some pictures anyhow. Oh, I guess you’d better have a map of the garden to read my story. Please click here for it! See the red-square near No15? This is the common gate between Flower Park and Zoological Garden where I got through.

The admission ticket is available from the vending machine in front of the gate only ¥50 from Flower Park.

Now, after having left the lions and tigers (No25 in the map), I headed to the Insect Museum (No6) passing by Monkey mountains (No27). Yes, I like insects, especially beetles and stag beetles. But what attracted my eyes were butterflies!! Ever seen such beautiful butterflies? This museum is by no means large but you can enjoy world-famous insects.

Walking down the pathway to the next square, you can touch small animals such as rabbits, sheep and goats (No10). Polar bears and brown bears are also seen in the same area but you can’t touch them as a matter of course. No17 is a small safari-park that you can see giraffes, zebras and other animals.
Again back to No15, from the point of gorillas and orangutans, I left Hamamatsu Zoological Garden to Hamamatsu Flower Park.

Here I’d like to express condolences for Ruh, the Amur Tiger.

He found dead in the morning on May 27th, only 3 days after I visited him. Born in 1992 at Ruhrgebiet Zoo in German. He had been so attractive among visitors with the nickname “Ruh” until the last day came upon. I believe he lives in our mind forever.

May he find a rest in peace.

Now, back to the Flower Park, I strolled along the path to the main entrance and found a mosaic art with flowers and greens close by the fountain pond. This is called Mosaiculture memorial garden. Last year, they held a Flower Expo “Mosaiculture 2009” that caught more than 800 thousand of people for 2 months. These restored arts are in commemoration of the Expo and for more people who could not come see them. I could see six of them luckily.
Soon after I had taken some pictures, a stream of music came into my ears and the fountain exploded, just as a water curtain in the air. Honestly, I missed the blue sky……＾＾；
The rain temporarily stopped, still gloomy in the evening. I got into the souvenir shop to the way out.

Hamamatsu Zoological Park
Access： JR Hamamatsu Station ⇒From Bus Depot #1, take the bus #30 as far as “Doubutsuen-Mae”, (English description “Zoo” on the board)
Admission： ¥400 for adults / Free for children under 15
Closed ： December 29 – 31st
9:00 – 16:30
*Please enter 30 minutes before closing
Hamamatsu Flower Park
※ Information as of May, 2010
Admission： ¥800 for adults / ¥350 for children under 15
Please see the previous article for details.
Hamamatsu Flower Park ＋　Hamamatsu Zoological Park
Admission： ¥850 for adults

“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English website for sightseeing, always with you! ＾＾