I really like Giant Pandas so it made perfect sense to incorporate a trip to Adventure World into our Japanese holiday. See Adventure World is home to the largest “family” of Giant Panda outside of China. At the time of writing (and our visit) 7 were living there.
It’s not all about the Pandas though with the park being a hybrid of theme park and zoo. During our visit the persistent rain kept visitor numbers down and we didn’t explore the whole park.
As you know I’m a bit keen on the good old Giant Panda. So when we started planning our trip to Japan I knew I was going to be having some Panda moments!
There are three Zoos in Japan that have Giant Pandas on exhibit; Oji Zoo in Kobe, Ueno Zoo in Tokyo and Adventure World in Shirahama.
On the 10th of May 2016 we made our way to Adventure World in the town of Shirahama. Adventure World is home to the largest Panda “family” outside of China and has had considerable success with breeding Giant Pandas over the years. If there’s one place in the world where you can have Panda moments this is it!
By now I’m sure every reader is familiar with my love for the Giant Panda. So with a trip to Japan coming up it’s only natural that I seek out the Pandas of Japan or JaPandas (I’m pretty sure that’ll stick as a name).
Can’t get to Shirahama? There’s Pandas at Kobe and Tokyo too!
Initially I found it a little odd that despite Japan having a massive number of Giant Pandas in Zoos the majority are held by one park in a more “remote” area of Japan. To clarify while the Wakayama region is a known domestic tourist location it’s probably not on the itinerary of many foreign tourists.
Wakayama Adventure World is a combination Amusement Part and Zoo in Shirahama that can be easily accessed by Air from Tokyo or by the plentiful Rail and Bus services (typically from Osaka).
![access_map[1]](https://i0.wp.com/excesstext.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/access_map1.gif?resize=582%2C505)
Here in Adventure world 8 pandas live healthily. This is the biggest Panda family through the world except for China.(Yuhin left for his parents’ native country, China on June 21, 2004 and Ryuhin & Shuhin left on October 27, 2007, Kohin left on March 15, 2010 to comply with request by China Zoo Association.) Our Giant Pandas breeding and preservation research program has been bearing fruit steadily in an ideal rearing environment.
A small history of their Pandas can be read here (http://www.aws-s.com/english/animal/panda.html)
The Park is typically open 10:00 to 17:00, and closed on 1-2 Wednesdays per month. A complete schedule of Hours and dates is maintained online (http://www.aws-s.com/english/info/calendar/index.php)
Park Fees are very reasonable for the scale.
| Adult (Age 18+) |
Senior (Age 65+) |
Junior (SHS & JHS student) |
Child (Ele. student Ages 4+) |
Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Day Pass | 4,100yen | 3,700yen | 3,300yen | 2,500yen | Entrace to the Park, Marine Live, Safari on the Kenya Tour. |
| 2Day Pass | 7,200yen | 6,700yen | 5,500yen | 3,900yen | Valid for any two days with in a three day period. |
