Theme parkUniversal Studios Japan
Kansai ・ Osaka
This large theme park in Osaka’s Bay Area lets you step into the worlds of Hollywood movies and popular characters. Ride attractions, shows, and seasonal events can easily fill a full day.
Zoo · Kansai
Safari Resort Himeji Central Park
Himeji, HyogoMostly outdoors
Overview
Overview
The only safari park in the Kansai region, combining a safari park and an amusement park in one. You can enjoy both a drive-through safari, cruising among big predators in your own car or a safari bus, and a walking safari on foot. Seasonal facilities include a pool in summer and an ice rink in winter.
- Address
- 1434 Kamiya, Toyotomi-cho, Himeji, Hyogo
- Closed
- Irregular (some weekdays are closing days; check the operating calendar)
- Time needed
- A full day. At least 3–4 hours for the safari alone
- Official website
- https://www.central-park.co.jp/
Area weather
HimejiWeather & what to wear in Himeji →Tickets & tours for this attractionPR
Highlights
Highlights
On "Safari the Ride," humans ride inside a cage to get close to the animals, and you can even feed the lions (extra fee, first come first served). The walking safari lets you see white lions, tigers, red pandas, and more up close, and the Sky Safari, which lets you view the animals from above, is free.
Hours
Opening hours
Opening hours10:00–16:30
Varies by day. The entrance gate closes 1 hour before closing, after which the safari cannot be entered either
Attraction admissionUntil 15 minutes before closing
Ferris wheel until 20 minutes before closing
Hours vary by day and season. Check the official website before you go.
Tickets
Prices & tickets
Admission – Adults (junior high and older)Variable (¥4,200–¥4,600)
Three price tiers depending on the date. Tax included
Admission – Elementary school studentsVariable (¥2,400–¥2,800)
Tax included
Admission – Young children (age 3 to pre-elementary)Variable (¥1,300–¥1,500)
Tax included
1-Day Pass – Adults (admission + unlimited rides)Variable (¥7,000–¥7,400)
Elementary ¥4,900–¥5,300, young children ¥2,400–¥2,600
Attraction Free Pass¥3,300
Add-on to admission. Some rides not included
Safari the Ride¥3,000
Admission not included. Lion feeding is an extra ¥500 (first 3 groups per departure)
Prices include tax and may change. Check the official website before buying.
🎫 How to buy tickets
- →Admission has three price tiers depending on the date. Buy online (web tickets) or at the ticket counter on-site
- →Without a car, take the paid safari bus from the amusement park area for the drive-through safari. The safari bus and Safari the Ride are first come, first served on the day after arrival; no phone reservations
- →Safari the Ride runs 3 times a day (10:45, 13:15, 15:15); sign up by 30 minutes before departure. Capacity 20 people; age 3 and up
- →The Attraction Free Pass is non-refundable even if many rides are suspended due to bad weather
- →Parking fees, ride tickets, skate rentals, etc. are cash only
Tickets & tours for this attractionPR
Tips
Tips for travelers
- ✓The entrance gate closes 1 hour before closing, after which you can't enter the safari. Arriving in the morning is recommended
- ✓There are closing days on some weekdays too, so always check the operating calendar before you go
- ✓Without a car, sign up for Safari the Ride or the safari bus right after you arrive (first come, first served on the day)
- ✓From the walking safari, the free Sky Safari lets you travel while viewing animals from above
- ✓Local buses are infrequent, so decide your outbound and return times first
Access
Getting there
- Nearest station
- Himeji Station (JR / Sanyo Railway)About 25 min by Shinki BusNo station within walking distance; go by bus or car
- From major stations & airports
- JR Himeji Station: Shinki Bus route 74 bound for "Himeji Central Park" from stop 14 at the North Exit of Himeji Station, to the last stop (adults ¥590) (About 25 min)
- Osaka: By car (about 5 min from Sanyo-Himeji-Higashi IC on the Sanyo Expressway) (About 55 min)
- Kyoto: By car (About 75 min)
- Getting back
- Local buses are infrequent (from Himeji Station: 4 per day on weekdays, 6 on weekends and holidays). Check return times in advance
- Parking is ¥1,200 per car, cash only
Crowds
Crowds & best time to go
- Busy
- Weekends and holidays, spring break, Golden Week, and summer holidays (pool and Night Safari season)
- Quieter
- Weekdays from autumn to winter
- Time needed
- A full day. At least 3–4 hours for the safari alone
Weather
Weather & what to wear
Spring
A comfortable season for exploring the outdoor walking safari on foot.
Summer
The large pool "Aqueria" opens, and Night Safari and fireworks events are held.
Autumn
The pool season is over, so the focus shifts to the safari. There are closing days on some weekdays, so check the operating calendar.
Winter
Enjoy skating at the Ice Park—admission alone lets you skate (skate rental is extra).
- ☂ Rainy days
- The drive-through safari is viewed from your car or the bus, so it's fine in the rain. The walking safari and amusement park are mostly outdoors, and rides may be suspended in bad weather
- Heat
- Mostly outdoors, so a hat and hydration are essential. The pool (Aqueria) is open in summer
- Cold
- An outdoor facility that gets cold in winter. Bring warm clothing
- What to wear & bring
- Comfortable walking shoes, plus warm layers or sun protection depending on the season. The walking safari is explored on foot outdoors
Rules
Rules & what you can bring
- !Re-entry allowed on the same day only (show your ticket to staff)
- !On the drive-through safari, keep windows and sunroofs fully closed and never get out of the car. Don't show or give food to the animals, no honking, and the speed limit is 10 km/h
- !Convertibles, canvas-top cars, low-clearance cars, trucks, and motorcycles cannot enter the safari (use the safari bus)
- !Only dogs are allowed as pets. A "Wan Wan Passport" purchase, proof of vaccination within the past year, and a leash are required
Facilities
Facilities & services
- Lockers & luggage
- Coin lockers available (large ¥400 × 16, small ¥200 × 32)
- Payment
- Credit cards (JCB, VISA, Mastercard, AMEX), transit IC (Suica, ICOCA, etc.), nanaco, WAON, iD, QUICPay, PayPay, au PAY, d-barai. At the safari gate, PayPay is the only smartphone payment accepted. Parking, ride tickets, skate rentals, etc. are cash only
- Strollers & wheelchairs
- Stroller rental available (¥500 + ¥3,000 deposit). Wheelchair rental available (6 manual chairs, ¥500 + ¥3,000 deposit, first come first served; no phone reservations)
- Accessibility
- Parking for people with disabilities. The Sky Safari can also be ridden in the reverse direction. Strollers and wheelchairs cannot be taken on the safari bus
- Language support
- The official website is available in English, Chinese, and Korean
Food
Food
- Must-try
- "Resapan Café," where you can dine while watching red pandasRamen, udon, and curry at the family restaurant "Azzurro"Soft-serve ice cream at the burger shop "Ban Ban"
Attractions
Attractions in Kansai
Theme park
AquariumOsaka Aquarium Kaiyukan
Kansai ・ Osaka
Located in Tempozan Harbor Village in Osaka, this is one of the world’s largest aquariums. Tanks recreating the natural environments of the Pacific Rim are arranged along a route that leads from the top floors down. It houses about 30,000 creatures of some 620 species.
☂ Mostly indoors · rain-friendly
AquariumNIFREL
Kansai ・ Suita
A "living museum" inside EXPOCITY, the large entertainment complex next to Expo '70 Commemorative Park in Osaka. Blending elements of an aquarium, zoo, and art museum, it's built around the theme of "touching" the individuality of living creatures. It's run by the same company as Kaiyukan.
☂ Mostly indoors · rain-friendly
ZooTennoji Zoo
Kansai ・ Osaka
Opened in 1915, this urban zoo run by the City of Osaka has more than 100 years of history. It sits in Tennoji Park right next to Shinsekai and Tsutenkaku Tower, and keeps about 1,000 animals of some 170 species across roughly 11 hectares. Admission prices were revised in July 2026.
AquariumKyoto Aquarium
Kansai ・ Kyoto City
An inland aquarium in Umekoji Park, within walking distance of Kyoto Station. Its exhibits explore Kyoto's waterside nature and how it connects, from the "Kyoto River" to the "Kyoto Sea." With a dolphin stadium and jellyfish displays, it's an easy stop between Kyoto sightseeing spots.
ZooKyoto City Zoo
Kansai ・ Okazaki, Kyoto
A city-run zoo inside Okazaki Park, home to Heian Shrine and several art museums. In its compact grounds you can see elephants, gorillas, and wild animals from Kyoto's forests. Admission is free for junior high students and younger, and just ¥750 for adults.
AquariumKobe Suma Sea World
Kansai ・ Suma, Kobe
An aquarium with orcas that opened in Suma Beach Park in 2024. Along with orca and dolphin performances, you can enjoy exhibits of all kinds of marine life. It faces the Suma seaside and has an adjoining hotel.
ZooAdventure World
Kansai ・ Shirahama, Wakayama
A theme park in Nanki-Shirahama that combines a zoo, an aquarium, and an amusement park. With Safari World for land animals, Marine World for sea creatures, a petting area, and the "Play Zone" amusement park, it easily fills a full day. All four giant pandas left for China in June 2025, so the highlights now center on penguins, the safari, and marine shows.
Amusement parkHirakata Park
Kansai ・ Hirakata
Opened at its current location in 1912 (Taisho 1), it's the oldest continuously operating amusement park in Japan. It has about 40 kinds of attractions and is just a short walk from Hirakatakoen Station on the Keihan Main Line. It's about 30 minutes by train from both Osaka and Kyoto.
ExperienceNintendo Museum
Kansai ・ Uji
A museum in Uji, Kyoto, that displays Nintendo's products through the years and lets you play hands-on exhibits. Tickets are date- and time-specific and must be reserved in advance, through a monthly lottery or first-come, first-served sales of slots that open up. If you want to include it in your itinerary, applying from the lottery 3 months before your visit is the surest way.
☂ Mostly indoors · rain-friendlyAdvance, date-specific tickets required
AquariumToba Aquarium
Kansai ・ Ise & Shima
An aquarium facing Toba Bay that claims the largest number of species kept in Japan (about 1,200). It's the only aquarium in Japan where you can see a dugong, and its sea otters and walruses are also popular. The building is all-weather, and it's within walking distance of JR/Kintetsu Toba Station.
☂ Mostly indoors · rain-friendly
Theme parkShima Spain Village PARQUE ESPAÑA
Kansai ・ Ise & Shima
A Spain-themed park in Ise-Shima. From thrilling roller coasters to rides for kids, parades, and flamenco shows, it offers a full day of fun. A hotel and the Himawari no Yu hot spring are also on site.
Theme parkUZUMASA KYOTO VILLAGE
Kansai ・ Uzumasa
Toei Kyoto Studio Park, a samurai-drama theme park that opened in 1975, reopened on March 28, 2026 as UZUMASA KYOTO VILLAGE after the first phase of its renewal. It is now an immersive park for adults built around the concept of wandering into Kyoto in the Edo period, with the second phase scheduled to open in spring 2027. It stays open until 21:00.
ZooKobe Animal Kingdom
Kansai ・ Port Island, Kobe
A zoo on Kobe's Port Island where you can interact with flowers and animals. Its exhibits bring you close to the animals, including shoebills, capybaras, and alpacas. It has extensive indoor areas and is easy to reach, about 14 minutes from Sannomiya on the Port Liner.
Hours, prices and access are based on official and other primary sources. They may change, so check the official website before you go.
Last checked: 2026-10-01
