Tennoji Zoo

**Animal highlights:** The African savanna exhibit houses lions, giraffes, and zebras in open-plan viewing area. The polar bear habitat (renovated 2014) provides underwater viewing of swimming bears. Japanese wildlife section features tanuki (raccoon dogs), Japanese macaques, and native birds. The hippo pool allows close-up viewing of these massive animals — feeding time (10:30, 14:00 daily) sees hippos surface for carrots. **Aging infrastructure:** Tennoji Zoo is nearly 110 years old and some enclosures show their age — smaller cages for certain animals, worn concrete, and minimal enrichment in older sections. Recent investments prioritize renovations but budget constraints limit progress. The zoo is best for families with young children (affordable, short visit duration) rather than wildlife enthusiasts seeking cutting-edge facilities. **Combine with Tennoji Park:** The zoo is within Tennoji Park (24 hectares) which includes Keitakuen Garden (historic Japanese garden, ¥150 separate entry), Shitennoji Temple nearby, and Abeno Harukas (Japan's tallest building, 300m observation deck ¥1,800). Allocate half-day for zoo + park + tower combination.