Ichihara Elephant Kingdom

Ichihara Elephant Kingdom is a zoo that keeps a total of 12 elephants—11 Asian elephants (the largest number kept in Japan) and 1 African elephant. It also operates satellite parks such as Sayuri World and Katsuura Elephant Paradise. The film “A Boy Who Became a Star” is based on the story of the park’s director, Sayuri Sakamoto, and the model elephant, Randy (an Asian elephant), also lives here. Access is via a free shuttle bus from Kominato Railway Takataki Station. Must-try experiences include the “Elephant Ride,” where you can ride on an elephant’s back, and the “Elephant Lift,” where you can hang from an elephant’s trunk. Compared with simple feeding, these attractions let you interact with elephants up close through unique activities you can only experience here. For those who prefer less direct contact, the “Elephant Show” is recommended—featuring dynamic performances like soccer and dancing. It is held almost daily, so you can visit without worrying too much about season or special periods. In addition to elephants, you can also feed many of the park’s herbivores directly, such as capybaras and hippos. As of March 2021, Ichihara Elephant Kingdom planned to combine its two facilities (with Sayuri World) and reopen as “ANIMAL WONDER REZOURT.”