Cycling to Inokashira Park & Zoo: part II

Located in Inokashira Park is the Inokashira Park Zoo, a relatively small zoo which houses some animals you don't regularly see in a zoo. The zoo is mainly aimed at exhibiting a variety of Japanese species. That means there are no lions or tigers, but mainly indigenous animals such as birds, fish, squirrels, swans, cranes, deer, monkeys, raccoons, etc.

The zoo is divided in two areas by the main road that leads to the Ghibli Museum. The main area is home to all the animals that walk, crawl, climb, dig or fly. The second area is for all kinds of aquatic/swamp creatures.
After parking our bicycles we bought two tickets and entered the main zoo. One of the first things that struck us was how open and green the zoo was. The Mitaka neighbourhood is known for its green atmosphere but the zoo was really amazing. We took a walk and came across a huge guinea pig farm. Instead of putting the fuzzy critters behind bars, kids were allowed to pick them up from a huge 'container' - for lack of a better word - and gently pet them. There must have been hundreds of guinea pigs because every kid was holding one and still there were more eagerly waiting to be cuddled. Ultimate guinea pig cuteness!

We strolled around some more and came across one non-Japanese animal: a huge ancient Asian elephant called Hanako. She was brought from Thailand to Ueno Zoo in 1949 when she was two years old but in 1954 she was relocated to Inoshikara. She wasn't very sociable so living isolated from other elephants was the best option. With 65 years, Hanako is Japan's eldest living elephant. She might not look like a young lady any more but she seemed very happy and active in her old day. She has lost most of her teeth, so her carers feed her small sliced vegetables, or easy digestible dumplings.

Asian elephant Hanako

Hanako shows the signs of old age, and walks around slowly

After that we visited the bird house. Upon entering the bird house visitors are being cautioned to keep the doors closed at all times. Visitors to the bird house are literally visitors. You enter their territory and they freely fly all over the place. Small ones, but also huge jungle birds. Incredible. Even more incredible is the bird house itself. It looks like a post apocalyptic factory hall that has been reclaimed by nature. Vines and tropical plants are growing everywhere: around the balcony, on the stairs, round the windows. Birds are in the tree tops but also walk the ground, sit on the railing, or hop on the stairs. It feels very surreal to walk around in this environment but it's a creative way for a small zoo to attract visitors.

The outside of the bird house

Inside the birdhouse

But, the most fun place we visited was definitely the Trail of Squirrels. It's exactly was the name suggests: a lingering path through bushes and trees where squirrels dance around your feet. They play, frolic, fight and jump around while you try hard not to step on their furry little tails. Not that you would, they're just too fast! Once again it doesn't feel like your in a zoo, it's much more like you're visiting the animals. You have to be courteous and polite or else they'll bite ;).

Playing with branches and leafs

Running and jumping around

Taking a rest

On to the second area of the animal park: water creatures. We crossed the bridge to the water area and saw some kids standing around plastic water tanks. Young at heart as we are we went to take peek too. It was like the guinea pig petting farm only this time with mini lobsters! Scary but cute in a strange way. Inside the aquarium house you could pet some more animals. Like fish! Hold your hand in a certain angle in the water and the fish come rushing over. Apparently that's how they are fed everyday.

Laurens holding a lobster

 The aquarium house showed cross sections of rivers and swamps in Japan. Very impressive. The rest of the second area was mainly populated by a variety of ducks and automatically lead to the Inoshikara Park itself. We had a something to drink and moved on to leisure in the park.

Turtle in the aquarium house