Ishigaki Island Zoo Introducing facilities and recommended tours where you can interact with popular animals such as dolphins and horses.
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Let's meet various animals in Ishigaki Island!
Did you know that in Ishigaki Island, you can not only enjoy beaches, nature, and local food, but also many places where you can interact with animals?
The zoo on Ishigaki Island has a wide variety of animals and creatures, and it is important to be able to interact with them.
Some of the zoos have endemic species that are only found on Ishigaki Island and other remote islands in Okinawa, so you will be able to enjoy a zoo that is different from others.
This is a must-see, especially if you are traveling with children or if you are an animal lover.
In this issue, we will introduce in detail the zoo on Ishigaki Island, which is full of attractions!
Zoos and animal petting facilities on Ishigaki Island
There are many places where you can meet animals on Ishigaki Island.
Let's take a look at the zoos and facilities where you can interact with animals on Ishigaki Island.
dolphin fantasy
Dolphin Fantasy, where you can meet and swim with dolphins in a place overlooking the beautiful Ishigaki Sea, is a great place to go with your children.
The facility is so well-known as a holiday destination that it has been featured in feature articles.
What kind of animals can I touch?
There is a dolphin swim experience where you can have direct contact with dolphins.
Dolphin swim is to wear swimwear and swim with dolphins in the pool.
Dolphin Fantasy offers an experience program that allows visitors to feed and swim with dolphins in a ykezu (pool) at sea with the assistance of staff.
In addition, experience programs are held not only in summer but also in winter (December through March), so those who want to swim with dolphins should visit the park.
Basic Information
Business hours: 9:30-16:30
Closed No holidays (weather permitting)
Entrance fees, etc. Fees based on courses (advance reservations required)
Dolphin viewing only 605 yen, swim 10780 yen, petting 4180 yen, trainer experience 13200 yen, dolphin watching 1650 yen (not available from July to September)
Parking lot Yes
Access About 30 minutes drive from the airport, about 5 minutes from the remote island terminal, across the Southern Gate Bridge, Yashima-cho, Ishigaki City.
*Please note that each course provides transportation from the reception area to the experience location, but not from the airport, hotels, etc.
Yamama Village
Yaima Village is a place where you can meet precious animals in the midst of the good old houses of Yaeyama and the rich nature of the island.
What kind of animals can I touch?
This is an ethnic village-style theme park where visitors can interact with squirrel monkeys and buffaloes.
It is a must visit place if you want to see the precious squirrel monkeys that inhabit the mangrove and forest areas, and the unique water buffaloes of Ishigaki Island.
In addition to the animals, there are also buildings on the grounds that have been designated as important cultural properties, so you will definitely be able to enjoy valuable sightseeing that you can only do here.
Basic Information
Business hours: 9:00-17:30
Closed No holidays
*Restaurants in the facility may be closed, so please inquire in advance.
Entrance fees, etc. 900 yen per hour and up
Parking available (100 spaces)
Access Head toward Nagura Bay in the Yaeyama Islands.
It is about 15 minutes from Ishigaki Port and about 30 minutes from the airport.
Hirano Animal Terrace
The Hirano Animal Terrace, famous for its fence-free zoo, allows visitors to interact directly with friendly animals.
What kind of animals can I touch?
There are many friendly and easy to interact with animals such as capybaras, horses, goats, and guinea pigs.
In addition, there are no fences in the park, so visitors will be able to enjoy interacting with the animals freely.
In addition, they sell local processed goods and agricultural products, making it a great place to select souvenirs.
Basic Information
Business hours: 11:00-16:00
*Please make a reservation through our website or contact us in advance for a 50-minute appointment.
Closed weekdays (basically held every Saturday and Sunday only)
Admission: 1000 yen for 3 years old and older, free for 2 years old and younger
*Please bring your ID card as those whose birthday is on that day will receive free admission.
Parking available (please inquire directly for location details).
Access Located up the mountain side on a farm road about one hour before the end of Prefectural Road 206 from the city center.
unruly horse
Recommended for those who are looking for a place to go horseback riding in Ishigaki Island, Hamba offers a rare horseback riding experience that can only be experienced in a tropical country.
What kind of animals can I touch?
Here, visitors can have direct contact with horses through a horseback riding experience.
By riding a horse, you can experience the view about 2 meters above the ground, and you may feel as if you are one with the beautiful scenery of Ishigaki Island.
In addition, the beach ride course, the centerpiece of Namunma, offers a unique tropical experience of horseback riding along the ocean.
They will lend you everything you need, so you can go empty-handed.
Other plans include private tours for families and friends only, and farm tours are also available, so please inquire in advance.
*Some courses are currently suspended, so please check when making a reservation.
Basic Information
Business hours 8:30-19:00
Closed: No regular holidays (please inquire for reservations in advance)
Entrance fee, etc. 10000 yen and up (depends on each course)
Parking available (8 spaces)
Access Approximately 40-50 minutes by car from the airport, 15 minutes from the remote island terminal, and straight from the city center toward Kabira Bay via Prefectural Road No. 79.
Ishigakijima Horse Square
We introduce Ishigakijima Horse Square, where you can casually play with horses on the beach.
What kind of animals can I touch?
Ishigakijima Horse Square is a horse square where you can interact with small and cute horses, go horseback riding in the ocean, and play with sea horses.
We mainly deal with Yonaguni horses (Yonaguni horse), a valuable native Japanese breed horse, and are recommended for those who want to see rare horses unique to Okinawa.
You can also experience walking in the shallows on horseback, and children and adults alike will have a lot of fun while having a great time.
The beginners' course includes a lecture on how to ride a horse and plenty of assistance, so even if you are new to riding, don't worry.
Basic Information
Business hours: 10:00-17:00 (9:00-18:00 in summer)
Closed on an irregular basis
Entrance fees, etc. Horse-drawn and horseback riding experience: 2000 yen and up (other fees vary depending on the course)
Parking available (for 5 cars)
Access About 40-50 minutes by car from the airport and about 1 hour from the city center, on Prefectural Route 206 toward Hirano, just before the entrance to Hirakubo Ranch.
Therefore, when using the car navigation system, please specify "Hirakubo Ranch" as the destination.
*Since the meeting place may differ depending on the course, please inquire at the time of reservation for details.
Popular animal petting tours you can enjoy in Ishigaki Island
We introduce the most popular tours where you can interact with animals in Ishigaki Island.
If you do not have much time and cannot go directly to the zoo, or if you want to experience a tropical tour in a casual way, why not join us?
Dolphin petting experience
(in Japanese history)https://ishigaki-tours.com/plan/dolphin412)
This tour is recommended for those who would like to interact with dolphins but are not confident swimmers, or who just want to touch and take pictures.
Since the tour is relatively reasonable for a dolphin tour, and since it is possible to just observe the dolphins, parents, children, and the elderly can easily join the tour.
We invite you to get up close and personal with these adorable dolphins and actually touch them.
Dolphin Swim Experience
(in Japanese history)https://ishigaki-tours.com/plan/dolphin413)
This is a dolphin swim experience for those who want to swim with dolphins and interact with them a lot more.
Beginners are welcome to participate in the experience while staff members give lectures.
Children 4 years old and up can also experience the program.
We invite you to join us as a family, a couple, or a group of friends and spend a dreamy time swimming with dolphins.
I highly recommend this tour because you can easily participate in it without feeling self-conscious.
summary
In this issue, we introduced zoos and other facilities you can enjoy in Ishigaki Island.
Ishigaki Island offers many animal petting experiences that are possible only in a tropical island, and are perfect for those who want to enjoy them with a large group.
If you want to make a different kind of trip to Ishigaki Island in addition to the standard tourist attractions, please consider joining a zoo or tour!
