Himeji Animal Welfare Festival 2026

Why You Should Visit

A one-day event at Himeji City Zoo, just east of Himeji Castle, held during Japan's Animal Welfare Week (Sept 20-26). Admission to the zoo is free that day. Hands-on corners include animal face painting, badge making and a quiz rally around the grounds, so children have plenty to do. Booths on disaster preparedness for pets and on the city's dog and cat rehoming scheme give owners something to take away too. An easy half-day stop for families visiting the castle area.

Essentials

location

Himeji City Zoo (Himeji, Hyogo)

period

September 23, 2026 (Wed)

Time

9:00〜15:00頃

cost

Free zoo admission on the festival day

Links

Official Website

Kobe · Gluten-free

Basque cheesecakeBaked with rice flour, no wheat. Whole 12cm, serves 2-3¥4,700 incl. shipping (Japan only)

access

About a 15-min walk north from JR or Sanyo Electric Railway Himeji Station; about 15 min southwest from Sanyo-Himeji-Higashi IC on the Sanyo Expressway

There are 3 car parks within a 12-minute walk of Himeji City Zoo (Himeji, Hyogo), and 8 public restrooms within 8 minutes. The map shows each with its walking time.

Facility data comes from OpenStreetMap. It does not include opening hours, fees or availability.

NOTE

Activities on the day

Animal face painting
Animal badge making
Award display of the animal welfare slogan and drawing contest
Zoo quiz rally
Prize-draw corner
Disaster preparedness for pets
Dog and cat rehoming information
Special petting-area session

Cancellation

Cancelled if a weather warning or emergency warning (heavy rain, flooding, storm, etc.; excluding high waves and storm surge) is in effect at 7 a.m. on the day

Before you go

Pets may not be brought into the zoo
The zoo has no dedicated parking lot

*Start times for each activity have not been published.

FAQ

Is there an admission fee?

Zoo admission is free on the day of the festival.

Does it go ahead in the rain?

It is cancelled if a weather warning or emergency warning (heavy rain, flooding, storm and the like; high waves and storm surge excluded) is in effect at 7 a.m. that morning.

Can I bring my pet?

Pets are not allowed inside the zoo.

Do I need a reservation?

The city has not published any reservation requirement; visitors take part by entering the zoo during the event hours.

Calendar

Add it to your calendar so you can check back on it later.

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