The zoo occupies a historic site that served as the location for the Siege of Osaka in 1615.
It is the third oldest zoo in Japan, trailing only Tokyo's Ueno Zoo and Kyoto City Zoo.
The zoo includes a significant 'African Savanna' zone that houses giraffes, lions, and hyenas in a shared-style exhibit.
The facility was the first in Japan to successfully breed a Kiwi bird.
It features a dedicated educational center focused on the biodiversity of the local Osaka region.
The site includes a significant portion of the Chausuyama burial mound, a registered cultural landmark.
Tennoji Zoo is Japan's third-oldest zoo, established in 1915 within the larger Tennoji Park complex. It houses approximately 180 species and over 1,000 individual animals across diverse exhibits. The facility is notable for its 'ecological exhibits' designed to mimic the natural habitats of the animals, such as the African savanna zone. Key features include the Hippopotamus house, which offers underwater viewing galleries for visitors. The zoo actively participates in international species preservation programs and research. The grounds are integrated with the historic landscape of Chausuyama, the site of a 1615 battlefield. Visitors can view both wildlife and the skyline of the surrounding urban ward from within the park borders.
The viewing platform in the African Savanna zone offering a background of the giraffe enclosure against the Abeno Harukas skyscraper.
Visit the Hippopotamus house during feeding times to view the animals from the underwater observation window.
Check the daily event board near the entrance for scheduled keeper talks and feeding demonstrations.
Wear comfortable walking shoes as the terrain includes slight inclines and covers a large area.
Do not feed the animals, as this is strictly prohibited and can cause significant health issues for the species.
Closed on Mondays (or Tuesday if Monday is a national holiday).
Do not tap on glass enclosures, refrain from using flash photography near sensitive animals, and keep noise levels low in indoor exhibits.
