Fuji Safari Park

A forest safari park at the foot of Mt. Fuji

Fuji Safari Park opened on 23 April 1980 on the southern slopes of Mt. Fuji, at an elevation of about 850 metres, and is operated by Koizumi African Lion Safari Co., Ltd. Around 60 species and some 900 animals gathered from around the world live here. The park is divided into two parts: the Safari Zone, which you tour by vehicle, and the Interaction Zone, where you meet animals on foot.

Safari Zone - right beside the animals, from inside your car

The Safari Zone is split into bear, lion, tiger, cheetah, elephant, general herbivore and mountain herbivore areas, and you can drive straight through in your own vehicle. Touring by private car costs nothing extra and takes about 50 minutes. Board the Jungle Bus, a wire-mesh vehicle with no window glass (1,500 yen per person, charged from age 3, about 50 minutes), and you can also feed bears, lions and camels. Navigation cars with an audio guide are available to rent for a fee.

The Interaction Zone, explored on foot

The Interaction Zone includes the Petting Farm, where you can spend time with red kangaroos, capybaras and ponies; Animal Village, where hippos, leopards and meerkats can be seen up close; and houses dedicated to dogs, cats and rabbits. The Walking Safari, a trail that follows the outer edge of the Safari Zone, is about 2.5 km long and takes 90 to 120 minutes. A night safari runs for a limited period each summer; in 2026 it is held from 25 July to 30 August, with admission from 18:00 to 19:30.

Admission, opening hours and how long to allow

Admission is 3,200 yen for adults (high school age and above), 2,000 yen for children (age 4 through junior high school) and 2,500 yen for seniors (65 and over), as of 2026. Opening hours change with the season: 9:00-16:30 from 11 March to 31 October, 9:00-15:30 from 1 November to 30 November, and 10:00-15:30 from 1 December to 10 March. Allow two to three hours to see both zones once through, or about half a day if you also want to join a tour or the hands-on experiences. Prices and hours may change, so please check the official website for the latest details.

Getting there from our hotel

The park is roughly 45 minutes to an hour from the hotel by car. Take the Tomei Expressway towards Gotemba and leave at Susono IC; from there it is about 10 km, or some 15 minutes. From Gotemba IC it is about 18 km and 25 minutes. By public transport, take the route bus bound for Jurigi via Fuji Safari Park from JR Gotemba Station. The park sits high above sea level and mornings and evenings can be chilly, so an extra layer is worth packing whatever the season.