Fukuoka City Zoo and Botanical Garden is Open… at Night! 2026

A summer staple in Fukuoka, the Night Zoo and Botanical Garden is now open on every Saturday from August 1st until September 12th! 

Since its start in 1998, visitors to this special nighttime event have been able to get a rare glimpse at nocturnal animals in their natural habit as well as gaze at flowers that only bloom after the sun sets. 

In addition, live footage of Tsushima Leopard Cat born in April will be released for the first time for a limited time starting August 1. Light-ups of the penguin area and aviary, animal feedings at night by the zoo staff, and the Summer Night Green Park set up in the recently renewed botanical garden greenhouse square are some of the special attractions that await you! 

★★This year’s highlights★★

★Illumination of the Botanical Garden Entrance Garden

The entire Entrance Garden, including the “Circular Terrace,” a pergola featuring flowers, greenery, and a water feature, will be illuminated with soft lighting. This is the first time the area will be open to the public at night. Come and enjoy an atmosphere completely different from the daytime.

★Feeding Times for the Animals, a Guide to ZOO Spots, and Footage of the Tsushima Leopard Cat Now Available

Enjoy scenes unique to the zoo and botanical garden at night, such as the lively sights of nocturnal animals and the illuminated Penguin Area and aviary.

The highly popular animal feeding sessions led by zookeepers offer a great opportunity to observe and discover the animals’ natural behaviors and abilities. These sessions feature nine different animal species each day, including Japanese macaques and Malayan sun bears.

Additionally, this year we’re offering the “ZOO Spot Guide,” where keepers provide fun insights into the animals living at the zoo. Starting at 7PM, featuring one species per day on a rotating basis, including lions and Asian elephants.
*Please check the Events page on the zoo’s website for details on feeding times and the ZOO Spot Guide.(in Japanese)

Furthermore, the Tsushima Leopard Cat cubs born at the zoo in April for the first time in four years. The live footage of Tsushima Leopard Cat cubs will be shown on monitors at the ZooLab Animal Information Center from August 1st. (The footage is scheduled to be available until the end of August.)

★Botanical Garden “Garden Lounge”

In the plaza in front of the Botanical Garden’s greenhouse, you’ll find food trucks and a lawn area. At Botanical Life Square, the “Garden Lounge” will feature a variety of daily events—including workshops, live music, and tented vendor stalls. Both adults and children can enjoy here! With plenty of delicious food options available, please take your time and enjoy!

*Food and beverage service and merchandise sales end at 8:30 PM. Details about events will be announced periodically on the Botanical Garden’s website and social media.

★Greenhouse light-up・large-flowered evening primrose bloom show

Barringtonias and flowering water lilies dare among the uniquely nocturnal flowering plants to peruse in the greenhouse, and together with the special lighting transforms into a picture-perfect vista of lights and colors. The large-flowered evening primrose blooms at night and is must-see. The best time to see the flowers bloom is about 30 minutes after sunset, so be prepared!

*Estimated flowering times for large-flowered evening primrose (sunset)
・August 1, around 19:19
・August 8, around 19:13
・August 15, around 19:05　
・August 22, around 18:57
・August 29, around 18:48
・September 5, around 18:39
・September 12, around 18:30

★Exciting workshops

At the Zoo’s information building ZooLab there will be several workshops available for visitors to learn more about the botanical garden and zoo at night (ticket required). 
*For more information on the workshop contents, please check the zoo’s homepage.

★Night-exclusive menus

At the tent in front of the main entrance to the zoo guests will be able to purchase shaved ice to beat the heat, local delicacies, beer, and other goodies. At the nearby children’s cafeteria, drinks featuring animal-themed umbrella marker charms will be available. At the botanical garden’s observation café guests will be able to gaze out at the city at night while enjoying some barbecue! (From 15:00~20:30). 

★A free “Original Animal Sticker” for visitors arriving by public transportation♪

On nights when the Zoo and Botanical Garden is open, the first 5,000 visitors each day who arrive by public transportation (such as the subway or bus) or on foot will receive an “Original Animal Sticker.” Please present a one-day subway pass or a photo showing that you arrived by public transportation (such as a subway station, bus stop, or the walk to the Zoo and Botanical Garden) at the General Information Desk at the zoo’s main gate.

*Limited to one sticker per person. Offer ends when supplies run out.
*There are 7 different sticker designs in total. The design changes daily; on August 1, it will be the Tsushima Leopard Cat.
*When taking photos, please be considerate of others. For example, avoid taking photos inside vehicles.

★Please use public transportation when coming to the event★
During this event, the roads surrounding the zoo and botanical garden tend to experience heavy traffic. For this reason, we highly recommend taking public transportation to the zoo and botanical gardens.
*The free shuttle [ZOObus] will not be running.

<Parking Lot Availability Information>
The congestion status of the Fukuoka City Zoo and Botanical Garden parking lot is displayed using three levels: “Full,” “Busy,” and “Available.” Please click here for more details.

Dates:

Every Saturday from August through the second week of September
(August 1, 8, 15, 22, 29; September 5, 12. 7 days total)
Hours: 9:00 to 21:00 (Last admission at 20:30)

Fee

Adult: 600 yen
High School: 300 yen
Middle School and younger: free

Other: During this event, the roads surrounding the zoo and botanical garden tend to experience heavy traffic. For this reason, we highly recommend taking public transportation to the zoo and botanical gardens.