The Tropical Grand Dome Heated by Hot Spring Energy
The centerpiece of Kusatsu Tropical Wonderland is the approximately 15-meter-high Tropical Grand Dome.
Completed when the zoo opened in 1970, the dome uses the abundant heat from Kusatsu’s hot springs to maintain a warm subtropical environment inside. Its distinctive three-level layout consists of a basement, first floor, and second floor arranged in a winding route, allowing visitors to explore the exhibits while gradually moving through the dome.
The tropical environment is home to animals such as capybaras, ring-tailed lemurs, gibbons, meerkats, flamingos, and toucans.
The dome also features numerous reptiles, including crocodiles, large snakes, chameleons, and tortoises. Combined with the lush tropical vegetation, the warm atmosphere provides a striking contrast to the cool mountain climate outside.
Because the dome is maintained as a tropical environment throughout the year, visitors can enjoy a taste of the tropics even during Kusatsu’s cold winter months.
One of Japan’s Notable Reptile Collections
Kusatsu Tropical Wonderland is particularly recognized for the number and variety of reptiles in its collection.
Among the exhibits are Malayan gharials, various species of pythons and boas, chameleons, and large monitor lizards. The collection offers an opportunity to observe species that are not commonly seen at smaller Japanese zoos.
In 2003, the zoo achieved the first successful breeding of the Malayan gharial in Japan, contributing to efforts to conserve this endangered species.
The exhibits are also designed to provide visitors with relatively unobstructed views. By minimizing barriers and railings where appropriate, the zoo allows guests to observe many animals from a close distance.
Close Encounters with Animals
One of the most appealing features of the zoo is the feeling of being close to the animals.
Visitors can observe tiny primates such as pygmy marmosets, as well as popular animals including capybaras and ring-tailed lemurs, from nearby viewing areas.
Doctor Fish Experience
The doctor fish experience featuring Garra rufa is another popular attraction.
Visitors place their hands or feet in a tank, where small fish gently nibble at dead skin cells. The unusual sensation can be entertaining for both children and adults and provides a memorable interactive experience.
Monkey Paradise and Outdoor Exhibits
The outdoor area includes Monkey Paradise, where Japanese macaques are kept.
A special feature is the outdoor hot spring bath provided for the monkeys. During winter, visitors may see the macaques relaxing in the warm water, surrounded by rising steam.
Watching Japanese macaques enjoying a hot spring is one of the most distinctive sights associated with Kusatsu. The combination of snow, mountain air, rising steam, and bathing monkeys creates a memorable scene unique to this region.
The outdoor area also houses animals such as Akita dogs, goats, sheep, and masked palm civets, allowing visitors to enjoy a more relaxed animal-watching experience in the fresh highland air.
The Animal Interaction House, Opened in 2024
In July 2024, the zoo opened a new facility called the Animal Interaction House, also known as the Interaction Greenhouse.
This area focuses mainly on smaller animals, including squirrel monkeys, chinchillas, guinea pigs, rabbits, hedgehogs, and fennec foxes.
Visitors can enjoy opportunities to observe and, where permitted, interact more closely with the animals. The facility provides an approachable environment where guests can experience the warmth and presence of living creatures.
It is particularly popular with families and couples, although interaction is not available with every animal and conditions may vary.
A Zoo with a Long History
Kusatsu Tropical Wonderland opened on October 10, 1970. At a time when many zoos in Japan were operated by local governments or major corporations, it became one of the relatively few privately operated zoos in the country.
Over the years, the zoo has attracted attention through various special exhibitions and initiatives. These have included the first public displays in Japan of animals such as the frilled lizard and the Hercules beetle, as well as limited-time exhibitions featuring koalas.
The zoo has also received visits from members of the Japanese Imperial Family and has been featured on television programs, helping establish it as a well-known attraction associated with Kusatsu Onsen.
In recent years, the zoo has also introduced a supporter system as part of its efforts to maintain stable operations and continue developing together with the local community.
A Pet-Friendly Attraction
Pets are permitted to enter Kusatsu Tropical Wonderland, subject to certain rules and conditions.
This makes the zoo a convenient option for travelers visiting Kusatsu Onsen with their dogs. For visitors taking a hot spring trip with a pet, the opportunity to combine sightseeing with an animal-themed attraction can add another dimension to their journey.
Access to Kusatsu Tropical Wonderland
By car, the zoo can be reached from the Shibukawa-Ikaho Interchange on the Kan-Etsu Expressway in approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, depending on traffic and road conditions.
By public transportation, take a bus bound for Kusatsu Onsen from Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi Station on the JR Agatsuma Line. Get off at Kusatsu Onsen and walk for approximately 12 minutes.
Combine the Zoo with a Visit to Kusatsu Onsen
Because Kusatsu Tropical Wonderland is located close to Yubatake, it can easily be incorporated into a sightseeing itinerary around Kusatsu Onsen.
After relaxing in one of Kusatsu’s famous hot springs, visitors can enter the warm tropical dome and encounter animals from around the world. The contrast between the cool mountain environment outside and the tropical atmosphere inside makes the experience especially memorable.
Families can enjoy the animal encounters, while couples and friends can explore the exhibits at a leisurely pace. The zoo also offers something unusual for visitors who may already have experienced Kusatsu’s traditional hot spring attractions.
A Tropical Escape in a Mountain Hot Spring Town
Kusatsu Tropical Wonderland is a unique attraction where the cool highlands of Kusatsu meet a warm tropical environment created with hot spring energy.
From rare reptiles and tropical animals to Japanese macaques relaxing in a hot spring, the zoo offers experiences that are difficult to find elsewhere in Japan.
For travelers looking for something different from traditional hot spring sightseeing, this distinctive zoo provides an enjoyable way to add wildlife, tropical scenery, and hands-on experiences to a trip through Kusatsu.