The Okinawa Zoo's Petting Zoo

Touching Is Highly Encouraged

Michael Flemming May 19, 2013 - 1 min read

<p>Goats, chicks, turtles, rabbits and guinea pigs await</p>

<p>The goats are very cuddly and attentive</p>

<p>Hold and play with turtles as well as chicks, goats, rabbits and guinea pigs at the Okinawa Zoo's Petting Zoo</p>

<p>Holding and petting the guinea pigs is free</p>

<p>Visitors can feed the guinea pigs for 100 yen per cup of food</p>

<p>The rabbits at the Petting Zoo are of the fluffy variety</p>

Most of the animals at the Okinawa Zoo's Nature Land are not intended for touching and are kept at a safe distance or separated by fences with signs posted to warn over-eager visitors to look only. The Petting Zoo is one area of the park, though, that encourages lots of touching and holding and petting. Several furry animals as well as scaly turtles and snakes mix with humans freely here. Entrance to the Petting Zoo is included with overall admission; feeding the animals costs just 100 yen more. The Okinawa Zoo and Museum in Okinawa City is Japan's southernmost zoo.

Michael Flemming @michael.flemming

I'm a wanderer in Okinawa turning over every stone I can find. I write, photograph and blog about my favorite finds here in Japan's southernmost prefecture.