Kyushu zoos and aquariums over New Year
- Of the 19 places, six zoos are confirmed closed on New Year's Day 2027.
- Aquariums, and zoos with no fixed closing day, stay open over the New Year holidays.
- Itozu no Mori Park is closed December 30 to January 1, with a New Year special opening on January 2 and 3.
Of the 19 zoos, aquariums and amusement parks in Kyushu on this page, six zoos are confirmed closed on New Year’s Day 2027: Fukuoka City Zoo and Botanical Garden, Omuta City Zoo, Kurume City Bird Center, Kumamoto City Zoo and Botanical Gardens and Hirakawa Zoological Park are closed from the end of the year through January 1, and Itozu no Mori Park is closed December 30 to January 1 and runs a “New Year special opening” on January 2 and 3. Aquariums, and zoos with no fixed closing day, stay open over the New Year holidays.
In short
- Going on January 1: the aquariums (Marine World Uminonakamichi, Nagasaki Penguin Aquarium, Kujukushima Aquarium Umikirara, Umitamago, Kagoshima Aquarium (Io World)) or parks with no regular closing day, such as Nagasaki Bio Park and African Safari.
- Closed on December 31: the six zoos above, plus Miyazaki City Phoenix Zoo (closed Wednesday, December 30 and December 31).
- The six zoos reopen on January 2 (Sat) and January 3 (Sun).
Checked with official pages on October 19, 2026 (Japan time). Fees and hours are subject to change.
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1. 19 places in Kyushu: December 31, January 1, and January 2 to 3
Six places are closed on January 1, and all of them reopen on January 2. The table lists each place’s regular closing days plus the days already published in its 2026-27 calendar.
| Place | Pref. | Dec 31 | Jan 1 | Jan 2-3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fukuoka City Zoo and Botanical Garden | Fukuoka | Closed | Closed | Open |
| Marine World Uminonakamichi | Fukuoka | Open | Open | Open |
| Itozu no Mori Park | Fukuoka | Closed | Closed | Open (New Year special opening) |
| Omuta City Zoo | Fukuoka | Closed | Closed | Open |
| Kurume City Bird Center | Fukuoka | Closed | Closed | Open |
| Nagasaki Penguin Aquarium | Nagasaki | Open | Open | Open |
| Nagasaki Bio Park | Nagasaki | Open | Open | Open |
| Kujukushima Aquarium Umikirara | Nagasaki | Open | Open | Open |
| Kujukushima Zoo and Botanical Garden Morikirara | Nagasaki | Open | Open | Open |
| Huis Ten Bosch | Nagasaki | Open (until 2:00 am) | – | – |
| Takasakiyama Natural Zoo | Oita | Open | Open | Open |
| Umitamago | Oita | Open | Open | Open |
| African Safari | Oita | Open | Open | Open |
| Kijima Kogen Park | Oita | – | Open | Open |
| Kumamoto City Zoo and Botanical Gardens | Kumamoto | Closed | Closed | Open |
| Greenland | Kumamoto | Open | Open last year | Open last year |
| Miyazaki City Phoenix Zoo | Miyazaki | Closed | Open | Open |
| Hirakawa Zoological Park | Kagoshima | Closed | Closed | Open |
| Kagoshima Aquarium (Io World) | Kagoshima | Open | Open | Open |
A dash means the day was not yet published as of October 19, 2026. For Greenland, January 1 and January 2-3 are last year’s (2025-26) record; its 2027 closing days have not been announced (the 2026 list came out in April 2025, and the 2025 list in June 2024).
Source: each place’s official guide and calendar (checked October 19, 2026). Admission fees and parking are listed in our page on Kyushu zoos and aquariums (Japanese).
2. Fukuoka Prefecture: 5 places
In Fukuoka, only Marine World Uminonakamichi is open over the New Year; the four municipal zoos are closed through January 1. Fukuoka City Zoo and Kurume City Bird Center are closed from their regular Monday closing on December 28 onward.
Fukuoka City Zoo and Botanical Garden (Fukuoka City)
Closed on Mondays (the next day if Monday is a holiday) and December 29 to January 1. In 2026 that means 5 days in a row from Monday, December 28 through January 1. It opens Saturday, January 2 and Sunday, January 3, and is closed Monday, January 4 (official guide, Japanese).
| Name | Fukuoka City Zoo and Botanical Garden |
|---|---|
| Address | 1-1 Minami Koen, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka |
| Hours / Closed | 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30). Closed Mondays (the next day if a holiday), December 29–January 1 |
| Phone | 092-531-1968 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
Marine World Uminonakamichi (Fukuoka City)
Closed for 4 days from the third Monday of January: January 18 (Mon) to 21 (Thu) in 2027. The New Year period is not a closing period; from December to February it is open 10:00 to 17:00 (last entry 1 hour before closing). Dolphin and sea lion shows are suspended from January 12 to April 9, 2027, for repairs to the show pool (official hours page, Japanese).
| Name | Marine World Uminonakamichi |
|---|---|
| Address | 18-28 Saitozaki, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka |
| Hours / Closed | 9:30–17:30 (last entry 16:30; 10:00–17:00 December–February). Closed January 18–21 in 2027 |
| Phone | 092-603-0400 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
Itozu no Mori Park (Kitakyushu)
The 2026-27 calendar shows December 30 (Wed), December 31 (Thu) and January 1 (Fri) as closed. January 2 (Sat) and 3 (Sun) are a “New Year special opening” (10:00 to 17:00). It is open December 29 (Tue) and closed January 5 (Tue). From January 4 to February 26, it closes at 16:00 on weekdays (official calendar, Japanese).
| Name | Itozu no Mori Park |
|---|---|
| Address | 4-1-8 Kamiitozu, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka |
| Hours / Closed | 9:00–17:00 (closes at 16:00 on weekdays January 4–February 26). Closed Tuesdays. In 2026–27, closed December 30–January 1; special New Year opening January 2–3 (10:00–17:00) |
| Phone | 093-651-1895 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
Omuta City Zoo (Omuta)
Closed on the 2nd and 4th Mondays and December 29 to January 1. In 2026, it is closed from the 4th Monday, December 28, through January 1. From December to February it is open 9:30 to 16:30, and entry stops 1 hour before closing (official hours page, Japanese).
| Name | Omuta City Zoo |
|---|---|
| Address | 163 Showamachi, Omuta City, Fukuoka |
| Hours / Closed | 9:30–17:00 (until 16:30 December–February; last entry 1 hour before closing). Closed 2nd and 4th Mondays (the next day if a holiday), December 29–January 1 |
| Phone | 0944-56-4526 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
Kurume City Bird Center (Kurume)
Closed on Mondays (the next day if Monday is a holiday) and December 29 to January 1. In 2026, it is closed from Monday, December 28 through January 1, open January 2 and 3, and closed Monday, January 4. Junior high school students and younger enter free (official guide, Japanese).
| Name | Kurume City Bird Center |
|---|---|
| Address | 1667 Higashikushihara-machi, Kurume City, Fukuoka |
| Hours / Closed | 9:00–17:00 (amusement park inside the park until 16:30). Closed Mondays (the next day if a holiday), December 29–January 1 |
| Phone | 0942-33-2895 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
3. Nagasaki Prefecture: 5 places
The four zoos and aquariums here have no closing days (open all year or no closing day), so they are open on December 31 and January 1. Huis Ten Bosch closes at 2:00 am on the night of December 31.
Nagasaki Penguin Aquarium (Nagasaki City)
No closing days; open all year (official FAQ, Japanese).
| Name | Nagasaki Penguin Aquarium |
|---|---|
| Address | 3-16 Yadorimachi, Nagasaki City, Nagasaki |
| Hours / Closed | 9:00–17:00. Open year-round |
| Phone | 095-838-3131 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
Nagasaki Bio Park (Saikai)
No closing days. The official hours page says it is open without a break over the New Year. It may close temporarily on typhoon or heavy snow days (official hours page, Japanese).
| Name | Nagasaki Bio Park |
|---|---|
| Address | 950-1 Kamitakego, Seihi-cho, Saikai City, Nagasaki |
| Hours / Closed | 10:00–17:00 (last entry 16:00). No closing days, open over New Year (temporary closures during severe weather) |
| Phone | 0959-27-1090 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
Kujukushima Aquarium Umikirara (Sasebo)
Open all year; from November to February, 9:00 to 17:00 (last entry 16:30) (official hours page, Japanese).
| Name | Kujukushima Aquarium Umikirara |
|---|---|
| Address | 1008 Kashimae-cho, Sasebo City, Nagasaki |
| Hours / Closed | 9:00–18:00 March–October, 9:00–17:00 November–February (last entry 30 minutes before closing). Open year-round |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
Kujukushima Zoo and Botanical Garden Morikirara (Sasebo)
Open all year, 9:00 to 17:00 (entry until 16:30). From December to February, the animals go into their indoor quarters at 16:00 (official hours page, Japanese).
| Name | Kujukushima Zoo and Botanical Garden Morikirara |
|---|---|
| Address | 2172 Funakoshi-cho, Sasebo City, Nagasaki |
| Hours / Closed | 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30). Open year-round |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
Huis Ten Bosch (Sasebo)
The official calendar shows Thursday, December 31, 2026 as 10:00 to 2:00 am (entry until 24:00), and December 24 to 30 as 10:00 to 22:00. As of October 19, January 2027 hours were not yet on the calendar. The park says it may change hours for special days, such as the New Year, depending on events (official hours page, Japanese). The nearest station is JR Huis Ten Bosch Station, about a 7-minute walk to the entrance building.
| Name | Huis Ten Bosch |
|---|---|
| Address | Sasebo City, Nagasaki |
| Hours / Closed | Varies by day (on December 31, 2026: 10:00–2:00 next day, last entry 24:00) |
| Phone | 0570-064-110 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
4. Oita Prefecture: 4 places
Takasakiyama, Umitamago and African Safari have no fixed closing days over the New Year, and Kijima Kogen Park has no closing days from January 1 to 11, 2027. Umitamago’s only closing days are January 19 to 21, 2027.
Takasakiyama Natural Zoo (Oita City)
No regular closing day; open over the New Year. It may close temporarily on a few days a year (official page, Japanese).
| Name | Takasakiyama Natural Zoo |
|---|---|
| Address | 3098-1 Kanzaki, Oita City, Oita |
| Hours / Closed | 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30). No regular closing days (temporary closures a few days a year) |
| Phone | 097-532-5010 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
Umitamago (Oita City)
The only closing days of the year are January 19 to 21, 2027. Over the New Year it is open as usual, 9:00 to 17:00 (entry until 30 minutes before closing). Over the 2025-26 New Year it ran a special exhibit of animals tied to the Year of the Horse and New Year, from December 23, 2025 (official notice of December 23, 2025, Japanese).
| Name | Umitamago |
|---|---|
| Address | 3078-22 Oaza Kanzaki, Oita City, Oita |
| Hours / Closed | 9:00–17:00 (last entry 30 minutes before closing). Closed January 19–21 in 2027 |
| Phone | 097-534-1010 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
Kyushu Natural Animal Park African Safari (Usa)
No regular closing day; it closes temporarily on typhoon or snow days. From November 1 to the end of February, reception is 8:50 to 15:30, the park opens at 9:15 and closes at 16:00, and you can enter the drive-through safari zone until 15:30 (official hours page, Japanese).
| Name | Kyushu Natural Animal Park African Safari |
|---|---|
| Address | 2-1755-1 Minamihata, Ajimu-machi, Usa City, Oita |
| Hours / Closed | 9:15–16:30 March–October, 9:15–16:00 November–February (reception until about 30 min before opening). No regular closing days (temporary closures during typhoons or snow) |
| Phone | 0978-48-2331 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
Kijima Kogen Park (Beppu)
The 2027 closing-day calendar, published September 29, 2026, lists January closings on the 12th, 13th, 18th to 22nd, 26th and 27th; there are none from January 1 to 11. For December 2026, check the official operating calendar (official notice, Japanese).
| Name | Kijima Kogen Park |
|---|---|
| Address | 123 Kijimakogen, Beppu City, Oita |
| Hours / Closed | Varies by day (see operating calendar). In January 2027, closed on the 12th, 13th, 18th–22nd, 26th, and 27th |
| Phone | 0977-22-1165 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
5. Kumamoto Prefecture: 2 places
Kumamoto City Zoo and Botanical Gardens is closed from December 29 to January 1. Greenland’s 2026 closing-day calendar shows December 29 to 31 as operating days.
Kumamoto City Zoo and Botanical Gardens (Kumamoto City)
Closed on Mondays (if the 4th Monday, it opens and closes the next day) and December 30 to January 1. In 2026, December 28 is the 4th Monday, so it opens, and it is closed from December 29 through January 1. It opens January 2 and 3 and is closed Monday, January 4 (official guide, Japanese).
| Name | Kumamoto City Zoo and Botanical Gardens |
|---|---|
| Address | 5-14-2 Kengun, Higashi-ku, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto |
| Hours / Closed | 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30). Closed Mondays (the next weekday if a holiday; open on the 4th Monday and closed the next day), December 30–January 1 |
| Phone | 096-368-4416 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
Greenland (Arao)
The 2026 closing-day calendar lists December 1, 8 and 16 as closed, and December 29 to 31 as operating days. In the 2025-26 record, there were no closing days from January 1 to 12, 2026, and it was open on January 1. Closing days for January 2027 have not been announced (official 2026 closing-day notice, Japanese).
| Name | Greenland |
|---|---|
| Address | Arao City, Kumamoto |
| Hours / Closed | Varies by day (see business hours page). In December 2026, closed December 1, 8, and 16 |
| Phone | 0968-66-1112 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
6. Miyazaki and Kagoshima Prefectures: 3 places
Miyazaki City Phoenix Zoo is closed only on December 31, Hirakawa Zoological Park is closed December 29 to January 1, and Kagoshima Aquarium is open as usual over the New Year.
Miyazaki City Phoenix Zoo (Miyazaki City)
Closed on Wednesdays (open if a holiday) and December 31. Since December 30, 2026 is a Wednesday, it is closed for 2 days in a row, December 30 and 31, and opens on January 1. During Golden Week, Obon and the New Year, a special event fee is added to admission and group rates do not apply (official guide, Japanese).
| Name | Miyazaki City Phoenix Zoo |
|---|---|
| Address | 3083-42 Hamayama, Shioji, Miyazaki City, Miyazaki |
| Hours / Closed | 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30). Closed Wednesdays (open if a holiday), December 31 |
| Phone | 0985-39-1306 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
Hirakawa Zoological Park (Kagoshima City)
Closed only from December 29 to January 1, and open from January 2. Hours are 9:00 to 17:00 (last entry 16:30) (official hours page, Japanese).
| Name | Hirakawa Zoological Park |
|---|---|
| Address | 5669-1 Hirakawa-cho, Kagoshima City, Kagoshima |
| Hours / Closed | 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30). Closed December 29–January 1 |
| Phone | 099-261-2326 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
Kagoshima Aquarium, Io World (Kagoshima City)
The official guide says it is open as usual over the year-end and New Year. Hours are 9:30 to 18:00 (entry until 17:00). Closing days are 4 days from the first Monday of December: December 7 to 10 in 2026, plus temporary closings on Tuesday, December 15 and Tuesday, December 22 (official guide, Japanese).
| Name | Kagoshima Aquarium, Io World |
|---|---|
| Address | 3-1 Honkoshin-machi, Kagoshima City, Kagoshima |
| Hours / Closed | 9:30–18:00 (last entry 17:00). Closed for 4 days from the first Monday of December (December 7–10 in 2026; also temporarily closed December 15 and 22). Open as usual over the year-end and New Year |
| Phone | 099-226-2233 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
Sources
20 pages we checked
- Fukuoka City Zoo and Botanical Garden: Guide
- Marine World Uminonakamichi: Hours
- Itozu no Mori Park: Calendar
- Omuta City Zoo: Hours and closing days
- Kurume City Bird Center: Hours and fees
- Nagasaki Penguin Aquarium: FAQ
- Nagasaki Bio Park: Hours and fees
- Kujukushima Aquarium Umikirara: Hours and fees
- Kujukushima Zoo Morikirara: Hours and fees
- Huis Ten Bosch: Hours
- Takasakiyama Natural Zoo: Hours and fees
- Umitamago: Year of the Horse special exhibit (Dec 23, 2025)
- African Safari: Hours and fees
- Kijima Kogen Park: 2027 closing days
- Kumamoto City Zoo and Botanical Gardens: Guide
- Greenland: 2026 closing days
- Miyazaki City Phoenix Zoo: Guide
- Hirakawa Zoological Park: Hours and fees
- Kagoshima Aquarium (Io World): Guide
- Japanese version of this page (日本語版)
Checked with official pages on October 19, 2026 (Japan time).
