🐾 Japan's Last Day: Day 21

📍 Location: Osaka – Tennoji Zoo

🦁 A Final Adventure at the Zoo

Today was my last full day in Japan, and I wanted to do something memorable. I decided to take the subway to Osaka Tennoji Zoo, a zoo with over 100 years of history.

The zoo is huge, with about 1,000 animals across roughly 180 species. It's divided into zones that mimic the animals' natural habitats:

• Penguin Park & Sea Lion Wharf, penguins and sea lions in realistic settings.

• Reptile House (IFAR), snakes, amphibians, and exotic reptiles.

• African Savannah, giraffes, hippos, zebras, and lions.

💡 Tips & Tricks:

• Grab a drink or shave ice from one of the many vending machines, perfect on a hot day.

• Bring cash, not every kiosk accepts cards.

• Wear comfortable shoes, the zoo is massive, and you'll be walking a lot.

🐾 Endless Walking and Amazing Animals

I felt like I was walking forever, the zoo was enormous! They had everything from small farm animals like hamsters, sheep, and horses to exotic wildlife like bears, monkeys, giraffes, and zebras.

I'm a bit conflicted about zoos: I love animals and enjoy seeing them, but I don't love that they're in captivity. Still, Tennoji Zoo clearly tries to recreate environments that resemble the animals' natural habitats, which makes the experience feel a bit better.

💡 Tips & Tricks:

• If you have allergies, take precautions, there are many different animals and environments here.

• Set aside plenty of time if you want to see everything, the zoo also hosts seasonal events like night safaris.

🐍 Museum and Activities

Inside the zoo, there was also a museum with displays featuring everything from amphibians and bats to exotic creatures and even animals you might find back home in Norway.

They had a quiz sheet about the animals where you could win a prize, all in Japanese. I tried using Google Translate, but the internet wasn't working well, so I gave up. It was another reminder that I probably should have learned a bit more Japanese before my trip.

💡 Tips & Tricks:

• Learn a few basic Japanese phrases or have a translation app ready, it can make little experiences like this more fun.

• Check for interactive exhibits, they can be a great addition for adults and kids alike.

🍔 Food and Relaxation

After exploring the zoo and seeing so many animals, I grabbed some food before heading back to my hotel. I packed a bit, watched a movie, and soaked in my final evening in Japan.

💡 Tips & Tricks:

• Pack some of your things the night before departure, it saves stress in the morning.

• Take time to be present on your last night, whether it's with a film, music, or reflecting on your journey.

🌟 Summary

All in all, this was an exciting and meaningful final day in Japan. Osaka Tennoji Zoo was huge and diverse, with so many animals and well-designed habitats. It was a wonderful way to wrap up my trip, I got to walk a lot, admire incredible animals, and wind down before heading home. Even though I'm still unsure about zoos, I'm glad I included this experience in my journey.