{"id":37626,"date":"2017-05-03T07:15:08","date_gmt":"2017-05-02T23:15:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/?p=37626"},"modified":"2019-05-24T08:20:13","modified_gmt":"2019-05-24T00:20:13","slug":"hokkaido-asahiyama-zoo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/2017\/05\/hokkaido-asahiyama-zoo\/","title":{"rendered":"Hokkaido: Asahiyama Zoo"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cThis had better be good\u2026\u201d I quipped while standing outside the entrance of Asahiyama Zoo \u65ed\u5c71\u52d5\u7269\u5712, waiting for it to open, in the cold of winter with rain pelting down.<\/p>\n

On all accounts, it was a dreary, overcast Winter’s day. After a short walk to the Sapporo train station from Keio Plaza Sapporo Hotel<\/a><\/strong>, we took a 1.5 hour train ride to Asahikawa Station. From the Asahikawa Station, we had to catch a public bus to the zoo. The entire journey took 2 hours+ on public transport complete with 2 young kids in tow bundled up like Chinese Bak Zhang (rice dumplings).<\/p>\n

We didn\u2019t expect the bus ride from Asahikawa Station to the zoo came in a small non air-conditioned 20-seater. It had all of us cramped like Japanese tuna in a can. By the time we reached the zoo entrance, the rain fell. Quite honestly, I wasn\u2019t impressed with the entrance at all \u2013 being one of Japan\u2019s famous zoos, the entrance was incredibly modest with only two small turnstiles for admission. There was no proper waiting area for visitors. So yes, THIS had better be good. And it actually was! In fact, looking back, we would want to do visit the zoo again despite the hassle of getting there. Read on to find out why:<\/p>\n

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1. Encounter with native wildlife:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Unlike the zoos which we are used to in Singapore and Australia, you get to see native wildlife animals up close surrounded by snow and in sub-zero temperature. In this zoo, the animals aren\u2019t in a \u2018large fridge\u2019 and we viewing them in hot humid climate. We are in fact in THEIR climate and seeing them in their natural environment. It\u2019s special.<\/p>\n

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