NIFREL, the "living museum" at EXPOCITY in Suita, Osaka, is holding a special program called "Madagascar, Home of the Ring-Tailed Lemur" from Saturday, September 19 to Sunday, November 1, 2026, introducing the nature, culture, and wildlife of Madagascar — the island long associated with the ring-tailed lemur.
Friday, October 30, falls within the event period and marks "World Lemur Day," an international awareness day established to raise interest in Madagascar's native lemur species and the conservation of their habitat. Through the ring-tailed lemur, the program offers a chance to get closer to Madagascar's nature, culture, and way of life.
Throughout the event, visitors can experience Madagascar with all five senses through photo displays, scent, music, food, and behavioral observation sessions with the ring-tailed lemurs.
Through this program, NIFREL hopes to bring visitors closer to the charm of the ring-tailed lemur and the rich nature and culture of its home island of Madagascar, while offering a chance to reflect on the animals' natural habitat.
Event Overview
- Dates: September 19 (Saturday) to November 1 (Sunday), 2026
- Venue: Inside NIFREL
- Content: Photo displays, scent experiences, music, food, behavioral observation sessions, talk events, and more (dates and participation details vary by program)
- Concept: Through Madagascar's nature, scents, sounds, food, and animal behavior, the program broadens interest in the ring-tailed lemur's daily life and natural habitat.
Highlights
Co-hosted with graduate students from Osaka University's Graduate School of Human Sciences
1. Behavioral Observation Session With Osaka University Graduate School
A hands-on program in which visitors observe the ring-tailed lemurs' behavior, taking on the observational approach used in academic research.
- Date and time: October 24 (Saturday) and October 25 (Sunday), 10:30 AM to 5:00 PM each day
- Venue: 2F "Ugoki ni Fureru" zone
- How to join: Open to all visitors
Performance by Ayako Hirata
2. The Sounds of Madagascar
A live performance takes place in front of the saltwater crocodile tank, offering a special chance to connect with Madagascar's culture through the sound of the traditional "vari" instrument.
- Date and time: October 3 (Saturday), October 4 (Sunday), and November 1 (Sunday); first session at 11:00 AM, second session at 2:00 PM
- Venue: 2F "Mizube ni Fureru" zone
- How to join: Open to all visitors
3. The Scents of Madagascar
Throughout the event, the large-scale art space "Wonder Moments" will feature a Madagascar-inspired scent, blending vanilla, ylang-ylang, orange, and other notes to express the depth of the island's nature through aroma.
- Period: Available throughout the event
Talk by Katsuhisa Takesue (Representative, Co•En Corporation LLC)
4. Talk Event: "Touching Madagascar"
On October 31 (Saturday) and November 1 (Sunday), starting at 9:00 AM each day, a lecturer with firsthand knowledge of Madagascar introduces the island's nature and culture, followed by a chance to watch the ring-tailed lemurs' breakfast with commentary from a curator.
- Fee: ¥1,000
- Capacity: 20 people per session
- Registration: Opens October 1 (Thursday) on NIFREL's official website
Madagascar Vanilla Ice Cream
5. Vanilla: A Connection to Nature and Daily Life
Photos and real samples showing the vanilla production process, along with a scent experience, introduce the connection between Madagascar's industry and its nature.
- Venue: 2F NIFREL Makes
The "Madagascar Vanilla Ice Cream" sold at the café EAT EAT EAT uses precious "agroforestry vanilla" grown in Madagascar's rich natural environment. A portion of the ice cream's sales is also donated to a nonprofit organization working to conserve Madagascar's environment.
6. Photo Exhibition: "Let's Travel Madagascar"
Maps, townscapes, nature, food, and a variety of wildlife are introduced through photos and explanations. The exhibition traces Madagascar's nature and people's daily lives as if on a journey, guided by the ring-tailed lemur.
- Venue: 2F NIFREL Makes
Other Features
Fall "Touching Madagascar" leaflet
Fall "Touching Madagascar" Leaflet
A leaflet featuring illustrations by a curator who knows the personalities of all 10 ring-tailed lemurs will be distributed inside the facility, inviting visitors to try telling them apart and introducing the programs that let them experience Madagascar with all five senses.
Photo spot with a Madagascar nature backdrop
Photo Spot With a Madagascar Backdrop
In the 2F "Ugoki ni Fureru" zone, home to the ring-tailed lemurs, large photo tapestries depicting Madagascar's forests and baobab trees will be displayed. Visitors can put on adult- or child-sized costumes and take their own commemorative photos as a ring-tailed lemur.
- Venue: 2F Ugoki ni Fureru
- Fee: Free
Purchase NIFREL admission tickets here
About NIFREL
Name: NIFREL
Address: 2-1 Senri Banpaku Koen, Suita, Osaka (inside EXPOCITY)
Hours: Weekdays 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM (standard hours); weekends and holidays vary by season. Last admission is one hour before closing, and hours may change without notice.
Closed: Open year-round, with two temporary closures per year for facility maintenance.
Theme: "Diversity" — NIFREL focuses on the appeal of diverse and individual living creatures, expressing themes such as color, behavior, and ecology across eight zones.
Facilities: Exhibit zones (Iro ni Fureru, Doku ni Fureru, Oyogi ni Fureru, Wonder Moments, Kakureru ni Fureru, Mizube ni Fureru, Ugoki ni Fureru, Tsunagaru ni Fureru), picnic café "EAT EAT EAT" (200 sq. meters, 112 seats), and museum shop "NIFREL × NIFREL"
Access: 2-minute walk from Banpaku-kinen-koen Station on the Osaka Monorail
Parking: Approximately 4,100 spaces (shared EXPOCITY parking)
Official website: https://www.nifrel.jp/
Social media: X: @NIFREL_official / Instagram: @NIFREL_official / YouTube: @nifrel_official
