Toyohashi Zoo and Botanical Park (Nonhoi Park) in Aichi Prefecture is hosting its popular Golden Week event from Saturday, April 25 through Wednesday, May 6, 2026, with a special temporary opening on Monday, April 27. Visitors can look forward to a packed lineup including wild animal feeding shows, a fun zoo rally with gachapon prizes, and daily food trucks throughout the park.
Lion Triplets Born Last Year Are Thriving
Den, Al, and Vega — the triplet lion cubs born in August 2025 and widely celebrated at the time — are continuing to grow steadily.
New Faces to Meet at the Park
A red panda named "Ako" (female, 2 years old) arrived from Kumamoto City Zoological and Botanical Gardens on March 24 and has been on public display since April 21.
Three baby goats — Kobushi, Tsubaki, and Anzu — were born on March 29, marking the first goat births at Nonhoi Park in four years. The park has been sharing a growth diary via its official social media accounts, and the trio is currently training to move to the outdoor enclosure. Visitors during Golden Week may be able to see the three adorable baby goats out in the open-air area.
In the polar animal zone, there's even a chance to spot a penguin incubating an egg in the penguin area. Returning visitors will find something new to discover each time, whether it's watching animals grow or meeting newly arrived residents.
[GW Limited] Wild Feeding Show: Animal Feeding Time Special
Throughout the Golden Week period, rotating daily feeding sessions let visitors watch animals eat up close. The standout is the "wild feeding" for lions and tigers, where the animals receive meat with fur and bones still attached — a truly impressive sight.
This approach to feeding mirrors more natural conditions in the wild, extending feeding time and benefiting animal welfare by reducing stress and increasing satisfaction. Nonhoi Park incorporates this wild feeding practice as part of its broader commitment to animal welfare and to raising awareness about wildlife damage issues in the Okumikawa region.
Note: Content may change depending on animals' health conditions.
One-Coin Gachapon Rally: "Discover Animal Care Jobs — Nonhoi Rally"
For just 500 yen, visitors can join the popular park rally. Participants answer quiz questions about zookeepers' work as they explore the grounds, and at the start they receive an original animal keychain from a gachapon machine. At the finish, there's another chance to try the "Nonhoi Treasure Gachapon." Videos of actual keeper tasks — such as blood draw training with an Amur tiger and claw trimming for a brown bear — are also shared as part of the rally.
Registration is at the Central Gate, with 300 spots available per day on a first-come, first-served basis (registration closes at 2:00 PM).
[Daily Event] Food Trucks Lined Up Along the Canal
A variety of food trucks gathers along the canal inside the park every day during the event period. With a wide, open lawn area nearby, it's the perfect spot for a relaxed outdoor picnic under the open sky.
JR Tokai Collaboration: Come by Train and Get a Special Card
Nonhoi Park is running a collaboration campaign with JR Tokai during Golden Week. Visitors who travel via the JR Tokaido Line using a transportation IC card to Futakawa Station (about a 6-minute walk from the park) can receive a limited-edition "Nonhoi Park x JR Tokai Collaboration Card" at the East Gate. It's a great way to avoid traffic and pick up a unique seasonal card along the way.
Period: April 25 (Saturday) to May 6 (Wednesday) (Card design is limited to the GW period)
Free Temporary Parking and Shuttle Bus Service
The area around Nonhoi Park gets very congested during Golden Week. For visitors arriving by car from Saturday, May 2 through Tuesday, May 5 (public holiday), free temporary parking lots are available at Toyohashi Science Core and Toyohashi University of Technology. A complimentary shuttle bus service also runs from these lots to the park (cancelled in rainy weather).
Family-Friendly Facilities and Kids' Rides
Spanning approximately 40 hectares — roughly equivalent to eight Tokyo Domes — Nonhoi Park brings together a zoo, a natural history museum, a botanical garden, and an amusement park all in one location, with more to see than can be covered in a single day.
The amusement park zone features 13 attractions including a roller coaster and a Ferris wheel with panoramic views of Toyohashi. An all-day ride pass is priced at 1,000 yen for adults and just 500 yen for children (middle school age and under). Nursing rooms and kids' restrooms are also available throughout the park, making it convenient for families with infants and young children.
