Nasu Animal Kingdom — Interactive Highland Zoo

Nasu Animal Kingdom is a 43-hectare zoo and animal park specializing in highland and grassland species from around the world — alpacas, capybaras, kangaroos, owls, penguins, and birds of prey. Unlike traditional zoos with caged enclosures, Nasu Animal Kingdom emphasizes open habitats, interactive experiences, and daily animal shows. Visitors can feed alpacas, hold owls, watch sheepdog herding demonstrations, and attend falconry displays where eagles and hawks fly overhead.

The park is divided into two zones: the Town area (indoor exhibits, penguins, cats, capybaras) and the Farm area (outdoor pastures, alpacas, horses, birds of prey shows). The setting is Nasu's highland plateau (600m elevation), so summers are cool and comfortable. The park's philosophy focuses on education and animal welfare — enclosures are spacious, enrichment activities are visible, and staff provide detailed explanations (Japanese, with some English signage). It is family-friendly but engaging enough for adults, especially the raptor shows.