At a glance
- At the zoo, first check the entrance map for the animal areas you want to see, then follow a one-way route. To avoid backtracking, save a photo of the map when you arrive.
- It’s about a 15-minute walk from Maruyama-koen Station to the zoo. To reduce walking, check at the bus stop by the station’s Exit 4 whether buses on routes 円15 or 円16, or the Kuramaru bus (くらまる号), stop at the zoo.
- Regular closures are usually the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays; in August, the 1st and 4th Wednesdays. If a closure falls on a public holiday, it moves to the following day. There are also maintenance weeks in April and November and separate year-end closures, so check the official calendar first.
- For stroller access and rest stops, refer to the zoo’s map for the day. Animal exhibits may change depending on the weather and the animals’ condition, so check notices before setting out if there’s an animal you especially want to see.
Combine the zoo, park, and shrine into a western half-day
This is a conceptual 3D diagram showing how the starting point and destinations relate to one another, not a map drawn to scale. Open Google Maps directions from each card.
See the travel guidance for each stop below.
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Maruyama Zoo 2–3 hours
The starting point for your zoo visit.
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Maruyama Park Connected by foot
The forest path between the zoo and the shrine.
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Hokkaido Shrine End your walk
A next stop for a quiet walk.
A Plan That Keeps You on Schedule
A Practical Order for Your Visit
This is a conservative itinerary for a first visit. Travel times vary depending on where you’re staying and the weather, so check directions on a map before you go.
Check your admission ticket and the day’s exhibit information, then visit the animal areas you want to see in one direction.
- Check the official closure days
- Distinguish summer and winter last admission
After the zoo, walk through Maruyama Park to Hokkaido Shrine. If you’re also stopping for a meal and a rest, keep your time at the zoo shorter.
- Hokkaido Shrine
- Maruyama Park
Places and meals
A good fit for a day when you want to see animal exhibits, including polar bears.
Google MapsAn option for walking the forest paths and shrine grounds after your zoo visit.
Google MapsWhat to Decide First
Decide whether to visit only the zoo or also walk the shrine’s forest paths. If you plan to do both, it’s more convenient to visit the zoo in the morning and head to the shrine later in the afternoon.
Reality check
Walk from Maruyama-koen Station, or check for buses heading to the zoo at the stop by Exit 4. Routes and schedules may vary on weekends and by season.
Allow 2–3 hours for the zoo alone, or half a day if you’re also visiting the shrine and having lunch.
Admission is ¥800 for adults, ¥400 for high school students with student ID, and free for junior high school students and younger. Payment options may differ between the on-site ticket counter and e-tickets.
Do not feed the animals or use flash photography. In rain or snow, bring waterproof shoes for slippery forest paths and wet benches.
If plans change
Switch to AOAO SAPPORO or a museum, where you can spend more time indoors, and move the zoo visit to a day with better weather.
Skip zoo admission and walk only in Maruyama Park and the shrine, or return to a downtown café. Check separate official information for the shrine’s seasonal opening and closing times.
Small tip
The zoo requires an admission ticket, and the shrine is a separate location. If you plan to leave for the shrine and return to the zoo, check reentry conditions first. Choosing two or three exhibits helps you comfortably divide your time between the zoo and forest paths.
Final check before departure
- Check for closures on the second and fourth Wednesdays, as well as extended closures.
- Check last admission: 16:00 in March–October, 15:30 in November–February. Arrive with time left for viewing.
- Bring water and a light jacket if you plan to walk to the shrine.
Official visitor information was checked on October 9, 2026. Recheck seasonal closing times, closures, and prices in the operator notices below and on the booking screen for your visit date.
Information checked: 2026-10-09