Located within the Dex Tokyo Beach shopping mall in Odaiba, the Animeal Odaiba Shop, a forest for animals, is one of Japan's largest urban petting zoos, having celebrated its grand opening in October 2022. Following the success of its Shinsaibashi location in Osaka, this is Animeal's second shop. At the Odaiba shop, you'll be welcomed by 60 animals from 19 different species (as of September 2024), including not only dogs and cats but also capybaras, owls, and tamanduas. As the first facility in Japan to introduce a day-night rotation system and with a focus on animal welfare through well-designed living environments, the Animeal Odaiba Shop truly prioritizes the needs of the animals. I spent a delightful time interacting with them in this unique setting.

The Animeal Odaiba Shop is divided into the Park Area, where you can interact with dogs and cats, and the Adventure Area and Terrace Area, where other animals reside. From the reception area, you can view the Park Area through a glass partition. You can choose between two time options: 45 minutes (¥1,980 per adult, tax included) or 90 minutes (¥2,530 per adult, tax included), with an additional requirement to order one drink. Both options include two chances to try your hand at the Animal Snack Gachapon in the Adventure Area.

As soon as I entered the Park Area, the dogs and cats gathered around. What struck me most was how lively and vibrant they all were. Takashi Yoshimoto, the CEO of FULFILL FOR, the company that operates Animeal, explained that they rotate the dogs and cats in shifts to ensure they get plenty of rest before they become tired, preventing any undue strain on them.

The number of visitors per day varies depending on the season and day of the week, but it's usually around 200 people. About 20% of the visitors are foreign tourists, with many families and couples among the guests. Each dog and cat has its own fan base, and there was even a guest who visited four times in one week just to see their favorite animal. One of the most popular animals is Rain, a Husky that was originally a rescue dog. Everyone falls in love with its sleek and cool appearance!

Dorothy, a cat with a blue collar, loves to sit on people. In fact, she even climbed onto one of our crew members!　All the animals here are incredibly friendly and affectionate.

Sven, a Bernese Mountain Dog, is said to be surprisingly clingy despite his large size.

In the Park Area, you can purchase treats for ¥100 and feed them to the dogs and cats. When I offered a spoon with a treat to Muta, a Munchkin, he eagerly licked it up. "One of the motivations behind establishing Animeal was to create a win-win relationship where not only humans have fun, but the animals also enjoy themselves," says Mr. Yoshimoto.

There are always several staff members present in the facility, ready to kindly answer any questions you may have. One of Animeal’s key features is the opportunity to learn about animals while interacting with them. "We believe our mission is to convey messages about animal welfare, improving their quality of life, and environmental issues to all our visitors. To that end, our staff study animals extensively and are happy to answer any questions. We even encourage you to ask difficult questions to challenge us!" adds Mr. Yoshimoto with a smile.

Next, we moved to the Adventure Area. Here, you can interact with animals other than dogs and cats. The Adventure Area was renovated in April 2024 into the Animeal Forest, designed to evoke the feeling of being in nature. "The installation of ropes and climbing structures for arboreal animals, as well as ponds for animals that live near water, is based on the concept of 'environmental enrichment,' which aims to bring out the animals' natural abilities," explains Mr. Yoshimoto.

Upon entering the Adventure Area, we were first greeted by the world's smallest duck breed, the call duck. In the Adventure Area, the animals rotate around 3 PM. During picnic time, which lasts from the park's opening until 3 PM, you can encounter animals like call ducks, capybaras, rabbits, guinea pigs, parrots, iguanas, meerkats, and tortoises. From 3:30 PM until closing, camp time features animals such as tamanduas, owls, hedgehogs, snakes, ferrets, and kinkajous. Animeal is the first in Japan to introduce this day-night rotation system, which aligns with the animals' natural activity periods in the wild, allowing visitors to experience their authentic behaviors.

An iguana, native to tropical rainforests, was leisurely walking across the floor. One of the unique features of Animeal is its practice of mixed-species housing, where different types of animals are kept together without fences or cages. "Our goal is to allow the animals to live as freely and comfortably as possible while also providing stimulating experiences for a good quality of life. However, since animals have territorial instincts, this is not an easy task. We achieve this mixed-species housing with great care and the same high level of expertise as any zoo," explains Mr. Yoshimoto.

Up in the trees, there were parrots. Parrots have the intelligence of a three-year-old child and can sometimes mimic speech, so feel free to try talking to them.

The meerkats, standing upright on their two feet, were incredibly cute. This pose is actually a behavior used to spot predators.

Moving between the Adventure Area and the adjacent Terrace Area is a Sulcata tortoise. Its impressive size, with a shell length of 80 cm and a weight of 50 kg, is truly astonishing.

The capybara, the world's largest rodent, is the star of the Adventure Area. Although they may seem relaxed, they can actually run at speeds of up to 60 kilometers per hour. It's fascinating to learn these fun facts about the animals from the staff!

Since the Adventure Area operates on a day-night rotation system, it can get a bit crowded around 3 PM when the animals switch. If you have a specific animal you want to see, it's best to avoid the 3 PM transition period and plan your visit around the time that animal is scheduled to appear.

At 3 PM, the animals from picnic time headed back, and from 3:30 PM, the animals from camp time made their appearance. A small show accompanies their entrance, which drew a crowd of visitors. First, the great horned owls and ural owls flew in.

The Eurasian Eagle-Owl perched on Mr. Yoshimoto's hand is the largest of the great horned owls. You can even touch its soft feathers, but be sure to gently touch with the back of your hand. Touching with your palm can cause the oil on the feathers, which acts as a protective coating, to melt from the heat.

Cradled in the arms of a staff member was a recently arrived kinkajou. Although it looks like a monkey, it’s actually related to raccoons.

You can also feed the kinkajou a snack. Watching this adorable creature skillfully eat while climbing trees using its long limbs and tail is something you could enjoy for hours.

Like the kinkajou, the southern tamandua also lives in the trees and has a tongue that is 30 to 40 centimeters long.

The great grey owl uses its dish-shaped face, resembling a parabolic antenna, to capture the sounds of its prey. By the way, the difference between a great horned owl and a Ural owl is that the former has ear tufts, while the latter does not.

The fluffy ferrets love playing with visitors. They might engage in playful nipping, so if you prefer not to be bitten, it might be a good idea to wear clothing with sleeves when interacting with them.

In the Terrace Area, you can also experience interacting with a ball python. A staff member will even help you take a photo together.

Animeal also takes pride in its beverages, offering a refreshing homemade lemonade crafted by their dedicated staff (¥550, tax included). It's simply exquisite. There are also other soft drinks and alcoholic options available, so why not relax with your favorite drink on the terrace while enjoying a panoramic view of Odaiba?

The Animeal Odaiba Shop, where you can interact with various animals, seems like a great place to spark interest in animals. There are no age restrictions, and even babies can enter as long as they are accompanied by an adult over 20 years old. Mr. Yoshimoto assures, “Our staff is fully dedicated to assisting visitors, so you can rest easy. I believe that both children and adults will have a deeper experience by learning the correct way to interact with animals and paying attention to the unique characteristics and personalities of each animal.”

Additionally, since the animals are free-roaming and visitors can interact up-close, it’s important to be mindful of the animals while interacting with them. “At Animeal, we operate under the philosophy of ‘animal first,’ prioritizing the well-being of the animals. To protect them and ensure a safe experience for our guests, we ask that everyone enjoy themselves while following the rules,' says Mr. Yoshimoto. They are also planning events in conjunction with Animal Welfare Week, starting on September 20th, so be sure to check the official website and consider visiting the Animeal Odaiba Shop.

Animeal: The Forest for Animals (Animeal Odaiba Shop)
Location: 5F, Seaside Mall, Dex Tokyo Beach, 1-6-1 Daiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Hours: Weekdays 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Weekends 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Last Admission: 6:15 PM
Closed: Every Thursday
For more details on other systems and fees, please visit the official website below:
https://animeal.jp/odaiba/