Where Can You Meet a Pallas's Cat? Japan's 8 Facilities by Region

This information was confirmed on October 21, 2026, from the official websites of each facility, official announcements, and statements from local governments. Pallas's cats may be temporarily removed from display for breeding or treatment, or moved to other zoos. Please check the official information of the facility before visiting.

Zoos Where You Can Meet Pallas's Cats

We have compiled a list of zoos where you can meet Pallas's cats, organized by region. The column for the Pallas's cats that can be seen includes only those confirmed by official websites or local government announcements.

The number of Pallas's cats in Japan, according to the announcement from Nagoya City, is "9 facilities with 22 individuals (12 males, 10 females) as of the end of 2025." According to a report by Kyodo News (July 2026), it is "26 individuals (as of June 2026) in facilities affiliated with the Japan Association of Zoos and Aquariums." In May 2026, 5 individuals were born in Kobe, increasing the number.

The names and backgrounds of each Pallas's cat are introduced in List of Names of Pallas's Cats in Japan.

Zoos in Hokkaido Where You Can Meet Pallas's Cats

Asahiyama Zoo, Asahikawa City (Asahikawa City, Hokkaido)

The only zoo in Hokkaido where you can meet Pallas's cats is Asahiyama Zoo. In April 2026, the "Pallas's Cat House" was expanded, and a simulated rock area resembling the rocky habitat of Pallas's cats was opened in conjunction with the summer season opening on April 29.

The key point is here. On June 10, 2026, a male named HIDE was transferred from Higashiyama Zoo in Nagoya for breeding purposes. HIDE was born on May 26, 2025, and has been publicly displayed since June 17. It is unclear whether there are other Pallas's cats at Asahiyama Zoo, as the official website did not confirm this.

• Asahiyama Zoo Pallas's Cat Page

Zoos in Kanto Where You Can Meet Pallas's Cats

Ueno Zoo, Tokyo (Tokyo Metropolitan Taito Ward)

The representative zoo in Kanto where you can meet Pallas's cats is Ueno Zoo. In the small mammals house in the West Garden, a male named KYON is on display. KYON came to the zoo from the Novosibirsk Zoo in Russia in 2018 and became the father of three cubs in April 2024.

Since the beginning of 2026, Ueno Zoo has been providing updates on the health of the Pallas's cats. A female named PRIME LA had her left front limb amputated due to a fracture caused by a tumor and stopped public display on August 30, 2026, to focus on treatment. A 2024-born individual named SAFRAN had her left hind limb amputated and is currently undergoing rehabilitation in a non-display area. As of April 12, 2026, the number of individuals in care was announced as 4 (2 males, 2 females).

• [Ueno Zoo Information on Pallas's Cat "PRIME LA"](/ueno/news/4186/index.html)

Saitama Children's Zoo and Nature Park (Saitama Prefecture, Higashiosaka City)

Saitama Children's Zoo and Nature Park is a zoo known for Pallas's cat breeding. The mother PRIME LA from Ueno Zoo was transferred to this zoo in 2019. The official website of PICA (International Pallas's Cat Conservation Alliance) also mentions Saitama as a supporting zoo.

In April 2026, there were guided tours and gacha machine sales in conjunction with International Pallas's Cat Day. As of October 2026, it was not possible to confirm which individuals were on display due to the website being under renovation. Please check the official website before visiting.

• Saitama Children's Zoo and Nature Park Official Website

Nasu Animal Kingdom (Tochigi Prefecture, Nasu Town)

At Nasu Animal Kingdom, you can meet Pallas's cats in the "Manul Amahhan" exhibit. The design allows you to see the cats' behavior on rocky outcrops and among trees, as well as their hunting activities. An announcement in March 2026 stated that "it has been 10 years since the Pallas's cats arrived at the kingdom," and a commemorative ramen dish became a regular menu item.

Nasu Animal Kingdom is also known for creating a song about Pallas's cats. For more details, see Pallas's Cat Goods.

• Nasu Animal Kingdom Pallas's Cat Page

Yokohama City Nogeyama Zoo (Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture)

At Yokohama City Nogeyama Zoo, there is a male named FIGA. He was born on April 13, 2024, at Ueno Zoo and arrived in Yokohama on November 10, 2025. According to Yokohama City's announcement, this is the only zoo in Kanagawa Prefecture that keeps Pallas's cats. Until the new exhibit is completed, he is expected to live in a temporary enclosure within the zoo.

Yokohama City Nogeyama Zoo will be closed from January 7, 2027, for renovation (reopening is planned for 2029). Pallas's cats will remain in the zoo during the closure. Please check the official website before visiting for updates on public display.

• Yokohama City Announcement: Pallas's Cat "FIGA" Arrived
• Nogeyama Zoo Information on Animal Relocation Due to Renovation

Zoos in Kansai Where You Can Meet Pallas's Cats

Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens (Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture)

The only zoo in Kansai where you can meet Pallas's cats is Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Nagoya. On May 26, 2025, three male cubs were born to the mother MINYA and father EL. This is the 23rd time Pallas's cats have been bred at Higashiyama Zoo. The three cubs were named NOB, HIDE, and YAS through a vote, in honor of the three great samurai of Nagoya: Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Among these, HIDE was transferred to Asahiyama Zoo in June 2026. As of October 2026, the names that can be confirmed are MINYA, EL, NOB, and YAS.

• Nagoya City Announcement: Pallas's Cats Are Being Transferred

Zoos in Kansai Where You Can Meet Pallas's Cats

Kobe Animal Kingdom (Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture)

Currently, the most lively zoo in Kansai where you can meet Pallas's cats is Kobe Animal Kingdom. On May 12, 2026, six cubs were born to the father NAR and mother AZU, with one stillborn and five surviving. The five cubs are four males and one female, named SAN, NAGI, KOMOREBI, BONO, and HAKU.

The five cubs were made public on July 21 and, starting on October 3, were displayed in the "Asia Forest" Pallas's cat exhibit, where they could be viewed freely with their mother AZU. The public viewing hours are from 10:00 to 16:30. Flash photography and tapping on the glass are prohibited.

• Kobe Animal Kingdom Pallas's Cat Cubs Are Growing Strong

Kobe City Oji Zoo (Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture)

Kobe City Oji Zoo is listed in the official animal encyclopedia with Pallas's cats. The individual names and genders are not introduced on the official website. Since Oji Zoo is in the same city as Kobe Animal Kingdom, you can visit both in one day.

• Kobe City Oji Zoo Animal Encyclopedia Pallas's Cat

Are There Other Zoos That Keep Pallas's Cats?

Kakutsuragawa Koi Lake Animal Park in Maka Town, Mie Prefecture, is introduced in an article from the Mie Prefecture Tourism Association (December 2025) as planning to have Pallas's cats arrive in December 2025. However, the official website did not confirm this, so it is not included in the list. Those interested can check the official social media accounts of the park.

No zoos keeping Pallas's cats were found in Kyushu, Shikoku, Shikoku, and Tohoku as of October 2026.

Before Visiting to Meet Pallas's Cats

When visiting to meet Pallas's cats, it is reassuring to confirm the following three things.

1. Is it open for viewing? Pallas's cats are susceptible to infectious diseases and may be closed for viewing during their juvenile period or when undergoing treatment.
2. Viewing hours: Some facilities have different opening hours for Pallas's cats than the zoo's general opening hours.
3. Photography rules: Flash photography is generally prohibited. Tapping on the glass is also discouraged.

The reason Pallas's cats are less commonly seen in zoos is explained in Pallas's Cat Babies and Are Pallas's Cats Endangered? .

Sources

• Nagoya City: Pallas's Cats Are Being Transferred from Higashiyama Zoo (May 2026)
• Kumamoto Nichinichi Newspaper (Kyodo News): "Oldest" Pallas's Cat Cubs Debut in Kobe (July 16, 2026)
• Hokkaido Shimbun: Pallas's Cat's Ecology, Rock Camouflage, Asahiyama Zoo Expansion (April 23, 2026)
• Hokkaido Shimbun: Pallas's Cat "HIDE" Debut at Asahiyama Zoo (June 17, 2026)
• Asahiyama Zoo Animal Catalog: Pallas's Cat
• Tokyo Zoo Net: Pallas's Cat Cubs Are Growing (June 2024)
• Ueno Zoo: Information on Pallas's Cat "PRIME LA" (Updated August 2026)
• Ueno Zoo: Left Hind Limb Amputation of Pallas's Cat "SAFRAN" (April 2026)
• Ueno Zoo: Death of Pallas's Cat "YUS" (April 2026)
• Saitama Children's Zoo and Nature Park Official X: International Pallas's Cat Day (April 2026)
• PICA: About PICA (List of Supporting Zoos)
• Nasu Animal Kingdom: Pallas's Cat
• Nasu Animal Kingdom: "Manu Ramen" Regular Menu (March 2026)
• Yokohama City: Pallas's Cat "FIGA" Arrived at Nogeyama Zoo (November 2025)
• Nogeyama Zoo: Information on Animal Relocation Due to Renovation (October 2026)
• Nogeyama Zoo: Closure Notice
• Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens: Naming Ceremony for Three Pallas's Cat Cubs (October 2025)
• Kobe Animal Kingdom: Pallas's Cat Cubs Are Growing Strong (Updated September 2026)
• Kobe City Oji Zoo Animal Encyclopedia: Pallas's Cat
• Mie Prefecture Tourism Association: Kakutsuragawa Koi Lake Animal Park (December 2025)