Higashiyama Zoo & Botanical Gardens

Over the weekend I took a short trip to the Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens. It was a 'short trip' for two reasons, first I was able to walk there in 25 minutes, and could have gotten there even faster if I had realized that there is an entrance at the Hoshigaoka subway station (exit 6), which is just one stop from my closest station Issha. The second reason it was short is that they close at 4:50pm, and I didn't arrive until around 3:00. This Zoo claims to be one of the largest in Asia.

This ram was part of the American Continental Corner section which was in corporation with the Los Angeles Zoo, as Los Angeles is a sister city of Nagoya.

In addition to the main attractions there is also an observation tower. If I had known about the tower when I entered the zoo I could have included a ticket for it with my zoo entry and saved 160 yen off the total.
A view from the observation tower. The dark red dot in the center is a sign for, 'Valor,' the grocery store behind my apartment building.
I snapped this photo on my way out. I'll be going back to spend more time in the botanical gardens, but not until it gets cooler, today's high was 89 accompanied by 70% humidity.