The lily room in the botanical gardens at Atagawa Tropical & Alligator Garden, Higashiizu, Japan, on Oct. 8, 2023. (Claire Jenq/Stars and Stripes)
The Izu Peninsula in Japan is known for beautiful ocean views, natural hot springs and the early blooming Kawazu cherry blossoms.
But a tropical garden near Kawazu has combined two more warm-climate fixtures to create a distinctive attraction: alligators... and bananas?
The Atagawa Tropical & Alligator Garden is a botanical garden located in Higashiizu, the eastern side of the Izu Peninsula.
According to its website, the garden’s odd duo teamed up more than 65 years ago. The garden’s founder, Kimura Wataru, wanted a theme park featuring banana plants, a rare sight in post-World War II Japan. He used the heat from the natural hot springs to grow bananas at the park.
However, an animal dealer told him that bananas alone were boring, so Kimura purchased some alligators to make the park more exciting. And thus, the Atagawa Tropical & Alligator Garden was born.
A caiman eyes visitors at the Atagawa Tropical & Alligator Garden, Higashiizu, Japan, on Oct. 8, 2023. (Claire Jenq/Stars and Stripes)
The bananas came first, but the approximately 140 crocodilians at the facility are nowadays the main attraction. Entrance tickets are 1,800 yen, or $12.64, for adults and 800 yen for elementary students (children 3 and below are free) for all areas of the garden.
An inviting food stall at the entrance gives a nod to the garden’s humble banana beginnings by selling treats such as banana juice and soft serve ice cream.
After enjoying a sweet treat, walk downstairs to the crocodilian zoo, where an impressive variety of crocodiles and alligators lounge in their own enclosures, bathed in warm water from underground hot springs.
A large fern frond unfurls at the Atagawa Tropical & Alligator Garden, Hgashiizu, Japan, on Oct. 8, 2023. (Claire Jenq/Stars and Stripes)
The garden keeps 16 species of crocodilians from across the globe, including the American alligator. Although the cages keep the crocs at a safe distance, you may walk right up to, or even under, some of the smaller species, like caimans, that are kept in glass aquariums for better viewing.
Crocodilians aren’t the only creatures who call the park home. Across the street in the botanical garden lives an Amazonian manatee named Junto who has lived at the facility for the past 50 years. Junto happily consumes raw carrots and cabbage from a worker’s hand.
The botanical gardens contain a beautiful variety of plants, but the lily room is the most notable section. Lilies of all different types and colors, from muted gray, eggshell white and bright pink, are planted in a grid down the entire length of the room.
Victoria amazonica, or giant lily pads, at Atagawa Tropical & Alligator Garden, Higashiizu, Japan, on Oct. 8, 2023. (Claire Jenq/Stars and Stripes)
A pair of lilies in the lily room at Atagawa Tropical & Alligator Garden, Higashiizu, Japan, on Oct. 8, 2023. (Claire Jenq/Stars and Stripes)
Through that room and up one floor is another greenhouse with a pond containing Victoria amazonica, or giant lily pads. They’re the second largest water lily in the world, and one could easily imagine sitting atop a lily pad like a water nymph.
In fact, during the summer months, the garden holds an event where children under 65 pounds can take photos sitting on top of the plants.
A western red panda, one of 10, plays in its enclosure at the Atagawa Tropical & Alligator Garden, Higashiizu, Japan, on Oct. 8, 2023. (Claire Jenq/Stars and Stripes)
After enjoying the botanical gardens, the park shuttles take visitors to the red panda exhibits and orchard. The garden keeps 10 western red pandas, which Atagawa Tropical & Alligator Garden claims is the largest collection of western red pandas held in a Japanese zoo. The Washington Zoo sent the garden a pair of red pandas in 1985, and there have been four other international trades since.
True to its name, all sorts of tropical fruit are grown in the orchard greenhouses, including papayas, mangos and of course, bananas. Visitors tempted to pick the ripe produce in the orchards can satisfy their curiosity at a nearby cafe that sells mixed fruit salads and parfaits.
On the QT
Directions: Set your auto’s navigation system for the Atagawa Tropical & Alligator Garden, 1253-10 Naramoto, Higashiizu, Kamo District, Shizuoka 413-0302. The drive from gate 1 at Camp Zama takes about 2 ½ hours on toll roads.
Times: Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Costs: Admission is 1,800 yen for adults and 800 yen for children age 4 through elementary school age. Preschoolers and below are admitted free.
Food: The gardens have a food stall and cafe.
Information: Online: bananawani.jp/english
