Kakegawa Kachōen lets visitors enter a space where birds live
Kakegawa Kachōen is a theme park centered on “interaction with flowers and birds,” combining a large greenhouse, bird exhibits, interaction zones, and outdoor areas.
The experience is not about touching birds one-sidedly. Its focus is observing how different species move and the distance they keep, avoiding behavior they dislike, and sharing the same space with them.
A large greenhouse surrounds visitors with flowers and birds
In the park’s large greenhouse, you can see overhead flowers, water lilies, and freely moving birds at close range in an environment that is less affected by the weather.
The large greenhouse covers about 7,000 m², offering a unified view of flowers overhead, waterside scenery, and birds flying around.
Even inside the greenhouse, do not block the birds’ flight paths or the waterside. Check your surroundings and the area underfoot before stopping.
Change your perspective through exhibits, interactions, and shows
Quiet exhibits, close encounters with birds, and bird shows that demonstrate flight abilities each reveal different behaviors and require different viewing distances.
Do not assume every bird can be touched. Choose experiences according to posted notices and staff guidance.
Use 3 perspectives when observing
Instead of viewing birds, flowers, and their environment separately, consider how physical features relate to habitat.
| Observation perspective | Main subjects | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Birds | Beaks, legs, and wings | Feeding and movement |
| Flowers | Flower shapes, leaves, and waterside settings | Color and growing environment |
| Space | Greenhouse, ponds, and outdoors | Distance between birds and people |
Compare the bodies of owls, parrots, and penguins
The park is home to owls, horned owls, parrots, penguins, shoebills, and other birds adapted to different environments.
Look beyond popularity and appearance. Observe how the position of the eyes, beaks, legs, wings, and feathers relates to how each bird feeds and moves.
Focus on facial discs and silent flight in owls
In many owls, the feathers spreading around the face help gather sound. Together with large forward-facing eyes, they support hunting in dark environments.
Do not make noise or tap on the glass in front of exhibits. Quietly observe neck movements, how the feet grip, and resting postures.
Notice how parrots skillfully use their beaks and feet
Parrots use curved beaks and feet to handle food and branches, moving actively while calling to one another in flocks.
If a bird lands on your shoulder or head, do not suddenly swat it away. If you are uncomfortable, tell a staff member and slowly move out of the bird’s path.
Observe penguins and shoebills even while they wait
For penguins, compare how they use their wings to move underwater and their legs to walk on land. For shoebills, focus on their large beaks and their hunting behavior of remaining still for long periods.
Do not try to provoke a reaction with sounds or objects. Respect periods of rest as behavior that birds also need.
Bird interactions begin with avoiding what birds dislike
Birds may play with people, but they do not like being touched or chased.
Interaction is not an activity in which people take the lead and catch birds. It is communication that prioritizes the birds’ choices and staff guidance.
Do not chase, grab, or touch without permission
Do not surround birds that approach or block their path, and do not touch birds in free-roaming areas. Follow staff guidance during interaction events.
If a bird moves away, do not follow it. Comply if staff ask you to stop or keep your distance.
Feed only the food provided
During feeding experiences, use only the food and containers provided by the facility. Do not give birds food you brought with you.
If birds gather around you, do not wave the container. Follow staff instructions to change how you hold it or stop the experience.
Consider hygiene and allergies
Wash or sanitize your hands before and after interactions, and keep them clean before bringing them near your face or mouth.
If you are allergic to feathers, feed, plants, or other materials, do not force contact. Coordinate viewing locations with your companions.
The following table summarizes actions that protect both birds and people.
| Situation | Avoid | Recommended action |
|---|---|---|
| A bird approaches | Grabbing it suddenly | Waiting calmly |
| Feeding | Giving food you brought | Using only the designated feed |
| A bird moves away | Chasing it | Keeping your distance |
Learn about wings, vision, and hunting movements at bird shows
At bird shows, you can watch owls, hawks, and other birds fly at speed, turn, and land, revealing physical abilities that cannot be understood from a stationary pose alone.
Because the program, time, and venue may change with the weather or the birds’ condition, check the notices on the day.
Keep flight paths clear while observing
Even when birds fly near the audience, do not reach out to touch them. Secure hats and papers so they do not blow away, and sit within the area indicated by staff.
Avoid flash photography and loud noises, and do not block the birds’ landing points or staff routes.
Accept pauses as well as successful performances
Birds are not machines, so they may not perform a planned action, may rest partway through, or may have the program changed.
Do not demand a reaction. Treat the trainer’s process of observing a bird’s condition and making decisions as an opportunity to learn how to interact with animals.
View tropical water lilies and flower beds as a backdrop for birds
In the large greenhouse, tropical water lilies, Brugmansia, and flower beds spreading overhead create the scenery and highlight the birds’ colors and movements.
Look beyond the names of the flowers. Focusing on light, water temperature, how leaves float, and the height at which flowers are displayed helps explain the role of the greenhouse environment.
Compare the positions of water lilies and the water’s surface
At the water-lily pond, observe the floating leaves, flowers rising from them, and birds moving nearby together to appreciate the depth of the waterside setting.
Do not lean over the edge of the pond or touch the water or plants, and be careful not to drop belongings.
Hanging flower beds change your viewing height
Unlike conventional ground-level beds, flowers spreading overhead gently separate the space where birds fly from the areas where people rest.
When taking photos beneath the flowers, do not occupy the walkway. Watch for falling petals, water droplets, and birds flying overhead.
Compare ways of viewing flowers and birds.
| Location | Plant features | Relationship to birds |
|---|---|---|
| Water-lily pond | Leaves and flowers on the water | Observe waterside behavior |
| Hanging flower beds | Color overhead | Frame the flight space |
| Outdoor area | Seasonal plantings | Observe movement in outdoor weather |
Plan around events, weather, and your companions
Kakegawa Kachōen is centered on greenhouses and is comfortable to visit even on rainy days, while conditions for outdoor exhibits and shows depend on the weather.
Operating days, fees, events, feeding, and photography experiences each have their own conditions, so follow notices in the park and guidance at reception.
Choose one priority and plan the order of your visit
Choose a main purpose from birdwatching, interactions, shows, and flower photography, then plan your route around events with fixed times.
Instead of scheduling only popular experiences one after another, include time away from the birds to view flowers and take breaks so both people and birds can remain calm.
Check routes for wheelchairs and strollers
The park is flat and designed with universal access in mind, although crowding and event venue layouts vary by day.
There are no steps throughout the park, making it easy for wheelchair and stroller users to move around.
If you need rentals, assistance, nursing facilities, or rest areas, use the general information desk and park map to confirm where facilities are located.
Explain the rules around birds to children before entering
Before entering, agree not to run, chase birds, shout, or give them food that is not designated by the facility.
Do not force frightened birds or children to approach one another. Allowing the option of simply watching contributes to a safe experience.
Summary: Enjoy Kakegawa Kachōen by respecting the birds’ choices
At Kakegawa Kachōen, you can closely observe the bodies and behavior of owls, parrots, penguins, shoebills, and other birds among the flowers and waterside areas of the large greenhouse.
Adjust how much distance you keep at exhibits, interactions, and bird shows. By not chasing birds, not touching them excessively, and using only designated feed, you can understand what it means to enter the space where birds live.
Also notice the tropical water lilies and flower beds. Follow the conditions for events, feeding, photography, and other activities, and plan a day that is comfortable for both people and birds.
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