No, admission to the Hanzaki Center is completely free. This makes it an accessible and budget-friendly attraction for visitors interested in learning about Japanese giant salamanders and their conservation.
You can observe live Japanese giant salamanders of various sizes, from young specimens to those exceeding 1 meter in length. The facility also features skeletal displays and preserved specimens, along with informational exhibits detailing the salamanders' ecology, cultural significance, and relationship with the Yubara Onsen area. There is also a garden outside the museum that is open to the public.
At the time of recent visitor reviews, English translations were not yet available, though they were reportedly being planned. Currently, most signage and information panels are in Japanese only. However, the live salamander displays can be enjoyed regardless of language barriers.
The center is located at 1515 Toyosaka, Maniwa City, Okayama Prefecture. By car, it's approximately 10 minutes from Yubara IC on the Yonago Expressway, with free parking available on site. For public transportation users, take a bus from JR Chugoku Katsuyama Station using the Maniwa City Community Bus service to reach the Yubara Onsen area.
Yes, the Hanzaki Center is ideally positioned for a combined visit with other Yubara attractions. The area features the famous Sunayu open-air hot spring bath, Yubara Onsen Museum, and Lake Yubarako. Many visitors combine salamander viewing with a relaxing hot spring experience, making it perfect for a full day trip in the Yubara Onsen region.
So amazing to see these rare and beautiful creatures in person, small facility, but irreplaceable if you are interested in seeing a hanzaki or if you are interested in the folklore behind the kappa.
Amazing to see the large creatures up close, and was free to enter and walk around in.
Basically they had me at giant salamander center… I don’t need any more information:)
Beautiful little town and great to see they are supporting these endangered species.
You can see live giant salamanders all year round. Admission is free, so it's great to drop by anytime! If you're going to Yubara Onsen, be sure to stop by!
My original destination was Hiruzen Plateau, but I really wanted to visit this place, so I made a detour. It's near Yubara Onsenkyo, but the location is a little hard to find, and the building is rather small, but it's quite impressive for a facility that's free to enter. There were three or four small tanks, each containing one salamander, and I could see one (probably) in a large circular tank. I was thrilled to see the giant salamander in the circular tank moving around. They also have other exhibits such as documents and specimens. It was well worth the detour.
