Shoebill events 2026: zoo events in Japan, and days that come around every year
Shoebill events are mostly programs at zoos around Japan. We sorted them into what you can join now, what has ended, and what comes around every year.
At a glance
This article walks through 13 topics, in this order.
- What shoebill events are there in 2026?
- When can you ride Ueno Zoo's Hashibiro Cart?
- What is Ueno Zoo's "Shoebill Lab"?
- How long can you see all 4 shoebills together at Ueno Zoo?
- What is Kobe Animal Kingdom's autumn event?
- Is Nasu Animal Kingdom's debut celebration still going?
…and 7 more in the contents below.
Contents
- What shoebill events are there in 2026?
- When can you ride Ueno Zoo's Hashibiro Cart?
- What is Ueno Zoo's "Shoebill Lab"?
- How long can you see all 4 shoebills together at Ueno Zoo?
- What is Kobe Animal Kingdom's autumn event?
- Is Nasu Animal Kingdom's debut celebration still going?
- What about Futaba's 10th anniversary at Kakegawa Kachoen?
- What shoebill events ended in 2026?
- What yearly events are related to shoebills?
- Is there a World Shoebill Day?
- What shoebill events are there overseas?
- How do you find shoebill events?
- Sources
What shoebill events are there in 2026?
There are zoo rides, online learning, commemorative menus and events where you can meet a character. We sorted them by their status, using official information as of October 23, 2026.
Animal events are mostly announced on the zoo's official website or official social media, and shoebill events are no different. Dates can change, so please always check official information before you join.
| Facility | Event | When | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ueno Zoo (恩賜上野動物園, Tokyo) | Hashibiro Cart (ハシビロカート) | Debuted April 2026 | Running (canceled in severe weather) |
| Ueno Zoo | Shoebill Lab (ハシビロコウ研究室), advanced level | Around November 2026 | Scheduled for release |
| Ueno Zoo | Move of 2 birds to an off-exhibit facility | Postponed from October 26 | Date undecided (as of October 23) |
| Kobe Animal Kingdom (神戸どうぶつ王国, Hyogo) | "Autumn Kingdom" with Hashibiro-O (ハシビロ王) | October 9 to November 8 | Under way |
| Nasu Animal Kingdom (那須どうぶつ王国, Tochigi) | Menu celebrating Bongo's debut | From April 1, 2026 | Check the official website to see if it continues |
| Kakegawa Kachoen (掛川花鳥園, Shizuoka) | Futaba 10th | Announced July 2026 | Check the official website for dates |
| Chiba Zoological Park (千葉市動物公園, Chiba) | Step into the exhibit | April 29 to June 7 | Ended |
Here is the key point. The surest way is to check the official website once more on the morning of the day.
When can you ride Ueno Zoo's Hashibiro Cart?
The official website says it runs from late morning into the afternoon. Riding is free, and you need a numbered ticket from the web.
The Hashibiro Cart is a four-seat electric cart shaped like a shoebill. According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, it debuted in April 2026 and was planned to start running in May. It makes one loop around "Panda no Mori" (パンダのもり), where giant pandas once lived.
| Item | Official information (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Hashibiro Cart for Kids | Only for groups with children aged 0 to junior high school. 11:30 to 13:30, 20 groups |
| Hashibiro Cart | For everyone. 13:30 to 15:30, 20 groups |
| Numbered tickets | Apply on the day on the booking site Asoview! (アソビュー！). From 10:30 for Kids, and from 12:30 for the regular run |
| Group size | Up to 4 people (counting from age 3) |
| Fee | Free. Admission to the zoo is separate |
| Weather | Runs in the rain. Canceled in severe weather |
The numbered tickets close when capacity is reached. There is no waiting list for cancellations. The boarding point is next to the photo spot in the West Garden. The running schedule can change, so please follow the notice on the day.
What is Ueno Zoo's "Shoebill Lab"?
It is a program from Ueno Zoo where you can learn about shoebills online. The basic and intermediate levels are available, and the advanced level is scheduled for release around November 2026.
| Course | Theme (official wording, translated) | Release |
|---|---|---|
| Basic level (Apprentice Researcher Course) | Let's learn the basics of shoebills | Available now |
| Intermediate level (Researcher Course) | Let's look more deeply into how shoebills live | July 2026 |
| Advanced level (Doctor Course) | Let's learn the current state of shoebills and think about what we can do to protect them | Scheduled for around November 2026 |
The theme of the advanced level is protecting shoebills. The shoebill is listed as "Vulnerable (VU)" on the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). You can take part from home, so it suits people who live far away and people abroad too.
The reasons for the decline are covered in Is the shoebill endangered?.
How long can you see all 4 shoebills together at Ueno Zoo?
Ueno Zoo has announced that 2 of its 4 birds will move to an off-exhibit facility for breeding. In an update on October 23, the date of the move was postponed.
In the announcement of September 22, the male Hatuwe (ハトゥーウェ) and the female Milly (ミリー) were to move on October 26. They were to be on view until October 25.
An update on October 23 said that the move would be postponed because of the state of preparations. The new date is undecided (as of October 23, 2026). The move will happen as soon as preparations are ready. The zoo said it may not be able to give notice in advance, because the safety of the animals comes first.
| Item | Official announcement |
|---|---|
| Birds to be moved | Hatuwe (male) and Milly (female). This may change depending on the birds' condition |
| Birds that stay on display | Asante (アサンテ, female) and Sana (サーナ, female) |
| Reason | For breeding. To recreate a wild-like distance between birds and a wild-like life |
| Notice after the move | Ueno Zoo's official X (formerly Twitter) |
In Japan, there has not yet been a case of shoebills breeding in captivity. Ueno Zoo says it will watch the two females that stay on display, and consider housing a male with them.
KouFrom here on, this is Kou's guess. Wild shoebills usually live alone, each with a territory. Ueno Zoo also explains that it is moving the birds to create a wild-like distance between them. A quiet place with fewer people watching may make it easier for them to reach the courting season.
How to tell the 4 birds apart is covered in Shoebills at Ueno Zoo.
What is Kobe Animal Kingdom's autumn event?
"Autumn Kingdom with Hashibiro-O" runs from October 9 to November 8. There are also times when you can have your photo taken with the character Hashibiro-O.
Hashibiro-O is a character created to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the shoebills' arrival. In this autumn's program, Hashibiro-O is the guide.
| Program | Contents (official information) |
|---|---|
| Hashibiro-O greeting | Photos at Flower Shower (フラワーシャワー). From 15:00 on weekdays and from 10:00 on weekends and holidays, about 20 to 30 minutes |
| Real-life puzzle game | A walk around 5 spots in the park. Free. Prizes include original stickers |
| Kokedama (苔玉, moss ball) making with a shoebill and houseplants | A weekend workshop. The remaining session is Sunday, November 1, 10:00 to 12:00 |
| Panel exhibit on "special days" (「○○の日」) | Hashibiro-O introduces animal-related commemorative days |
| Autumn live streams | On the official Instagram, from about 17:00 on Fridays. The remaining ones are October 30 and November 6 |
Kobe Animal Kingdom has three birds: Marimba (マリンバ), Sakara (サカラ) and Kuraru (クラル).
The exhibit "Big bill" has a pond and papyrus, and also equipment that makes it rain. For more, see Shoebills at Kobe Animal Kingdom.
Is Nasu Animal Kingdom's debut celebration still going?
Menu items and goods to celebrate the debut came out on April 1, 2026. Please check the official website to see whether they are still available.
At Nasu Animal Kingdom, the male Bongo (ボンゴ) went on display on March 13, 2026. Bongo moved from Kobe Animal Kingdom.
| Commemorative program | Official information |
|---|---|
| Hashibiro Curry (ハシビロカレー) | From April 1. At Yamaneko Terrace (ヤマネコテラス) |
| Shoebill Japanese-style parfait (ハシビロコウの和パフェ) | From April 1. At Manul Numa (マヌルヌマ), limited quantity every day |
| Admission ticket with goods (first round) | From April 1. Asoview exclusive, limited quantity |
| Gojuin (御獣印), shoebill version | Front counter near the entrance gate |
Bongo is covered in Shoebills at Nasu Animal Kingdom, and the commemorative goods in Shoebill goods.
What about Futaba's 10th anniversary at Kakegawa Kachoen?
The female Futaba (ふたば) came to Kakegawa Kachoen in 2016. 2026 is her 10th year there, and the official website has announced a "Futaba 10th" event.
The announcement came out on July 1, 2026. The details are written in an image in the announcement, and we could not confirm the dates for this article. Please check Kakegawa Kachoen's official website before you go.
On the same day, July 1, "Hashibirokō no Futaba Marugoto FANBOOK" (ハシビロコウのふたば まるごとFANBOOK, Tatsumi Publishing) went on sale. It was edited by Kakegawa Kachoen, and it was announced that it also includes fans' messages celebrating the 10th anniversary.
For Futaba, see Shoebills at Kakegawa Kachoen.
What shoebill events ended in 2026?
A program tied to the pause of the shoebill exhibit at Chiba Zoological Park ended on June 7. The worldwide bird-watching event "October Big Day" also ended on October 10.
Chiba Zoological Park has paused its shoebill exhibit since April 8, 2026, to build a wetland zone. Reopening is planned for around spring 2028.
| Ended event | When | Contents |
|---|---|---|
| Step into the Shoebill Enclosure (ハシビロコウの展示場に入ってみよう) | April 29 to June 7 | Visitors entered the empty enclosure and could take photos with life-size panels of Jitto (じっと) and Shizuka (しずか) |
| Shoebill guide by keepers (飼育員によるハシビロコウガイド) | June 4 and June 7 | Explanations using feathers and an egg |
| October Big Day (worldwide) | October 10 | Counting and recording birds on the same day around the world |
Shizuka and Jitto of Chiba Zoological Park are covered in Shoebills at Chiba Zoological Park.
What yearly events are related to shoebills?
We did not find a day just for shoebills. But World Wetlands Day, bird weeks and zoo free-entry days come around every year.
The shoebill is a bird of wetlands. Events about wetlands and wild birds are a good chance to think about the shoebill's home.
| Date | Event | Link to shoebills |
|---|---|---|
| February 2 | World Wetlands Day | A UN day linked to the convention that protects the wetlands where shoebills live |
| March 20 | Ueno Zoo's anniversary day (開園記念日) | Free admission day |
| May 4 | Greenery Day (みどりの日) | Free admission at Ueno Zoo |
| May 10 to 16 | Bird Week (愛鳥週間) | A week in Japan to spread the idea of protecting wild birds |
| May (May 8 in 2027) | Global Big Day | Birds are recorded on the same day around the world |
| October 1 | Tokyo Citizens' Day (都民の日) | Free admission at Ueno Zoo |
| October (October 10 in 2026) | October Big Day | A day for recording the world's birds in autumn |
World Wetlands Day is linked to the wetlands convention signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971. It is a UN international day. Uganda's Mabamba Swamp, known for shoebill watching, was also registered under this convention in 2006.
According to Japan's Ministry of the Environment, Bird Week was set in 1950 as May 10 to 16 every year.
Free days tend to be more crowded than usual. If you want to look slowly, choosing another day is one option.
Is there a World Shoebill Day?
In what we searched, we found no officially established "World Shoebill Day". The same goes for its Japanese counterpart, "Hashibirokō no Hi" (ハシビロコウの日).
We searched for the English "World Shoebill Day" and the Japanese "Hashibirokō no Hi" (ハシビロコウの日) (as of October 2026). We also found no day set by a conservation group or a zoo.
If one is set in the future, it should be announced on the official websites of zoos or conservation groups. We will update this page when that happens.
What shoebill events are there overseas?
Mandai Bird Paradise in Singapore introduces a program where you can meet the male Zane. On the day for recording the world's birds, people in countries where shoebills live also take part.
At Mandai Bird Paradise, Zane (ゼイン) has been chosen as one of the "Stars of Mandai". Zane was born on January 1, 2006.
The official page introduces a "fan meet-up" with Zane. No date or time is written, so please check the official website.
Global Big Day is an event of eBird, the bird-recording site run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in the United States. In 2026 it was held on May 9.
| Global Big Day 2026 records (announced by eBird) | Number |
|---|---|
| Bird species recorded | 8,023 species (the first time over 8,000 in one day) |
| People who recorded on eBird | 80,245 people (203 countries and regions) |
| Records in Uganda (compared with 2025) | Up 109% |
| People recording in Zambia (compared with 2025) | Up 76% |
The next Global Big Day was announced for May 8, 2027.
KouFrom here on, this is Kou's guess. Both Uganda and Zambia are countries where wild shoebills live. The number of people recording birds there grew a lot in one year. Records of shoebills found in the wetlands may also be growing little by little.
Trips to meet wild shoebills are covered in Meeting wild shoebills in Africa.
How do you find shoebill events?
The fastest and most reliable way is to look at the official websites and official social media of facilities that keep shoebills.
- Ueno Zoo: the official website and official X. The end of the 2-bird move will also be announced on the official X
- Kobe Animal Kingdom: the official website and official Instagram. There are live streams in autumn too
- Nasu Animal Kingdom, Kakegawa Kachoen and Matsue Vogel Park: the news section of each official website
- Events around the world: eBird, and the official website of Ramsar's World Wetlands Day
The 8 facilities in Japan where you can see shoebills are in Where to see shoebills in Japan, and places around the world in Where to see shoebills.
KouEvent days get crowded. To avoid startling the shoebills, please don't tap on the glass or shout.
Japan’s Famous ShoebillsWhere can you see shoebills in Japan? All 8 zoos and bird parksWhere to see shoebills in Japan, by region: Kanto, Tokai, Kansai, Chugoku and Shikoku. Ueno Zoo, Nasu, Kakegawa, Kobe, Koka, Matsue, Noichi and more (Oct 2026).
Japan’s Famous ShoebillsUeno Zoo shoebill guide: the 4 birds, their names, how to tell them apart and where they areThe shoebills at Ueno Zoo, Tokyo, on one page: the 4 names, telling them apart by leg rings, where the enclosure is, the delayed move of 2 birds, and the best time to go.Sources
- Ueno Zoo: Shoebill (Shoebill Lab, in Japanese)
- Ueno Zoo: Hashibiro Cart (in Japanese)
- Ueno Zoo: Move of 2 shoebills to a non-public facility (announced September 22, 2026, updated October 23, in Japanese)
- Ueno Zoo: Admission fees (free admission days, in Japanese)
- Tokyo Metropolitan Government: Governor's press conference materials (April 3, 2026), PDF in Japanese
- Tokyo Tourism Foundation, GO TOKYO: Ueno Zoo's shoebills (August 2026, in Japanese)
- Kobe Animal Kingdom (神戸どうぶつ王国): "Autumn Kingdom" with Hashibiro-O (in Japanese)
- Kobe Animal Kingdom (神戸どうぶつ王国): Hashibiro-O LINE stickers (in Japanese)
- Kobe Animal Kingdom (神戸どうぶつ王国): Big bill, the shoebill exhibit (in Japanese)
- Nasu Animal Kingdom (那須どうぶつ王国): Celebrating the shoebill's debut (in Japanese)
- Kakegawa Kachoen (掛川花鳥園): Futaba 10th event information (July 1, 2026, in Japanese)
- PR TIMES: "Hashibirokō no Futaba Marugoto FANBOOK" on sale July 1 (in Japanese)
- Chiba Zoological Park (千葉市動物公園): Events in the bird and water zone (in Japanese)
- Chiba Zoological Park (千葉市動物公園): Shoebill exhibit paused (in Japanese)
- United Nations: World Wetlands Day (February 2)
- IUCN SSC Stork, Ibis and Spoonbill Specialist Group: Shoebills, a source of livelihoods in Uganda (Ramsar listing of Mabamba)
- Ministry of the Environment, Kokyo Gaien: Bird Week (in Japanese)
- eBird: Global Big Day 2026 results (May 13, 2026)
- Mandai: Zane, one of the Stars of Mandai
- IUCN Red List: Balaeniceps rex
Read next
Japan’s Famous ShoebillsWhere can you see shoebills in Japan? All 8 zoos and bird parksWhere to see shoebills in Japan, by region: Kanto, Tokai, Kansai, Chugoku and Shikoku. Ueno Zoo, Nasu, Kakegawa, Kobe, Koka, Matsue, Noichi and more (Oct 2026).Japan’s Famous ShoebillsUeno Zoo shoebill guide: the 4 birds, their names, how to tell them apart and where they areThe shoebills at Ueno Zoo, Tokyo, on one page: the 4 names, telling them apart by leg rings, where the enclosure is, the delayed move of 2 birds, and the best time to go.