Ueno Zoo shoebill guide: the 4 birds, their names, how to tell them apart and where they are

How many shoebills are at Ueno Zoo? (October 2026)

Once you learn the names and faces of a zoo's favorite animals, a visit becomes many times more fun. The shoebills at Ueno Zoo are no exception.

As of October 2026, Ueno Zoo has 4 shoebills: 3 females and 1 male. Its official name is Ueno Zoological Gardens (恩賜上野動物園). It is in Taito City, Tokyo, and it is the oldest zoo in Japan.

Of the 8 facilities in Japan where you can see shoebills, Ueno Zoo is the only one with 4 birds (based on our own research). However, the zoo plans to move 2 of them to an off-exhibit facility for breeding (the move planned for October 26 has been postponed, and no new date is set). The details are in a section further down.

Ueno Zoo shoebill names and how to tell them apart

The Ueno Zoo shoebills are named Asante (アサンテ), Sana (サーナ), Milly (ミリー) and Hatuwe (ハトゥーウェ). The 4 birds look very much alike, but here is the trick for telling them apart: look at the color and number of rings on the right leg.

The rings sit around the ankle. Shoebills sometimes stand on one leg, so if you wait a little you will usually get a better look.

The names of shoebills at other zoos in Japan are listed in Shoebill names in Japan.

Where are the shoebills at Ueno Zoo? The West Garden

The shoebill enclosure at Ueno Zoo is in the West Garden (西園). Ueno Zoo is divided into two main areas, the East Garden (東園) and the West Garden. The West Garden is the side that faces Shinobazu Pond (不忍池).

GO TOKYO, the official Tokyo travel guide, says the following places are near the enclosure:

• An air-conditioned rest area (where you can also buy snacks)
• Cafe Chameleon (カフェカメレオン), with a terrace overlooking Shinobazu Pond
• Petit Chameleon (プチカメレオン), a shop selling shoebill goods
• A shoebill photo spot (next to the boarding area for the Hashibiro Cart)

You can check the zoo map at the entrance or on the official website. If you get lost, use "West Garden" and "Shinobazu Pond" as your landmarks.

Ueno Zoo plans to move 2 shoebills to an off-exhibit facility

On September 22, 2026, Ueno Zoo announced that it would move 2 of its shoebills to an off-exhibit facility. An update on October 15 set the moving date as Monday, October 26, but an update on October 23 postponed it. No new date is set. The zoo says it will move the birds once preparations are ready and will announce it on its official X account when the move is complete (as of October 23, 2026).

Here is the key point. In nature, shoebills are solitary, territorial birds that live one by one. Ueno Zoo explains that it is moving the 2 birds to create a distance and environment closer to the wild. The zoo also notes that no one in Japan has yet succeeded in breeding shoebills.

When the 2 birds will go back on display has not been decided. The zoo also says the birds that move may change, depending on their health.

Why breeding is so hard is also covered in Shoebill babies.

When do Ueno Zoo shoebills move? Tips for watching them

If you want to see the Ueno Zoo shoebills moving around, go in the morning. GO TOKYO says that in the morning, just after they are fed, you may see them walking around the enclosure or spreading their wings.

Standing perfectly still is also part of the shoebill's charm. Why they stay so still is explained in Why don't shoebills move?.

Here are some tips for watching them:

1. Head to the West Garden early in the morning
2. First check the right-leg rings to see which bird is which
3. Compare the bill markings and size, too
4. Even if they don't move, wait about 5 minutes. They may suddenly turn their heads or start preening
5. Take photos without flash

How to take good photos is covered in detail in How to photograph shoebills.

More shoebill fun at Ueno Zoo

Ueno Zoo has several shoebill-themed attractions:

• Hashibiro Cart (ハシビロカート): a 4-seat electric cart shaped like a shoebill. It makes a loop around the area of the former giant panda forest. Rides are free, but you need a numbered ticket
• Shoebill Lab (ハシビロコウ研究室): an imaginary laboratory on Ueno Zoo's website where you can learn about shoebills online. Its lessons are being released in order, starting with the basics, and the advanced level is planned for around November 2026
• Goods: the shop near the enclosure stocks shoebill goods

In April 2026, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government also announced shoebill characters based on Ueno Zoo's 4 birds. See Shoebill events and Shoebill goods for more.

In Kanto (the region around Tokyo), you can also see a shoebill at Nasu Animal Kingdom in Tochigi Prefecture. All the facilities in Japan are listed in Zoos in Japan with shoebills.

Ueno Zoo shoebill FAQ

Until when can you see all 4 shoebills at Ueno Zoo?

As of October 23, 2026, you can see all 4. The move of 2 birds was planned for October 26 but has been postponed, and no new date is set. The moving day may not be announced in advance, so check Ueno Zoo's official website or its official X account before you go. After the move, only Asante and Sana are expected to be on display.

Do the Ueno Zoo shoebills move?

Yes, they do. Most of the time they stand still, but after their morning feeding they are said to sometimes walk around or spread their wings. Watch for preening and head tilts, too.

How are the Ueno Zoo shoebills doing now?

You can check the latest news on the shoebill page and the announcements on Ueno Zoo's official website. Display times and places can change, so it is a good idea to look before you go.

Sources

• Ueno Zoological Gardens: Shoebill (Japanese)
• Ueno Zoological Gardens: Moving 2 shoebills to an off-exhibit facility (Japanese)
• GO TOKYO (official Tokyo travel guide): Shoebills at Ueno Zoo (Japanese)
• GO TOKYO: the same article in English