Key Facts
Four giant pandas currently residing in Japan are set to return to China by the end of June, marking a significant moment for the country’s panda conservation efforts. The pandas, housed at Adventure World in Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture, will undergo a month-long quarantine before their departure, limiting public viewing to glass enclosures. The upcoming Golden Week holiday is expected to be the last opportunity for visitors to see them up close.
The pandas’ diet consists exclusively of fresh bamboo, which has been sourced from Osaka’s Kishiwada City for the past 20 years. This collaboration has utilized bamboo that would otherwise encroach on local forests, with over 100 kilograms transported twice weekly. The return of the pandas has left Kishiwada residents expressing regret over the end of this long-standing partnership.
Adventure World has been a key player in panda conservation, participating in a joint research project with China for over 30 years. The park has achieved notable success in breeding pandas, including the record-breaking natural reproduction of a male panda, Eimei, at the age of 28. Eimei fathered 16 cubs during his time in Japan before passing away in China earlier this year at the age of 32.
The pandas’ departure is expected to have a significant impact on Shirahama’s tourism-driven economy. Local businesses, such as souvenir shops, report that panda-themed merchandise accounts for half of their sales. A taxi driver noted that the absence of pandas could lead to a sharp decline in revenue, affecting the livelihoods of many residents. Shirahama’s mayor, Yasuhiro Oe, described pandas as an essential part of the town’s identity, likening them to “water and air.” He emphasized the need for a shift in tourism strategies to adapt to a “post-panda” era.
Currently, Japan is home to six pandas, including two at Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo. However, the twin pandas at Ueno are also scheduled to return to China by February 2026, potentially leaving Japan without any pandas for the first time in decades. The decision to return pandas lies solely with China, as they are loaned to Japan for conservation and research purposes.
Summary
Four giant pandas at Adventure World in Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture, are set to return to China by the end of June. Before their departure, they will undergo a month-long quarantine, restricting public viewing to glass enclosures. The Golden Week holiday will be the last chance for visitors to see them up close. These pandas have been sustained on fresh bamboo sourced from Kishiwada City, Osaka, for 20 years, a collaboration that also helped manage local forest encroachment. Kishiwada residents expressed regret over the end of this partnership.
Adventure World has been a leader in panda conservation, collaborating with China for over 30 years. The park achieved a milestone with the natural reproduction of a male panda, Eimei, at 28 years old. Eimei fathered 16 cubs in Japan before passing away in China earlier this year at 32.
The pandas’ departure is expected to impact Shirahama’s tourism, as panda-themed merchandise accounts for half of some local businesses’ sales. Shirahama’s mayor, Yasuhiro Oe, emphasized the need for new tourism strategies in a “post-panda” era, describing pandas as essential to the town’s identity.
Currently, Japan has six pandas, but all are scheduled to return to China by February 2026.
