It was sort of like being in prison

This past weekend we made our way over to the Kyoto Zoo. Although it got mixed reviews on trip advisor, we thought we'd give it a shot. I mean how bad can a zoo really be, right? 

The weather advised little chance of rain, so we went out without umbrellas and made the trek north to the zoo. 

When we first got to the zoo, we attempted to purchase tickets. Although they have a booth manned by five people who appear to be doing nothing, you purchase tickets through a vending machine -all in Japanese, with no English options ("sweet the zoo is a locals hangout!" we stupidly thought to ourselves). After the woman working in the booth, literally climbed out of the booth window to help us get tickets we made our way inside -receiving free magnets on our way in (score!) 

Stopping briefly to check out the map, we made a plan to hit the elephants up first and then make our way from there.

Unlike prison, this big guy gets 23 hours of rec. yard time -to pace in circles with little shade and nothing to do.  That murky looking thing on the left is his water dish 

Also like prison is the cement structures and metal bars everywhere. What you can't see in this photo is the dried out swimming pool - complete with diving board. 

Oh you like big cats? Great because you can all but climb in their cells here. This poor guy and his two tiger-cell-block-neighbors were plotting how they would kill us once they broke through the thin plastic barrier and bullshit bars keeping us apart. 

Just like the foreigners of Kyoto this little guy was mean mugging us too

Obvious what his role in the prison is...who moments after this photo, hid in the corner for the rest of the day

Honey Badger don't care about nothin'! Not even his 4x4' empty cell...

Of course like any good day at the zoo, it began to downpour the minute we went to leave, trapping us in the gift shop. Like any good American, all this meant was an extra chance to have a beer.

Overall the trip to the zoo was a great time. Sad and depressing, but fun none the less. If you make it out to Kyoto we don't recommend the zoo as a destination point.