In 2011, Japan borrowed two giant pandas from China, Ri Ri (リーリー♂) and Shin Shin (シンシン♀), and in 2017, Ri Ri and Shin Shin had their first daughter, named Xiang Xiang (シャンシャン♀) by public vote. In addition, four years later, in June 2021, twin pandas Ray Ray (レイレイ♀) and Xiao Xiao (シャオシャオ♂) were born and was open for viewing in January 2022.
According to the agreement between Japan and China, giant pandas born in Japan must be returned to China at 24 months after birth. Xiang Xiang was to be returned to China in June 2019, but after negotiations, the return was postponed for 1.5 years and planned for the end of 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 epidemic, it was postponed four more times and finally scheduled to return to China from mid-February to late March 2023.
Xiang Xiang is very popular in Japan, and the Ueno Zoo will soon start a lottery system for the last public visit before the return. If you like pandas and Xiang Xiang, why not come to Ueno to say goodbye to her in the last time?
the lottery to view giant panda Xiang Xiang
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Picture from：Ueno Zoo
Viewing Date for Lottery
January 21, 2023 (Sat.) ~ February 19, 2023 (Sun.)
9:30 a.m. ~ 16:30 p.m.
① 9:30 – 10:30
② 10:00 – 11:00
③ 10:30 – 11:30
④ 11:00 – 12:00
⑤ 11:30 – 12:30
⑥ 12:00 – 13:00
⑦ 12:30 – 13:30
⑧ 13:00 – 14:00
⑨ 13:30 – 14:30
⑩ 14:00 – 15:00
⑪ 14:30 – 15:30
⑫ 15:00 – 16:00
⑬ 15:30 – 16:30
*except on days when the park is closed
Viewing Place
Ueno Zoo East Garden
Picture from：Ueno Zoo
Visiting Method
Pre-application lottery
Number of Elected Persons
Up to 2600 people per day
Lottery Schedule
(except on days when the park is closed) |
(Starting at 13:00 on the first day and ending at 13:00 on the last day) |
(published daily at 13:00) |
| Saturday, January 21 ~ Friday, January 27 | Friday, January 6 ~ Monday, January 9 | Thursday, January 12 |
| Saturday, January 28th ~ Friday, February 3rd | Friday, January 13 ~ Monday, January 16 | Thursday, January 19 |
| Saturday, February 4 ~ Friday, February 10 | Friday, January 20 ~ Monday, January 23 | Thursday, January 26 |
| Saturday, February 11 ~ Friday, February 17 | Friday, January 27th ~ Monday, January 30th | February 2 (Thu) |
| Saturday, February 18, Sunday, February 19 | February 3 (Fri) ~ Feb. 6 (Mon) | February 9 (Thu) |
table from：Ueno Zoo
Lottery Site
Picture from：Ueno Zoo
Lottery application will be accepted from 2023 January 6 (Fri) at 13:00.
- Enter the lottery site “ジャイアントパンダ シャンシャン観覧抽選サイト”, and register as a member
- Login to your account, select the day you wish to visit, and apply
- After 13:00 hours on the day the lottery results published, login to MyPage and confirm the lottery results in the lottery history
- After issuing the QR code, present it at the entrance of the Giant Panda House on the day of the visit and enter.
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