The upcoming return of four giant pandas from Japan to China has sparked a tourism boom as fans from across Japan flocked to the Adventure World of Shirahama Town, Wakayama Prefecture, to bid farewell to their beloved pandas. In April, the park announced that the 24-year-old Rauhin and her three daughters, 8-year-old Yuihin, 6-year-old Saihin and 4-year-old Fuhin, will leave for their new home at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in China's Sichuan Province ahead of the expiration of their lease agreement. Since the announcement of the pandas' departure, scheduled for June 28, the park has attracted flocks of tourists every day, with May setting a record number for single-month visitors. "We drove five hours from Shimane to see pandas. Because they are about to leave," said a tourist. "I want to meet giant panda again," said a girl. "Children will not be able to see giant pandas soon, so they may be a little sad. I hope there will be more giant pandas to live here in the future," said her father.
During the past weekend, the park saw long queues just 20 minutes after opening, with at least two hours of waiting time required at the panda pavilion. To manage the crowds, the park opened one hour earlier than usual, set a limit for the viewing time and set up additional photo spots.
Limited-edition panda merchandise also proved incredibly popular. Some visitors were seen carrying panda plushies. One revealed spending nearly one million yen on the panda-themed products. "Panda-themed food like buns are very popular, and goods like panda plushies are especially loved by visitors," said a representative from the park's public relations department.
Local businesses have benefited from the booming panda-driven economy. A big hotel reported nearly threefold increase in bookings compared with the previous year, with weekend reservations nearly sold out through June. The hotel also introduced panda-themed menu items to attract customers.
A local century-old dessert shop is another popular destination for panda lovers. The panda cream puff, introduced in 2006, remains a bestseller, while panda cookies have become a sought-after souvenir. "Thanks to the pandas, we have a steady stream of customers even on weekdays. Even in the evening, many people come to the cafe after seeing the pandas. Our income has increased," said a shop employee.
According to statistics, the number of passengers flying to Wakayama Prefecture has also surged since the announcement of panda return. In May, the number of passengers at Nanki–Shirahama Airport reached 24,939, up around 40 percent from the same period last year.
Giant pandas have become an iconic symbol of Shirahama and driven local businesses since the Adventure World began a breeding cooperation program with the Chinese panda research base in 1994 when it welcomed the first panda on loan, Eimei. In 2024, Shirahama welcomed 3.01 million visitors, with about one million visiting the park. The departure of the four giant pandas would mean Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo would be the only remaining giant pandas housed in Japan.
Japanese visitors flock to bid farewell to departing giant pandas
