It is the year 1966. Hamaguchi, a young man comes to Kyoto, where he finds work in a small textile company.In his free time, he goes to the local Zoo to draw animals. His peaceful life is one day disturbed by the company owner's daughter. Because of that, when his friend tells him of a certain job offer in Tokyo, Hamaguchi decides to go at once. In the capital he gets to learn the way of a manga artist.

Fuyu no Doubutsuen was published in English as A Zoo in Winter by Ponent Mon in a hardcover edition on June 23, 2011 (and again on December 4, 2017), and in Polish by Hanami.