In 1966, a young man named Hamaguchi arrives in Kyoto and finds employment at a small textile company. During his leisure time, he enjoys drawing animals at the local zoo. His tranquil existence is disrupted when the owner's daughter confronts him. Later, a friend informs Hamaguchi about an opportunity to work as a manga artist in Tokyo. He promptly leaves Kyoto and begins his new career in the capital city.
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 as Zoo zimą by Hanami.