Tama Zoo 多摩動物公園
![Zoo de Tama Zoo de Tama](/sites/default/files/styles/scale_crop_380x278/public/legacy/japan_experience/1540805854962.jpg.webp?itok=FrO3C66X)
![Zoo de Tama Zoo de Tama](/sites/default/files/styles/scale_crop_380x278/public/legacy/japan_experience/1540806178946.jpg.webp?itok=EQsnkzYo)
Animals and butterflies from around the world
Less than an hour from Shinjuku, the Tama animal park offers young and old the opportunity to meet animals from all over the world through 4 large areas.
Originally, Tama Zoo was a branch of the famous Ueno Zoo , when it opened in 1958. Its strengths? A huge surface ( 52 hectares against the 15 of Ueno) and its larger enclosures , as well as more freedom offered to the animals. The zoo also has the advantage of being easily accessible by train from Shinjuku via the Keio line and of offering very modest entry prices (600 yen or €4.70 for adults).
The park is organized into four large spaces : the Asian Garden , the African Garden , the Australian Garden and finally the Insectarium . The zoo is home to around 350 species , mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and many more. It is famous for being the first animal park in Japan to have hosted koalas, as well as for its "lion bus", which allows you to experience a mini-safari among the wild animals.
See also: Nasu Animal Kingdom
The Asian garden
The "Asia" zone, the most important of the zoo, allows you to admire an impressive number of species from all over the continent. The enclosures present an astonishing diversity over a very large area: snow leopards, tigers, red pandas, Korean wolves, mouflons, Asian elephants, otters, rhinos, Asian black bears, Japanese macaques... the list is long. One of the most beautiful species to observe is undoubtedly the Bornean orangutan , a species in danger of extinction. The monkeys have the opportunity to survey an aerial course of 150 meters , one of the largest in the world. The other star of the area is the one and only chamois in all of Japan!
The African garden
The African zone of the park is home to the most emblematic animals of the savannah : giraffes, African elephants, lions, cheetahs, flamingos... The lion bus allowed you to discover the lion enclosure like a safari , but the latter has been under construction since spring 2017 and is awaiting reopening. In the meantime, visitors can still admire lions and cheetahs napping in the sun. Chimpanzees are also comfortably installed in a small forest. An accessory was offered to them: a candy dispenser, with the aim of showing the abilities of these very intelligent primates.
The Australian Garden
This part of the zoo was built in 1984 in honor of Tokyo's twinning with the Australian state of New South Wales. Kangaroos are of course legion in the Australian part of Tama Zoo. Wallaby and Tasmanian devils are also present, as well as emus. Of course, the star of the place remains the koala , an exceptional resident in Japan. Well installed in a separate building, the koalas, accompanied by wombats , can quietly taste their eucalyptus leaves.
The Insectarium
The insectarium is a very original area of the zoo, which has also made its reputation. Under the giant tropical greenhouse , you will live a unique experience among 700 species of butterflies from the four corners of the globe. A colorful walk, among flowers and butterflies of a thousand colors. In the annex building for educational purposes, children can learn more about the different varieties of insects .
See also: Japanese insects
Address, timetable & access
Address
Phone
+81 (0)42-591-1611Timetable
Tama-Dobutsukoen station (Keio line) located right in front of the zooPrice
Adult: 600 yen (4€70), senior (over 65): 300 yen (2€40), 13-15 years old: 200 yen (1€60), free for children under 12Access
9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily (closed on Wednesdays)Website
https://www.tokyo-zoo.net/english/tama/