Tama Zoological Park Guide – Visit with The Tokyo Pass

Tama Zoological Park, popularly known as just Tama Zoo, was originally a branch of Ueno Zoo. Since opening in 1958, it has focused on wildlife conservation. For the last decade, it has also served as the wildlife conservation center for the Metropolitan zoos.

 Tama Zoo made good use of the rugged terrain of the Tama Hills to construct a spacious 52-ha environment where animals can roam. The park was the first facility of its kind in Japan to adopt a fenceless enclosures, allowing animals to live in large groups that simulate their natural habitats. Thanks to this, new animals are born at the zoological park every year.

 Highlights of the Tama Zoo include the Lion Bus in the African Zone, the world’s first safari-type enclosure that visitors can ride through to get a close-up look at the park’s pride of lions. The Asian Zone also offers guests such adventures as the large Walk-in Aviary. For fans of butterflies and creepy-crawlies, there is also the zoo’s large insectarium housing the only exhibit in Japan featuring leaf-cutter ants.