Tama Zoo

photo by Dddeco at Japanese Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0

Hillside zoo opened in 1958, the first in Japan to show animals without cages.

When it opened in 1958, the park was the first in Japan to show animals in open spaces instead of cages, on hilly ground divided into two sections, Asia and Africa. Since late July 2026 the Lion Bus that went through the lion enclosure has not been running (three lions died because of the extreme heat), and its reopening, planned for the autumn, has not yet been confirmed by the official website.

Opened in 1958 as the capital's second zoo after Ueno, the park at Tama was the first in Japan to show animals in open spaces similar to their habitat, not in cages. It is divided into two sections, Asia and Africa, on hilly ground. Since 23 July 2026 the lion exhibit and the Lion Bus that crosses their enclosure have been suspended, after the death of three lions linked to the extreme heat: the reopening, planned from October, has not yet been confirmed by the official website.

ℹ️ 9:30–17:00 (entry until 16:00), closed on Wednesdays; adults 600 yen. Since 23/7/2026 the lion exhibit and the Lion Bus have been suspended: check the official website (tokyo-zoo.net/tama) before setting out, because the reopening announced for October is not confirmed as of the date of this page (26/9/2026, site last updated on 5/9/2026). The ground is hilly, with two sections (Asia and Africa) to walk through uphill.

🚉 Tama-Dobutsukoen · 3 min walk

Sources: tokyo-zoo.net · tokyo-zoo.net

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