Tama Zoological Park

Tama Zoological Park is one of Tokyo's largest and most spacious zoos, set in the wooded hills of Hino City in western Tokyo. Unlike the more urban, compact zoos closer to central Tokyo, Tama offers wide natural landscapes and generous enclosures that give animals plenty of room — and give families the feeling of being somewhere genuinely wild. The zoo is divided into themed sections covering Africa, Asia, and Australia.

The African Zone features lions, cheetahs, giraffes, and hippos roaming through open savannas. The orangutan sky walk — a series of elevated ropes stretching 100 meters across an open area — lets orangutans travel overhead while kids watch from below in awe. A magnificent butterfly garden encloses hundreds of tropical butterfly species in a warm, glass greenhouse where children can walk among them and sometimes have one land on their shoulder.

The insect zoo is a quirky bonus hit with children fascinated by beetles, stick insects, and giant centipedes. Admission for adults is very affordable and children under 12 enter completely free. The expansive grounds require comfortable shoes and some stamina — bring a stroller for younger children.

Plan a full half-day at minimum.