2026 Tama City Travel Guide: Tama Zoological Park’s Lion Bus and a Whisper of the Heart Pilgrimage in Seiseki-Sakuragaoka, a Day-Trip Overview
Tama City combines a fenceless zoo with a Studio Ghibli pilgrimage spot, so in a single day you can enjoy both nature and movie romance, making it one of the best-value day trips near Tokyo.
Tama Zoological Park
Covering 52.3 hectares, the park is famous for its fenceless exhibits, which use the natural height differences of the terrain instead of fences so visitors can watch lions, koalas, African elephants and other animals up close in natural surroundings.
The park is closed every Wednesday (the next day if Wednesday is a national holiday) and from December 29 to January 1, and we recommend arriving as soon as it opens in the morning. The Lion Bus is currently suspended, so until it resumes you can start with the Asia, Africa and Australia zones.
Seiseki-Sakuragaoka
Seiseki-Sakuragaoka is the real-life inspiration for Hayao Miyazaki’s classic anime Whisper of the Heart. The slopes, shrines and shopping streets around the station recreate the film’s scenes almost exactly, making it a must-visit pilgrimage spot for Ghibli fans.
You can begin the pilgrimage on foot from the station’s west exit. The whole walk takes about 2-3 hours, and you can follow a walking map to find the classic scenes along the way.
Seishun Post Box (Youth Memorial Mailbox)
Near the west exit of Seiseki-Sakuragaoka Station, this mailbox is designed to resemble the “Earth House” (the antique shop) from the film. It is the first photo stop for Whisper of the Heart fans and also the starting point of the walking map.
We suggest taking a commemorative photo here first, then following the map to the next spot to soak up the atmosphere of the film’s opening.
Iroha-zaka Slope
About a 10-minute walk from Seiseki-Sakuragaoka Station on a hillside, this is a famous filming-location reference from Whisper of the Heart. Nearby Iroha-zaka Sakura Park has cherry blossoms in spring, and the view looks out over the station and the Tama River area.
We recommend visiting from late March to early April, when you can enjoy cherry blossoms and the film’s scenery together in one romantic setting.
Konpira Shrine
This is the location of the famous scene in the film where classmate Sugimura confesses to Shizuku. The grounds are peaceful, and it is one of the confession spots Whisper of the Heart fans must visit.
The shrine is at 1-53-1 Sakuragaoka, Tama City, Tokyo, on the hilltop area after you climb Iroha-zaka, and we recommend allowing 15-20 minutes for photos and a visit.
Sakuragaoka Roundabout
Said to be the model for the location of the Earth House in the film, this is the last stretch of the Seiseki-Sakuragaoka walking route, and it is surrounded by a quiet residential area.
We suggest taking a short rest here to bring the pilgrimage to a close.
Sakuragaoka Park
Located at 5-15 Renkoji, Tama City, Tokyo, the park is open 24 hours a day all year round. It is a large urban park in the Tama Hills with a total area of about 33 hectares.
We recommend going toward evening and staying about 1 hour. From Seiseki-Sakuragaoka Station, take a Keio Bus toward Nagayama Station and get off at “Sakuragaoka Koen Nishiguchi” (Sakuragaoka Park West Entrance), and you are there.
Takahata Fudoson
A representative old temple of the Tama area, with a five-story pagoda and extensive grounds, it is a popular spot for both autumn leaves and temple visits.
It is about a 5-minute walk from Takahata-Fudo Station on the Keio Line or the Tama Monorail, and it is open year round, so it is easy to fit in during a transfer gap.
How to Get to the 2026 Tama City Travel Guide: Tama Zoological Park’s Lion Bus and a Whisper of the Heart Pilgrimage in Seiseki-Sakuragaoka, a Day Trip: A Complete Guide to Transport and Costs
Tama City is in the southwest of Tokyo, close to Hachioji and Machida. To reach Tama Zoological Park and the Seiseki-Sakuragaoka area, you mainly use Keio Corporation, Odakyu Electric Railway, the Tama Monorail and the bus network. If you know the routes and ticket options in advance, you can plan a day trip easily.
How to Get to Tama Zoological Park: Transport Options at a Glance
🚇 Keio Corporation: From Shinjuku take the Keio Line to Takahata-Fudo Station, then transfer to the Keio Dobutsuen Line to Tama-Dobutsukoen Station. The ride takes about 40 minutes and the fare is about ¥390.
🚋 Odakyu Electric Railway: From the Kanagawa side, take the Odakyu Tama Line to Tama-Center Station, then transfer to the Tama Monorail to Tama-Dobutsukoen Station.
🚞 Tama Monorail: It connects Tama-Center, Takahata-Fudo and Tama-Dobutsukoen, with a one-day pass for adults at ¥890. Seiseki-Sakuragaoka is not on the monorail line, so take the Keio Line instead.
🚌 Bus: The Lion Bus inside the park is operated by the zoo, at ¥500 for adults (currently suspended). To get from Seiseki-Sakuragaoka to Sakuragaoka Park, you can take a Keio Bus.
What Are the Must-See Highlights of the 2026 Tama City Travel Guide: Tama Zoological Park’s Lion Bus and a Whisper of the Heart Pilgrimage in Seiseki-Sakuragaoka? A Breakdown of Each Area
Tama City spans two themes, wildlife and anime pilgrimage. You can watch big herbivore-and-predator animals up close from the Lion Bus at Tama Zoological Park, then look for the scenes of Ghibli’s Whisper of the Heart around Seiseki-Sakuragaoka, getting two very different kinds of travel in one day. Below are the eight top spots, with transport, admission and visiting tips to help you plan your route.
Tama Zoological Park (Lion Bus)
Tama Zoological Park is at 7-1-1 Hodokubo, Hino City, Tokyo. It uses “ecological exhibits” and is divided into areas such as the Asia, Africa and Australia zones, with fenceless exhibits as its signature. The separately charged “Lion Bus” (¥500 for adults) is a popular experience: you ride a dedicated bus right into the lions’ enclosure and watch the pride up close through the window (no feeding on board). The Lion Bus is currently suspended.
Opening hours are 9:30-17:00 (entry and ticket sales until 16:00), closed on Wednesdays (the next day if Wednesday is a national holiday), and closed from December 29 to January 1. Admission: adults ¥600, junior high school students ¥200, ages 65 and over ¥300, free for elementary school students and younger (high school students pay the adult rate).
We recommend entering in the morning and riding the Lion Bus first to beat the crowds. Plan on 3-4 hours in the park. Access: get off at “Tama-Dobutsukoen Station” on the Keio Line or the Tama Monorail and head to the main gate.
Keio Rail Land (Keio Railway Museum)
Keio Rail Land is near Tama-Dobutsukoen Station and displays actual retired trains such as the original 5000 series, along with large model railway layouts and driving simulator machines (ask on site about how to use them). Opening hours are 9:30-17:30 (last entry 17:00), closed on Wednesdays (the next day if Wednesday is a national holiday) and on January 1. Admission is ¥400 (ages 1 and over). Plan on 1-1.5 hours. The museum has a shop selling Keio Corporation merchandise, and its official website is www.keio-rail-land.jp. It suits railway fans and families with children.
Stroller and Electric Vehicle Rental at Tama Zoological Park
If you are visiting Tama Zoological Park with young children, you can rent a stroller in front of the Watching Center for ¥500 per day. It is for children from about 7 months to 4 years old weighing 18 kg or less, and it is free for holders of a disability certificate. Elementary school students and younger enter free.
For older family members or anyone who cannot walk long distances, from March 1, 2026 the park offers electric vehicle rental in front of the stroller rental counter at ¥2,200 per day (tax included). It is limited to people aged 65 and over or those who have difficulty walking long distances, in limited numbers on a first-come, first-served basis.
Seiseki-Sakuragaoka Station Plaza
Seiseki-Sakuragaoka Station is a Keio Line station and the model for the setting of Ghibli’s Whisper of the Heart. The circular plaza in front of the station, the gentle slopes and the shopping street resemble Shizuku Tsukishima’s route to school in the film and draw anime fans to take photos. Showa-style old shops remain around the plaza, so walking here feels like stepping into a scene from the film.
We recommend visiting toward evening, when the setting sun lights the slopes and the tram-like railway tracks and recreates the film’s twilight mood, the best time for photography. It is open year round and free to visit, with a suggested stay of 30 minutes to 1 hour. From Shinjuku, the Keio Line limited express takes about 26 minutes to Seiseki-Sakuragaoka, which is convenient and makes a good pilgrimage after the Tama Zoological Park visit.
Ipponsugi Park
Ipponsugi Park is in Sekido 5-chome, Tama City, a sports park with tennis courts and baseball fields. It is not a filming location for Whisper of the Heart, but it has cherry blossoms in spring and autumn leaves in fall, and can serve as a rest stop along the pilgrimage.
Admission to the park is free, and we recommend staying 30-45 minutes. It is a good place to rest briefly during your walk.
The Seiseki-Sakuragaoka area has many slopes, so comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
Sekido Kumano Shrine and Konpira-gu Shrine
Sekido Kumano Shrine is in Sakuragaoka, Tama City, on the same high ground above Iroha-zaka as Konpira-gu Shrine. It is a stop on the Seiseki-Sakuragaoka walking route, and the grounds are quiet.
We recommend visiting in the morning or toward evening, with about 20-30 minutes for the visit and photos. From Seiseki-Sakuragaoka Station, simply walk up Iroha-zaka to reach it; the route is stairs and slopes.
Stroll Along the Oguri River and Sekido Bridge
The path along the Oguri River is charming, and from around Sekido Bridge you can look across to Seiseki-Sakuragaoka Station and the nostalgic residential area, which is also a Whisper of the Heart filming reference. It is most recommended when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom from late March to early April, when a sea of pink sets off the flowing river. Plan on a 30-45 minute walk.
It is open year round and free to visit. About a 10-minute walk from Seiseki-Sakuragaoka Station, it makes a good waypoint on the pilgrimage route, handy for reaching Konpira-gu Shrine and Sekido Kumano Shrine.
Takahata Fudoson Kongo-ji Temple
Takahata Fudoson Kongo-ji (733 Takahata, Hino City) is one of the three great Fudo temples of the Kanto region. The temple’s Fudo Hall (built in 1342), the statue of Fudo Myoo and the Niomon Gate are Important Cultural Properties of Japan, and the grounds also hold a five-story pagoda.
The temple office sells charms for good luck and traffic safety, as well as limited-edition goshuin books and goshuin stamps (from about ¥500). A Hydrangea Festival is held each June, with about 7,500 hydrangeas in the grounds.
The grounds are free to visit, and we recommend 1-1.5 hours. From Tama-Dobutsukoen Station, take the Keio Dobutsuen Line about 2 stops to Takahata-Fudo Station, so it can be combined with the Tama Zoological Park trip.
Sakuragaoka Park (桜ヶ丘公園)
Sakuragaoka Park is a large urban park in Tama City planted with many Somei-Yoshino and wild cherry trees. During cherry blossom season from late March to early April, the sea of blossoms is enchanting, and it is a recognized cherry blossom viewing spot. From the high point you can see the whole Seiseki-Sakuragaoka townscape. The park has lawns and picnic areas and works well as a relaxing stop on the pilgrimage day, overlooking Tama City and the distant mountains for a feel of nature.
The park is open year round and free to enter, and we recommend 45 minutes to 1 hour. From Seiseki-Sakuragaoka Station it is about 10 minutes by bus or about 25 minutes on foot. We recommend going toward evening to enjoy the romantic view of the sunset glow spilling across the lawn, a perfect finish to the day trip.
How Much Does the 2026 Tama City Travel Guide: Tama Zoological Park’s Lion Bus and a Whisper of the Heart Pilgrimage in Seiseki-Sakuragaoka Day Trip Cost? Tickets and Transport Costs Summarized
Before planning a Tama City day trip, the most practical question is how to set the budget. From admission to Tama Zoological Park and the Lion Bus experience to the transport costs of the Whisper of the Heart pilgrimage around Seiseki-Sakuragaoka, a day does not cost much if you do your homework in advance. Below are the most recommended itineraries and ticket options, to help you grasp the real costs and the key points for planning.
Tama Zoological Park Admission and Opening Hours
Tama Zoological Park is at 7-1-1 Hodokubo, Hino City, Tokyo, and is known for the Lion Bus in the Africa zone, where visitors can watch lions up close. Admission: adults ¥600, junior high school students ¥200, ages 65 and over ¥300, free for elementary school students and younger. The Lion Bus requires a separate ticket, and before you go we recommend checking the Tokyo Zoological Park Society website “Tokyo Zoonet” (www.tokyo-zoo.net).
Opening hours: 9:30-17:00, closed on Wednesdays (postponed to the next day on holidays). Allow at least 3 hours.
How to Buy Tama Zoological Park Lion Bus Tickets and the Latest Status
The Lion Bus uses timed, assigned departures. Boarding tickets go on sale from 9:30 at the Lion Bus stop inside the park until sold out, and the bus runs from 10:00 to 16:00. Fares: adults (high school students to age 64) ¥500, ages 3 to junior high school and ages 65 and over ¥150, free for ages 0-2. Tickets are valid on the day of issue only, and once issued the time slot cannot be changed nor the ticket refunded.
⚠️ The official website announced that lion exhibits and the Lion Bus have been suspended since July 23, 2026, and as of October 4, 2026 they were still suspended, with no resumption date set. Check the latest official announcement before you go.
Seiseki-Sakuragaoka Whisper of the Heart Pilgrimage Walking Route
Seiseki-Sakuragaoka Station is the model for the filming location of Ghibli’s Whisper of the Heart, and it draws anime fans looking for the slopes, shopping streets and residential areas from the film. The Seiseki-Sakuragaoka area is well suited to exploring on foot, though there are many slopes and stairs along the way.
From Seiseki-Sakuragaoka Station, follow the slope to Iroha-zaka and Konpira-gu Shrine. The walk takes about 2-3 hours and suits the afternoon. You can pick up a walking map at the station and explore on your own.
Most of the film’s scenes were drawn from inspiration rather than exact copies, so the real places differ slightly from the images, and bringing the walking map to compare makes it more fun.
Tama City Day Trip Transport Passes
From Shinjuku or Shibuya to Tama City, the Keio Line one-way fare is about ¥360 from Shinjuku to Seiseki-Sakuragaoka and about ¥390 from Shinjuku to Tama Zoological Park. The Tama Monorail also has a one-day pass at ¥890 for adults, suited to linking Tama-Center and Tama Zoological Park.
If you plan to visit Sanrio Puroland, you can take the Keio Line or Odakyu Line from Shinjuku to Tama-Center Station (about a 5-minute walk). Please check fares on the Keio Corporation website (www.keio.co.jp).
Tama-Center Area Attraction Packages
The itinerary can include Sanrio Puroland at Tama-Center, which suits families with children and Hello Kitty fans. Admission varies by date, so check the official website (www.puroland.jp).
A suggested package is Tama Zoological Park in the morning to see the Lion Bus, a move to Seiseki-Sakuragaoka at midday for the pilgrimage, and shopping and dinner at Tama-Center in the evening.
We recommend comparing prices across ticket platforms and official websites before you go.
Tama-Center Highlights: A Complete Guide to Shopping and Dining Around Sanrio Puroland
On a Tama City day trip, beyond the zoo and the Whisper of the Heart pilgrimage, the area around Tama-Center Station is also not to be missed. For families with children and Hello Kitty fans in particular, it brings together a theme park, shopping centers and restaurants, and works well as the last half-day stop of your trip.
Sanrio Puroland
Sanrio Puroland is an indoor theme park for popular Sanrio characters such as Hello Kitty and My Melody, about a 5-minute walk from Tama-Center Station. All facilities are indoors, so the weather does not matter. Inside there are parades, character theater shows, restaurants and merchandise shops, and it suits a half day to a full day. Admission uses floating prices by season and by weekday or weekend, so we recommend checking the day’s price on the official website (www.puroland.jp) and reserving online, and planning early especially during school holidays and on weekends when it is crowded.
Tama-Center Shopping and Dining: Parthenon Avenue and Nearby Malls
From Tama-Center Station you arrive right at the wide “Parthenon-Odori” (Parthenon Avenue), lined with malls such as Keio Tama Center SC (the station building) and Cocoria Tama Center, offering restaurants (Japanese set meals, ramen, cafes), drugstores and supermarkets, handy for a meal, shopping or souvenirs after the zoo or Puroland. At the end of the avenue is the cultural facility “Parthenon Tama,” which reopened after renovation completed in 2022, and next to it is Tama Central Park, about a 5-minute walk from Tama-Center Station, where you can take a stroll and rest between shopping.
We recommend making Tama-Center the last stop of the day trip: Tama Zoological Park in the morning, the Seiseki-Sakuragaoka pilgrimage in the afternoon, dinner and shopping at Tama-Center in the evening, and finally the Keio Line or Tama Monorail back to central Tokyo, for a smooth route.
Nearby Accommodation Suggestions
Tama City’s main station is Tama-Center Station, served by Keio and Odakyu, about 40 minutes from Shinjuku on the Keio Line or Odakyu Line. Most travelers do it as a day trip, but if you want to fit Tama Zoological Park and Sanrio Puroland into a two-day itinerary, you can stay near Tama-Center Station.
FAQ
A roundup of the Tama City day-trip questions readers search for most.
Q: How much is admission to Tama Zoological Park?
The standard ticket is ¥600, and the Lion Bus requires a separate ¥500, about ¥1,100 in total for both (the Lion Bus is currently suspended).
Q: Is the Lion Bus at Tama Zoological Park running now?
The official website announced that lion exhibits and the Lion Bus have been suspended since July 23, 2026, and as of October 4, 2026 the site still showed them as suspended, with the resumption date to be confirmed by the official announcement. When running normally it uses assigned time slots from 10:00 to 16:00, at ¥500 for adults and ¥150 for ages 3 to junior high school and ages 65 and over.
Q: How long does it take from Shinjuku to Seiseki-Sakuragaoka?
The Keio Line limited express takes about 26 minutes, with a fare of about ¥356 to ¥360 (¥356 with an IC card, ¥360 with a paper ticket). Trains are frequent, so it suits a same-day round trip.
Q: When is the best season for the Whisper of the Heart pilgrimage?
We recommend late March to early April, when the cherry blossoms along Iroha-zaka are in full bloom and you can see the blossoms overlapping with the film’s classic scenes.
Q: Where can I get the Whisper of the Heart walking map?
You can get the walking map “Neko wo Oikakete: Sansaku Map” (猫を追いかけて~散策マップ) free at the Keio shopping mall service desk at the west exit of Seiseki-Sakuragaoka Station. Quantities are limited, so we recommend picking one up as soon as you arrive at the station.
Q: Can I see both Tama Zoological Park and Seiseki-Sakuragaoka in one day?
Yes. We recommend spending about 3-4 hours at the zoo in the morning, then after lunch moving to Seiseki-Sakuragaoka for a 2-3 hour pilgrimage, which fills the day nicely.
Q: What should I know before visiting Tama Zoological Park?
The park is built on sloping terrain, so we recommend comfortable walking shoes. Lion Bus capacity is limited, so we recommend going to buy a ticket and queue as soon as the park opens.
