[Parent-Child Days #019] A side trip to Sanrio turned into a huge hit! Our visit to Tama Zoological Park with the kids

Sorry to bother you again!
It's Basha.

This is the 19th article in 'Parent-Child Days,' a record of our outings as a family.

This time, I wrote about our trip to
Tama Zoological Park
with my 2-year-old and 0-year-old children.

[Introduction]

We stopped by Tama Zoological Park on the first day of our family trip to Tama.
To be honest,

the main event of this trip was
Sanrio Puroland. Lol

I looked for something else to do besides Sanrio,
thought 'Tama Zoological Park sounds good!', and decided to go.

I had been a little interested in it
because of the news about the wolves, so it worked out perfectly.

To sum it up,
what was meant to be a side trip turned out to be incredibly fun,
and both the kids and adults were very satisfied.

The Lion Bus, in particular, was on a different level of intensity,
and it was worth coming just for that.

On the other hand, there are many slopes in the park,
and dining options are limited,
so planning your route and break times is important when visiting with kids.

I will write honestly about the good points,
as well as the pros and cons like the many slopes and the food situation,
from a parent's perspective.

[Quick Review]

Excitement Level: ★★★★★ (5.0)
Cost Performance: ★★★★☆ (4.5)
Photo Index: ★★★★★ (5.0)
Parent-Child Sync Rate: 70%

Stay Duration: 5 hours
Total Spent: 4,000 yen (admission and food)

[Report & Photos]

I took a lot of photos,
but I'll post a carefully selected few.

・Entrance to Lion Bus

We were able to enter at the 9:30 AM opening time.

Right after entering,
we headed for the Lion Bus.
It's a steep slope right away! Lol

A photo of a lion.
I want to decorate my house with this!

You can learn a lot about
the ecology of lions and more.

A male lion in the distance.
I was able to see it from the window while waiting for the bus.

A lion from the bus.
Very impressive!

I forgot to take a picture of the bus...

Also, please note that the Lion Bus
requires an additional fee.
There is a bit of a wait.

・Africa Zone

There are many animals that live in Africa.
A photogenic zone.

You can compare it with an elephant's ear.
It's huge!

A comparison of the feet as well.

Cheetah.
So cool!

・Insectarium

I think there are many people who are not good with insects
and don't want to see them,
so I'll show the ones that seem okay as much as possible.

A magnificent

enlarged model of an ant.

Everyone's dream, the Hercules beetle!!!

Taking a commemorative photo with a grasshopper.

A golden chrysalis.

・Asia Zone

The largest area.
I took a lot of photos, but I'll only post a few because there are too many.

Flamingos.
These guys are at every zoo. lol

Rhino.
It looks like it's wearing armor.

Eagle.
King of the sky.

Tiger.
It was full of impact.

・Australia Zone

Koala.
It was sleeping the whole time.

Too bad.
Maybe next time if it's awake.

Tasmanian devil.

A rare animal.
This little one was sleeping too, but it's super cute.

I'm completely hooked.

The bench we sat on for a break.

Lunch,
curry and pasta.

[Good Points]

These are the benefits.

・Divided into areas

Since the park is large,
it's helpful that it's divided into areas.

"Let's start from this zone"
"Let's go to this zone next"
It was easy to decide,
and it was easy to adjust the route according to the children.

・Wide variety

There are so many types of animals, so
the further you walk, the more you wonder, "What's next?"

Even if the kids seem like they're getting bored,
their excitement returns when you reach the next exhibit.

The reason we were able to stay for 5 hours
is simply because there was so much to see.

・Lion Bus

The highlight of this trip.

The impact is on a different level,
and both the kids and parents were super excited.

It's a different kind of experience
from a "regular zoo where you walk around,"
feeling a bit like a safari park.

It really gives you that "I'm at Tama Zoological Park" feeling.
It's great for photos and makes for a memorable experience.

・Rare animals

It's not just the standard animals;
it's fun to encounter animals you've never heard of.

The parents were even more excited than the kids.

The ones I got hooked on
were the Tasmanian devil and the snow leopard!

・Plenty of places to take a short break

There were many spots to take a quick rest.

Since you'll be walking a long way on hilly paths,
even just sitting on a bench for a bit makes a huge difference.

Check in with everyone's energy levels as you go.

[Bad Points]

Things that were a bit concerning.

・Lots of hills

Honestly, this is the toughest part.
Whether you're using a stroller or carrying them,
it really drains your energy.

Even if the kids are having fun,
the parents' energy will hit zero first. lol

Take turns with the stroller and carrying.
Plan your pace with plenty of breaks.

・Few dining options

There is only one place that feels like a proper restaurant,
the Savannah Kitchen, and about two snack stands.
There aren't many options.It gets even tougher during busy hours, so it's safer to eat early or bring some snacks.I felt that dining requires a bit of planning.

・The insect zone is something to be careful about if you don't like bugs

Note: The insect zone is something to be careful about if you don't like bugs

It's interesting if you're okay with insects, but
it's pretty tough if you're not.

There are some gross-looking bugs,
and even tons of cockroaches. lol

If you don't like them, don't push yourself,
just skip it.

・Koalas are sleeping

If you go just for the koalas,
it's sad that you'll likely only see them sleeping.

Go with the mindset of
"it's a lucky bonus if they're awake."

When I went, they were sleeping the whole time. lol
They're cute even when they're sleeping.

[Basic Information & Access]

◆Event Name
Tama Zoological Park

◆Operating Period/Hours
Year-round / 9:30–17:00 (Last admission and ticket sales until 16:00)
Closed: Wednesdays (if Wednesday is a public holiday or observed holiday, the park is closed the following day), Year-end/New Year holidays (12/29–1/1)

◆Location
7-1-1 Hodokubo, Hino City, Tokyo 191-0042

◆Admission
General: 600 yen / Junior high school students: 200 yen / 65 and older: 300 yen
*Free for elementary school students and younger, and for junior high students living or attending school in Tokyo

◆Access (Train)
1-minute walk from Tama-Dobutsu-Koen Station on the Keio Line or Tama Monorail

◆Access (Car)
About 20 minutes from the Kunitachi-Fuchu IC on the Chuo Expressway

◆Notes
・No general parking available (use nearby paid parking) / Public transport is recommended as it gets crowded on holidays
・The park paths have many slopes, so comfortable shoes are recommended

◆Official Website
Tama Zoological Park Official Website (Tokyo Zoo Net)

*Please check the official website for details.

[Summary & Overall Rating]

Honestly, I only stopped by Tama Zoological Park because I was already visiting Sanrio Puroland,
but it turned out to be an amazing zoo.
The Lion Bus, in particular, is on a different level of intensity,


"the feeling of having really come to Tama Zoological Park"is something you get all at once.You absolutely have to ride it if you go!

There's a wide variety of animals,
and I was able to enjoy it for 5 hours without getting bored.

On the other hand, if you're going with kids, be prepared for the many slopes.
Whether you're using a stroller or carrying them, the uphill and downhill walking will drain your energy.

There aren't many places to eat either,
so it's safer to plan ahead by avoiding peak hours
or bringing some light snacks.

There is no official parking lot,
but there are plenty nearby, and they were relatively empty.

Also, since koalas have a high probability of sleeping,
it's better for your mental health to go with the mindset of
"it's a lucky bonus if they're awake." lol

Overall,
I highly recommend it if your kids are at an age where they get excited seeing animals (around 2 years old).

I came here as an afterthought to Sanrio,
but I think it's definitely worth coming just for Tama Zoological Park.

Overall Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5)

It was incredibly fun.
I would love to come visit again!

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To all of you who love carriages, see you next time.

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