Tama Hills Nature Park
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
- Seiseki-Sakuragaoka Station · 34 min walk (Keio Line)
- Hours
- Open 24 hours (Sakuragaoka Park Service Center open 8:30–17:30, closed Dec 29–Jan 3)
- Admission
- Free
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Best time to go
- Mid-November to early December for autumn maple foliage around Momijidaira, or late March to early April for roughly 450 blooming cherry trees
Hours can change on holidays — check the official site before travelling.
About
Tama Hills Nature Park is a sprawling, forested sanctuary in western Tokyo offering a peaceful escape from the neon-lit metropolis. It features lush walking trails, preserved local flora, and scenic viewpoints that showcase the region's natural topography. Visitors can expect a quiet, uncrowded hike through dense canopy, making it ideal for birdwatchers and those seeking a genuine forest-bathing experience.
Details from local sources
- The park grounds house the Kyu-Tama Seiseki Kinenkan, a municipal tangible cultural property erected in 1930 to commemorate Emperor Meiji's hunting excursions in the Renkoji hills. [source]
- The park operates two free parking areas with strict evening gate closures, locking the Memorial Hall lot at 16:30 and the Yuuhi-no-oka lot at 20:00. [source]
- Roughly 450 wild and cultivated cherry trees stand dispersed throughout the park's deciduous oak woodlands. [source]
- The park dog run is divided into two separate enclosures by dog weight at the 10-kilogram mark, and entry requires mandatory pre-registration. [source]
Insider Tip
Wear sturdy hiking shoes as the dirt trails can get quite muddy and slippery after rain, and bring your own drinks as vending machines are scarce.
Frequently asked
How do you reach the park using public transportation?
Take a Keio bus from Keio Line Seiseki-Sakuragaoka Station or Keio/Odakyu Nagayama Station bound for Nagayama Station or Seiseki-Sakuragaoka Station. Alight at either Sakuragaoka-koen-nishiguchi or Kinenkan-mae, both located within a five-minute walk of the park trailheads.
What are the parking hours and fees at the park?
Parking is free across two separate lots. The Memorial Hall lot provides 57 spaces and operates from 8:45 to 16:30. The Yuuhi-no-oka lot offers 38 spaces and operates from 8:45 to 20:00. Both lots lock overnight, and queuing on public roads is prohibited.
Can visitors enter the historical memorial hall inside the park?
Yes, admission to the Kyu-Tama Seiseki Kinenkan is free. It is open from 10:00 to 16:00 and closed on Mondays, Wednesdays, and during the year-end holidays from December 29 through January 3, along with designated Tuesdays in summer and winter.
What can you see from the Yuuhi-no-oka viewpoint?
The Yuuhi-no-oka (Sunset Hill) grassy terrace on the northern slope overlooks the Tama River basin, Seiseki-Sakuragaoka, and the distant Tokyo skyline. It is widely frequented for sunset and nighttime views, though the adjacent parking lot closes promptly at 20:00.
Our Tokyo walking tours
On the same walk
Photos
