44. Sightseeing Spot Review: Ome

Located 70 km west of Tokyo, on the upper reaches of the Tama River, the town of Ome is virtually unheard of by foreigners in Japan. Most people in Tokyo only stop in Ome to change trains on their way to the popular Okutama area. This is a mistake, as Ome is also a great sightseeing spot!

According to legend, in the year 900, a prince fled to the district of Ome with the aid of a plum tree cane. The cane took root, and the fruit on the tree it became always stayed blue. So, the area was named 'Ome' which means 'blue Japanese apricot'. There is a famous plum tree garden, 'Yoshino Baigo', which is best visited from the end of February to the middle of March when the blossoms are in full bloom. I have not visited this garden, but I hope to in the future.
More interesting to me was the area just around Ome Station. The main street is lined with homes and businesses dating back to the early Showa Era. Many are decorated with huge paintings of movie posters from that time. Most advertise Japanese movies, but there are also Japanese ads for 'Bonnie and Clyde', 'Tarzan Returns', and more.

There are three wonderful 'mini' museums also on the main street. One is dedicated to the artist who painted the murals and was also the creator of a some famous animation characters. Right next door is a 'retro' museum full of daily goods from the Meiji era - kids toys, drink bottles, matchbooks, toiletries,... the list goes on and on. It was like stepping back in time, especially for my Japanese husband. He was so excited, "Ooh, I used to drink that, I had that toy,...".

The third museum, 'Retro Diorama World' was the best. It was a very small museum showcasing the handmade dioramas of the artist, Takaki Yamamoto. Depicting scenes from the Meiji Era, they were absolutely incredible. Check this website to get a look at some of his work: http://www.hiyori-geta.com/ The museum is open from 10:00 - 17:00, closed on Mondays. The entrance fee is 200 yen.

Also on the main street is a small shrine which happened to be holding a small crafts fair the day I visited. Also nearby, there is a small glass art gallery, a temple, and a railroad park with model train sets as well as old steam locomotives and carriages.

Nothing is in English in this town and you will probably be the only foreign tourists there. But, everything can be enjoyed without translations. I plan on going back when the weather is cooler. A tourist information desk hands out hand drawn maps that are easy to follow without being able to read. I'd like to try the walking courses they recommend.

Getting there: Take the JR Chuo Line from Shinjuku, it takes exactly one hour if you get on one of the express trains that does not end in Tachikawa.

Japanese only website: http://www.city.ome.tokyo.jp/

16. Zoo Review: Tama Zoological Park (Hino City)

The Tama Zoo is a must see! Located in the Tama Hills suburbs of Tokyo, the zoo exhibits are set inside a forest of oak and deciduous trees, which make up 60% of the zoo area. Paved 'trails' run throughout the zoo, up and down hills, around ponds,... You'll not only view animals, you'll get lots of exercise and fresh air as well!

The zoo is very large, the guide map said '52.3 ha'? Almost all of the animals are in very natural habitats, and they all looked very happy and healthy. It is always a good sign when you see a large number of babies. I was especially impressed with the effort made to explain how a zoo operates and why animals are kept the way that they are (unfortunately, these explanations are only in Japanese). For example, there is a single Asian elephant in a smaller, all concrete enclosure. I remarked that compared to the rest of the zoo, it was rather sad.

My husband then read me a sign that explained why. She was alone because her partner of many years had died and she did not like any of the elephants the zoo tried to introduce. She wanted to be alone. The habitat was concrete because elephants feet are very sensitive. If a habitat is not large enough, bacteria builds up and infects their feet. So, concrete is sometimes better than actual dirt. There were signs like this all over the zoo. The only animals that I felt truly sorry for were the rhinoceroses. And, compared to Ueno, they were living in luxury.

There are four zones in the zoo. First, the 'Asian Habitat', with a number of Japanese native animals, tapirs, red pandas, snow leopards, orangutans,... The Orangutan habitat is especially impressive. Huge towers have been constructed, connect by ropes, on which the orangutan can travel from one end of the park to the other. I also was impressed by the birds of prey habitat. Injured birds are brought in and they are given a chance to heal before being released back into the wild. They have a huge cage/dome in which to fly around in. Second, the 'African Habitat', with elephants, zebras, chimpanzees, giraffes, cheetahs, lions,... Special care was taken to keep animals that are naturally in groups together. In this area, the lion exhibit is a standout. It can be viewed from above, or guests can ride the 'Lion Bus' to get an up close and personal look (like driving through a safari park). There is an extra charge for this bus (adults: 350 yen, children 3-15: 100 yen, adults 65 and older: 100 yen). This bus operates from 10:00 - 16:00. The third zone is the 'Australia Habitat', with emus, kangaroos, koalas, kookaburras, and more.

The fourth zone is the 'Insectarium', an indoor natural environment of streams and flowers where butterflies fly freely in front of your face. If you look closely, you might also find beetles, and other bugs hiding among the greenery. We saved this for last and we loved it!

Kids will be thrilled with this zoo, and so will adults. My husband and I were there all day long. We had a great time hiking up and down the hills, waiting to see what was around each corner.

I would recommend bringing a stroller for small children, and parents should be ready for some steep hills. I would also recommend packing a picnic lunch. There is some food available, but there are picnic tables everywhere, if you bring your own lunch, you can just stop whenever you get hungry.

Tama Zoological Park
7-1-1 Hodokubo, Hino-shi, Tokyo 191-0042

Hours of Operation: 9:30 - 17:00 (last entry at 16:00), closed on Wednesday (closed the next day if a national holiday or Tokyo Citizen's Day) and December 29 - January 1.

Admission: Adults: 600 yen, 65 and older: 300 yen, Children 13-15: 200 yen.
*Admission is free for Jr. high students who live or attend school in Tokyo, children 12 and under, the disabled and their helpers.
*Admission is free to everyone on Green Day (April 29), The Zoo's Anniversary (May 5), and Tokyo Citizen's Day (October 1).

**Free entry with Grutt Pass (#55)