The Tama Toshi Monorail Line, often called the Tama Monorail, is a straddle-beam Alweg-type monorail in western Tokyo. Operated by Tokyo Tama Intercity Monorail Co., Ltd., the double-track public transport line runs 16.0 km (9.9 mi) from Kamikitadai to Tama-Center via Tachikawa, Hino, and Hachiōji, with a full running time of about 36 minutes.
| Key | Information |
|---|---|
| System | Straddle-beam Alweg-type monorail |
| Operator | Tokyo Tama Intercity Monorail Co., Ltd. |
| Route | Kamikitadai to Tama-Center |
| Length | 16.0 km (9.9 mi) |
| Stations | 19 stations, all within Tokyo |
| Running time | About 36 minutes end to end |
| Opening | First section opened in November 1998; full route to Tama-Center opened in January 2000 |
| Main interchanges | Tachikawa-Kita, Tachikawa-Minami, Tama-Center |
Map of Tama Toshi Monorail
Map of Tama Toshi Metro showing different lines. Click on the map to enlarge it or download the Tama Toshi Metro map in PDF format.
Tama Toshi Monorail Lines and Stations
The Tama Toshi Monorail Line is a north-south city transport route in western Tokyo, useful because many commuter railways in the area run east-west toward central Tokyo. Its route plan links suburban centers directly, so passengers do not always need to travel into central Tokyo just to change trains.
The line runs from Kamikitadai in Higashiyamato to Tama-Center in Tama. Along the way, it serves Tachikawa, Hino, and part of Hachiōji. The stations list below follows the route from north to south and works well alongside a stations map when planning a trip.
| Station | Details |
|---|---|
| Kamikitadai | Code TT-19; located in Higashiyamato; northern terminus. |
| Sakura-Kaidō | Code TT-18; located in Higashiyamato. |
| Tamagawa-Jōsui | Code TT-17; located in Higashiyamato; transfer to the Seibu Haijima Line. |
| Sunagawa-Nanaban | Code TT-16; located in Tachikawa. |
| Izumi-Taiikukan | Code TT-15; located in Tachikawa. |
| Tachihi | Code TT-14; located in Tachikawa. |
| Takamatsu | Code TT-13; located in Tachikawa. |
| Tachikawa-Kita | Code TT-12; located in Tachikawa; transfer to JR Chūō Line, Ōme Line, and Nambu Line via JR Tachikawa Station. |
| Tachikawa-Minami | Code TT-11; located in Tachikawa; transfer to JR Chūō Line, Ōme Line, and Nambu Line via JR Tachikawa Station. |
| Shibasaki-Taiikukan | Code TT-10; located in Tachikawa. |
| Kōshū-Kaidō | Code TT-09; located in Hino. |
| Manganji | Code TT-08; located in Hino. |
| Takahatafudō | Code TT-07; located in Hino; transfer to the Keiō Line and Dōbutsuen Line. |
| Hodokubo | Code TT-06; located in Hino. |
| Tama-dōbutsukōen | Code TT-05; located in Hino; transfer to the Dōbutsuen Line; near Tama Zoo and Keio Rail-Land. |
| Chūō-Daigaku-Meisei-Daigaku | Code TT-04; located in Hachiōji. |
| Ōtsuka Teikyo-Daigaku | Code TT-03; located in Hachiōji. |
| Matsugaya | Code TT-02; located in Hachiōji. |
| Tama-Center | Code TT-01; located in Tama; southern terminus; transfer to the Keio Sagamihara Line and Odakyu Tama Line. |
Tachikawa-Kita, Tachikawa-Minami, and Tama-Center are the key interchange stations. Tama-dōbutsukōen is also a useful stop for visitors, especially for Tama Zoo and Keio Rail-Land.
Fare and Ticket
The Tama Toshi Monorail uses a distance-based fare system. The listed single-ride fare is ¥100, about US$0.65, and passengers over age 6 need a ticket to board. Children aged 6 to 11 can use child tickets, which are usually half the adult ticket price.
Tickets are available from station ticket machines and ticket counters. The machines are also the easiest fare calculator in practice: choose your destination, confirm the price, and buy the ticket before boarding.
Discounted options include day tickets, ticket books, and Tama Monorail Ticket Sets. For commuters and students, a commuter pass is usually the most practical choice. Passes can be bought at stations, including through dedicated machines and windows, and they can also be purchased using a Suica or PASMO card.
If you ride regularly or connect with other Tokyo transport, a rechargeable IC card such as Suica or PASMO keeps the cost simple and saves time at the gates.
Operating Hours
The Tama Toshi Monorail operating hours are daily from 5:30 am to 11:50 pm. The line does not operate 24 hours, so late-night travelers should check the timetable before heading to the station.
| Service detail | Timings |
|---|---|
| Starting time | 5:30 am |
| Closing time | 11:50 pm |
| Opening hours | Daily service from 5:30 am to 11:50 pm |
| Opening times | Morning service begins at 5:30 am |
| Working hours | The system runs through the day and evening, but not overnight |
| Typical frequency | Trains are generally scheduled about every 10 minutes |
| Last train | Service ends around 11:50 pm |
| End-to-end running time | About 36 minutes |
Train frequency may vary slightly on weekends and during early morning or late evening periods. If you need the schedule today or timings today, check the station timetable before you travel, especially close to the last train.
Connections to Other Systems
The Tama Toshi Monorail Line is an important local transport connector in western Tokyo. It links Higashiyamato, Tachikawa, Hino, Hachiōji, and Tama, while also feeding passengers into wider Tokyo rail corridors.
At Tachikawa-Kita and Tachikawa-Minami, passengers can transfer through JR Tachikawa Station to JR East services, including the Chūō Main Line, Ōme Line, and Nambu Line. These connections are useful for travel toward central Tokyo, western Tokyo, and beyond.
- Tamagawa-Jōsui connects with the Seibu Haijima Line.
- Takahatafudō connects with the Keio Line and the Dōbutsuen Line.
- Tama-dōbutsukōen connects with the Dōbutsuen Line.
- Tama-Center connects with the Odakyu Tama Line and the Keio Sagamihara Line.
Tama-Center, the southern terminus, is especially useful for transfers between suburban rail services. There is also an incomplete track section near Takamatsu Station, but it is not in service and is not connected to the current system.
Airport Connections
The nearest major rail hub for airport trips in this area is Tama Center Station, served as Keio Tama Center Station, Odakyu Tama Center Station, and Tama-Center on the Tama Toshi Monorail Line.
From Haneda Airport, the trip takes around 1 hour 15 minutes by airport shuttle bus or around 1 hour 30 minutes by train. From Narita Airport, allow around 2 hours 10 minutes by airport shuttle bus or around 3 hours 5 minutes by train.
From Shinjuku Station, take the Semi-Limited Express on the Keio Line to Keio Tama Center Station, or take the Rapid Express on the Odakyu Line to Odakyu Tama Center Station. The travel time is about 35 minutes.
From Tokyo Station, take the JR Chuo Line or the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line to Shinjuku Station, then continue on the Keio Line to Keio Tama Center Station or on the Odakyu Line to Odakyu Tama Center Station. The monorail then helps complete trips across western Tokyo’s public transportation network.
Facilities and Services
The Tama Toshi Monorail Line offers straightforward station facilities and onboard services for commuters, students, and visitors. Stations are built for easy access, and service information is clear enough for international passengers to use the system with confidence.
- All elevated stations have escalators and lifts.
- CCTV cameras are installed at stations for remote monitoring and security.
- Ticket vending machine instructions are available in English and Japanese.
- Trains are air-conditioned or heated depending on the weather.
The monorail is not driverless, but it is a safe and practical transport option for everyday trips. Key interchanges such as Tachikawa and Tama-Center also make transfers across western Tokyo much easier.
Rules
When using the Tama Toshi Monorail, follow these rules:
- Only disassembled or folded bicycles are allowed on trains.
- Items over 2 metres in length are not permitted.
- Animals and flammable objects are not allowed on board, although pets may be carried in suitable carriers.
- Filming or photography near the monorail requires prior permission from the company.
The line does not run 24 hours, so do not assume trains will be available after the listed closing time.
Tips
Use a Suica or PASMO card if you can. It makes tapping in and out quicker, especially when changing to other Tokyo public transport.
Check the train schedule before a late ride. Evening service can be less frequent, and a quick look at the route timetable can help you avoid a long wait.
Learn your station name before boarding. Several stops may feel unfamiliar to first-time visitors, and knowing your destination makes the route easier to follow.
Weekday mornings and evenings are busier. If your plan is flexible, off-peak hours usually offer a more comfortable ride.
Keep your camera ready, too. The elevated path train route gives wide views of western Tokyo, parks, and suburban neighborhoods.
Historical Overview
The Tama Toshi Monorail was conceived as a public transport link between the northern and southern parts of the Tama area in western Tokyo. Operated by Tokyo Tama Intercity Monorail Co., Ltd., the first section opened on 27 November 1998.
That first phase covered 5.4 km (3.4 mi) between Kamikitadai and Tachikawa-Kita. A commemorative stamp was issued for the opening. The line was extended to Tama Center on 10 January 2000, bringing it to its current 16.0 km (9.9 mi) length.
Today, the monorail runs entirely within Tokyo and serves Higashiyamato, Tachikawa, Hino, Hachiōji, and Tama. It has 19 stations, with Kamikitadai and Tama-Center as the terminal stations.
Trains run at up to 65 km/h, about 40 mph, and the full journey takes about 36 minutes. Station numbering was introduced across the line in February 2018.
Future Extensions
As of October 2022, three extension ideas were under consideration for the Tama Toshi Monorail Line. The most advanced proposal is a northward extension from Kamikitadai to Hakonegasaki Station on the Hachiko Line. Southbound extensions from Tama-Center toward Machida and Hachioji have also been discussed for many years.
The Kamikitadai to Hakonegasaki extension was first proposed in 2016, though the idea had been part of earlier route planning since 1981. It is described as a seven-station extension of 7 km (4.3 mi). In May 2025, Tama Toshi Monorail received a patent for the extension work from the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. Construction was approved on 27 November 2025, and opening is still projected for the mid-2030s.
A southward extension from Tama-Center to Hachioji Station has also been discussed since the 1980s. The idea was later studied as a separate light rail transit line, but it was abandoned in December 2016 because of topographical and technological constraints.
An extension from Tama-Center to Machida Station has likewise been discussed since the 1980s. By January 2022, the exact route had not yet been finalized, and the most recent estimate placed construction costs at ¥170 billion, about US$1.1 billion, based on the 2016 estimate. The route decision was made in 2021, but it remains a long-term expansion project.
The company has also had a long-term vision of a 93 km (57.8 mi) line, showing that the system was planned with future growth in mind.
Fun Facts
The Tama Toshi Monorail Line is a straddle-beam Alweg-type monorail, not a tramway. It runs on a dedicated elevated beam rather than mixing with street trams.
The entire route lies within Tokyo, and the line carries about 120,000 passengers per day.
The full trip from Kamikitadai to Tama-Center takes about 36 minutes over 16.0 km (9.9 mi) of double track.
The line opened in two stages: Kamikitadai to Tachikawa-Kita in November 1998, then south to Tama-Center in January 2000.
The monorail passes through Higashiyamato, Tachikawa, Hino, Hachiōji, and Tama. Its main transfer points are Tachikawa-Kita, Tachikawa-Minami, and Tama-Center.
Two popular attractions sit near Tama-dōbutsukōen Station: Tama Zoo and Keio Rail-Land, a railway museum.
Chūō-Daigaku-Meisei-Daigaku is the only station on the line that is not elevated.
The line runs about 15 meters above street level and gives passengers open views across western Tokyo.
Nearby Attractions
The Tama Toshi Monorail Line is a convenient route for reaching parks, family attractions, shopping areas, and riverside walks in western Tokyo.
- Tachikawa Station Hub is a major transit and shopping area with dining options and access to nearby parks.
- Tama Zoo Park, reached from Tama-dōbutsukōen Station, is a large zoo with naturalistic enclosures and works well for a family day out.
- Showa Memorial Park, near Nishi-Tachikawa Station, has wide open spaces, gardens, sports facilities, and seasonal flower displays.
- Tama Center sits in Tama New Town and serves as a gateway to commercial areas and transfers to other rail lines.
- The Tama River can be reached near stations such as Shibasaki-Taiikukan, making the line useful for sightseeing and outdoor walks.
For an easier visit, travel on weekday mornings when crowds are usually lighter and the ride feels more relaxed.