Tama, Tokyo
Tama (多摩市; -shi) is a
city located in
Tokyo,
Japan.
As of
2003, the city has an estimated
population of 145,722 and the
density of 6,912.81 persons per
km². The total area is 21.08 km². Tama was the last town in the former Minamitama District.
On
April 1,
1889, Tama Village was founded in what was then Minamitama District from the merger of 10 pre-Meiji villages.
On April 1,
1964, Tama Village became Tama Town.
On
November 1,
1971, Tama Town became Tama City, dissolving Minamitama District.
Tama is home to
Tama Hills, a recreational facility of the
U.S. Air Force, intended for use by United States service members and their families, as well as
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force service members and their families.
It is also home to the well known
Sanrio theme park,
Sanrio Puroland ("Hello Kitty-land").
Its southern flanks form part of the Tama New Town project, Japan's largest residential development, constructed in the 1970's.
The city is situated within a much larger area in southwestern Tokyo, known traditionally as Tama hills, spanning Tokyo and
Kanagawa prefectures. Therefore there are many place names scattered throughout the area with references to the name "Tama" which are not within the city limits. For example, Tama is the name of a ward several kilometres away under the jurisdiction of
Kawasaki City in Kanagawa prefecture.
*
Keisen Women's UniversityTama can easily be reached by
Keio line or the
Odakyu Tama line from
Shinjuku, central
Tokyo.
Tama is the location for the animated feature films
Whisper of the Heart and
Pom Poko by Japan's
Studio Ghibli, the latter of which depicts a fictionalized account of the city's construction.
It has been speculated that
The Cat Returns, also by
Studio Ghibli, is similarly set in Tama.
*
Tama official website in Japanese
*
Wikitravel: Tokyo/Tama
