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Hello, this is Hiroshi from "Ramen, Beer, and Sometimes a Blog."
On a drizzly Sunday afternoon in late June, I visited Zama Yatoyama Park (座間谷戸山公園), a 74-acre nature-observation park in Zama, Kanagawa. If you live around Camp Zama, this park is practically in your backyard — it sits on the same plateau, a short walk from Zama and Sobudai-mae stations on the Odakyu line.
I actually went with a mission: to review the dog raincoat I bought after my rainy day at Yakushiike Park, with my Shiba Inu, Momiji, modeling it. But the rain never really came. And while I was busy taking photos for the blog, I somehow got separated from my wife and Momiji — so the second half turned into a middle-aged man's solo walk.
Even so, this place won me over. Here's what you actually want to know before going: the parking situation, whether dogs are allowed, and how long the loop takes.
Who this is for
- Anyone near Camp Zama or along the Odakyu line looking for an easy nature walk
- Dog owners wondering about the leash rules here
- Anyone who wants to see rice paddies, bamboo groves, and an old farmhouse without leaving the suburbs
The short answers
- Parking is free — three lots with 146 spaces total (East 78, North 39, Multipurpose Plaza 29). But note: the north lot is locked at 6 PM (5 PM from November to March), per the sign I photographed. Admission is free too.
- Dogs are welcome on a leash, but this is a nature-observation park, so rules are stricter than usual: no dogs on the wetland boardwalks, pack out the poop, and rinse pee spots with water.
- The full loop took me about an hour at a relaxed, photo-taking pace (I'm in my 50s). Pleasant ups and downs — sneakers are fine. No shops inside the park, so bring your own drinks.
Parking: free, but watch the closing time
I parked at the north lot, which is closest to the pond and wetland area. All three lots are free:
- East entrance lot (78 spaces) — main entrance side, best for starting on the ridge trail
- North entrance lot (39 spaces) — closest to the waterfowl pond and wetlands; this is where I parked
- Multipurpose plaza lot (29 spaces) — next to the open grass areas
One thing to take seriously: the gates close early. The sign at the north lot says it plainly — locked at 6 PM from April through October, and 5 PM from November through March. Don't linger past sunset or your car stays the night. Hours may be extended during firefly season in June; check the official site before you go.
By train, it's about a 10-minute walk from Zama Station (Odakyu line), or 12–15 minutes from Sobudai-mae Station. By car, roughly 6 miles from the Yokohama-Machida IC on the Tomei Expressway via Route 246.
Are dogs allowed? Yes — with rules that make sense
Dogs are welcome on a leash. The paved ridge path is clearly a regular dog-walking route for locals, and we started out with Momiji trotting along (until we got separated, that is).
But this is a designated nature-observation park, so the rules are stricter than at a normal park:
- Leash required at all times
- No dogs on the wetland boardwalks — they're slippery, and the wildlife below is protected
- Pack out poop; rinse pee spots with water
- No dogs directly on benches or tables (lay a towel down first)
- Stay out of restricted areas — pit vipers (mamushi) live here, so this one protects you too
It might sound strict, but once you walk the park you get it. Kingfishers and fireflies survive minutes from the train station precisely because of these rules.
For more dog-friendly spots in the area, see my roundup → 10 Dog-Friendly Parks & Easy Hikes in Kanagawa, Japan — All Tested with My Shiba Inu
How long is the loop? About an hour, and not hard
The trails link up into one big loop around the valley — ridge on the outside, wetlands at the bottom. It feels more like a light hike than a stroll, with gentle climbs and descents as you move between the two.
My measured time: about one hour at an easy pace with plenty of photo stops (my phone's photo timestamps ran from 12:40 to 1:26 PM, plus a bit before and after). Nothing about it is hard on 50-something legs. Sneakers are fine, though the boardwalks and stone paving get slippery after rain.
Strollers and wheelchairs do best on the paved eastern ridge path. There are no shops or food inside the park, so bring drinks — there are convenience stores near the entrances.
Highlight 1: the Hill of Legends and the bamboo grove
My favorite spot was the "Hill of Legends" (Densetsu no Oka). Until the Kamakura period (about 800 years ago), the main hall of Shokokuji Temple — the 8th stop on the historic Bando 33 Kannon pilgrimage — is said to have stood on this hill. An interpretive board tells the local legend of the "Hoshi-no-ya Kannon."
The hill is ringed by a moso bamboo grove, and with the stalks still wet from the drizzle, it felt like a little piece of Kyoto. According to the signboard, this bamboo species arrived in Japan around 1736. The park is full of these little interpretive boards, and reading them as you walk is half the fun.
Highlight 2: an old farmhouse, rice paddies, and bird-watching huts
Down in the valley, the scenery changes completely: a traditional farmhouse-style building, freshly planted rice paddies, and huts for watching wild birds. Ten minutes from a commuter rail station, and it feels like stepping back into the Japan of a century ago.
Inside the farmhouse there's an irori (a sunken hearth) and old farm tools, and you can sit on the veranda looking out over the paddies. In late June, the young rice plants stood in neat, thin rows — volunteers maintain these paddies the traditional way.
The bird-watching hut sits by the waterfowl pond, with small windows so you can watch without being seen. I ended up alone in there, just staring at the still water. Getting separated from my wife and Momiji had its upside.
Also in Zama city: a park built over a wartime underground factory → Zama Serizawa Park: A Quiet Walk Beside a Wartime Underground Factory
Is a rainy-day walk worth it? Yes — but bring bug spray
The drizzle turned out to be a plus. Fewer people, cooler air, and the pond flat as a mirror. It's humid, sure, but the greens go deeper and richer in the wet — a fair trade.
One correction I owe you, though. In my Yakushiike rainy-day post I claimed mosquitoes don't come out in the rain. Well — this time they got me. In a proper downpour they stay grounded, but in a half-hearted drizzle they bite just fine. Scientifically verified? No. Verified on my own skin? Absolutely. Bring bug spray in summer.
As for the dog raincoat I meant to review — the rain never came, so it stayed in the bag. Review postponed to the next rainy day.
Visitor info: Zama Yatoyama Park
Quick reference before you go (hours can change, so check the official site):
| Name | Kanagawa Prefectural Zama Yatoyama Park |
| Address | 1-6-1 Iriyahigashi, Zama, Kanagawa |
| Admission | Free |
| Parking | Free — 3 lots, 146 spaces total (East 78 / North 39 / Plaza 29). North lot locked at 6 PM (5 PM Nov–Mar); park facing forward |
| Access | About 10 min on foot from Zama Station (Odakyu line); 12–15 min from Sobudai-mae; ~6 miles from Yokohama-Machida IC (Tomei Expressway) |
| Time needed | About 1 hour for the full loop at an easy pace |
| Dogs | Allowed on leash. No dogs on boardwalks; pack out waste |
| Food/shops | None inside the park — bring your own (convenience stores nearby) |
| Official site | Kanagawa Park Association (Japanese) |
Final thoughts
I came to review a dog raincoat. The rain didn't cooperate, my wife and dog wandered off without me, and I ended up alone in a bird hut staring at a pond. And you know what? It was a good afternoon.
- Free parking (146 spaces) — just don't get locked in at 6 PM (5 PM in winter).
- Dogs on leash are welcome; know the boardwalk rule before you go.
- One easy hour takes you past bamboo groves, rice paddies, an old farmhouse, and a mirror-still pond.
If you're stationed at or living near Camp Zama, this is the closest place I know to walk straight into old Japan. Next time, I'm keeping a firm grip on that leash.
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