Hello, dear readers! This article will be interesting to read both for tourists planning a trip to the land of the rising sun, and for inquisitive readers of our site, because we will talk about Japanese amusement parks.
Japan is an amazing country that has preserved its traditional historical identity and at the same time ranks first among the most technically developed countries in the world. Having visited this country, tourists experience a storm of mixed emotions. In contrast to the tranquil temples, a foreigner is faced with all the fullness of active recreation and extreme tourism.
Japanese amusement parks are rightfully considered one of the most interesting in the world. Below are the most popular places among foreigners.
Tokyo Disneyland
A trip to Disneyland is a dream come true for almost every child in the world, but also for many adults. No wonder - this is an amusement park straight out of a fairy tale. One of the 5 Disneyland world parks is located in the capital of Japan - Tokyo. The park includes 7 different themed areas, including the only existing ocean area - Tokyo Disney Sea Park. Various carousels, water slides, swings and even characters from the most popular fairy tales provide visitors with excitement and unforgettable discoveries. While queuing for Japanese delicacies at Tokyo Disneyland, visitors may encounter characters such as Donald Duck, Scooby Doo or Mickey Mouse. In addition, they can also enter the water world of Nemo or the Little Mermaid. Walking through the park in the company of jellyfish and other aquatic species really makes you feel like you're in a fairy tale.
"Asakusa Hanayashiki"
Japan's oldest amusement park (link in English), founded in 1853, is located in the popular tourist area of Asakusa. When visiting Sensoji Temple, many tourists do not deny themselves the pleasure of looking into Hanayashiki Park, located a 5-minute walk away.
View of Sensoji Temple and Tokyo Sky Tree from the Bee Tower Carousel
The highlight of the park is the good old rides in retro style. The leader in popularity is the roller coaster, which opened in 1953 and ranks fifth in the world ranking of the oldest metal attractions. The symbol of the park is the Bee Tower carousel in the form of a house made of sweets, a ride on which you can enjoy a view of the traditional streets of the Asakusa district and the new Tokyo Sky Tree tower from a height of 45 meters. Both adults and children will find entertainment to their liking - a haunted house, adventures in a huge labyrinth, monthly wrestling tournaments, and also (upon prior request) relaxation in the company of geishas, the opportunity to feel like a brave ninja (link in English).
Fuji-Q Highland
Mount Fuji-kun is another wonderful landmark in Japan. Its most distinctive elements are the breathtaking scenery of Japan's highest peak, Mount Fuji, as well as the numerous Guinness World Records it contains. Fuji-Q's offering includes some of the tallest and longest roller coasters in the world. This trip will provide a lot of excitement and a huge adrenaline rush.
A ride in the Fuji-Q Highland is a good choice for the craziest and speed-hungry among us. The park includes rides with speeds exceeding 170 km/h. Moreover, the park is famous for the steepest slope in the world - Takabisha with an angle of 121 degrees. Dodonpa, on the other hand, is a coaster that currently ranks first in speed, reaching 180 km/h in just 1.56 seconds. The park also includes the Eejanaika - 4D hypercaster, which can move upside down and has movable seats that swivel back and forth and rotate 360 degrees.
Environmental protection in Miyazaki's work
Anyone familiar with Miyazaki's filmography will recognize that the creation of such a theme park is a logical continuation of the director's principles. Indeed, the theme of civilization's encroachment on nature (urbanization) runs like a red thread throughout Miyazaki's cinematic work.
This is especially clearly seen in the cartoon “Princess Mononoke” (1997). Along with Akira (1988) and the recently re-released Ghost in the Shell (1995), Princess Mononoke is considered one of the iconic films that helped popularize anime in the West.
The opposing sides in the cartoon are representatives of nature and representatives of human civilization. People from Iron City are at war with the inhabitants of the forest, forest gods and spirits. Miyazaki is not afraid to show the nature of cruelty, telling the story of the wolves who raised the main character.
Princess Mononoke is set in the Muromachi period, hundreds of years ago, but Studio Ghibli has other anime with the same theme set in a more modern setting. The western outskirts of Tokyo are known for their association with a couple of anime, namely Pompoko: Tanuki War (1994) and Whisper of the Heart (1995).
The first cartoon tells about the struggle of people with tanuki - raccoon dogs.
The main character of the second anime, Shizuku, translates the lyrics; there is an unforgettable scene in the cartoon where she laments the fact that the countryside has become concrete: she sings about how “the forests have been cut down” and there are “concrete roads everywhere I go.” Whisper of the Heart, oddly enough, made John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Roads" famous in Japan (a country where some people still hadn't heard of the Rolling Stones).
Osaka Universal Studio
The Japanese attempt to step into the world of Hollywood - The Osaka Universal Studio is a place where visitors can see 10 different themed areas from cult American films. There is no longer a need to visit the USA to see the famous Jurassic Park or the popular attractions of San Francisco or New York. Park visitors can also get a real-life Harry Potter experience at Hogwarts School of Wizardry and see what the Chamber of Secrets really hides. It's hard to miss the roller coasters, carousels and real movie characters strolling along the boardwalk.
An exciting prospect
By the way, in 2021, an event called Ghibli Expo was held at the Tokyo City View observation deck, located on the 52nd floor of a skyscraper in the Rappongi area. In this exhibit, a life-size Totoro could be seen standing behind a fake bar, greeting visitors on their way to other rooms where they could board the Catbus to take photos.
The visitor felt like he was inside his favorite Ghibli anime. And the prospect of being in an anime in the middle of the green fields of a full-scale theme park is more than exciting.
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Hanayashiki is the oldest amusement park in Japan
The main theme of Hanayashiki Park was flowers. Over time, more and more attractions were added. However, what made this park truly popular was the birth of five tigers. This is indeed a very rare occurrence. In addition, the first Japanese lion was born in Hanayashiki in 1931. Today, at this 166-year-old park, visitors can ride roller coasters and various carousels, shoot the Space Shot capsule and try original Japanese delicacies.
New entertainment for frequent guests
Tokyo Disneyland, now in its fourth decade, attracted 10 million visitors in its first year and continues to be the most popular park. Its attendance increased further with the opening of a new park nearby in 2001, Tokyo DisneySea. In fiscal year 2014, 31 million 380 thousand people visited both parks. Using the plots of famous films and other strategies, Disney parks present visitors with new attractions each time, which, thanks to skillful execution, immerse guests in the world of dreams and fairy tales. The attraction of these parks lies in the excellent service, based on the Disney philosophy, and is reflected in the fact that 90% of the visitors are people who have been here before.
Yomiuriland is the largest amusement park in Tokyo
Yomiuriland is an amusement park of enormous size. Both adult visitors and children are sure to enjoy an exciting adventure filled with adrenaline and many unforgettable experiences. This is because the park includes 44 different attractions, so there is sure to be something for everyone. Thrill-seekers can ride the Bandit roller coaster at speeds of up to 110 km/h or use the 22 meter high bungee. Options for families and seniors include a Ferris wheel overlooking Mount Fuji or the WAI exotic water pool complex.
Yomiuriland is also known for its extraordinary lighting. Between October and April, visitors can admire an amazing world-class lighting project created by artist Motoko Ishii. In turn, in March and April, cherry trees begin to bloom throughout the country, and there are more than 1000 of them in the park itself. A visit to the park just to observe this beautiful phenomenon from the height of the cable car is worth it.
Before the theme park, a museum was founded
Back in 2015, Peter Sciretta fantasized about what a Ghibli theme park would look like, showcasing the Japanese illustrator's work under the headline "Behold: The Studio Ghibli Theme Park We're Waiting for Comes to Life."
But it was just a dream. Until now, fans of the studio have to make do with the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, which can be visited while spending the summer holidays in Tokyo. However, tickets to this museum are notoriously difficult to come by. Tickets to this island of silence with tall, long-armed robots and other wonders are selling out very quickly. They must be booked in advance and are only available five days a month or two months.
Adding to the exclusivity of this place is the fact that photography and video shooting are prohibited here. Visitors are encouraged to see the museum's exhibits "with their own eyes, not through a camera lens." Therefore, there are not many photographs of the museum taken by travelers on the Internet.
The museum's website includes a message from Miyazaki outlining his philosophy as executive director. One of his stated goals is to create a museum that is “not ambitious, luxurious, expressive or stifling,” but rather a museum as “a quality space where people can feel at home, especially when it is not crowded.”
Needless to say, this goes against the grain of most theme parks, whose main goal seems to be to attract the masses with cheap thrills. Even the best parks occasionally lend themselves to idle shows that are memorable only for the explosions of pyrotechnics and flashy souvenirs.
In the footsteps of Japanese amusement parks
There are more than 2,000 amusement parks in the world. The idea originated in Scandinavia, and this is where the oldest amusement parks are located. Although the most famous amusement parks are located in the United States, you need to visit Japan to find the most innovative parks with the fastest rides available. It is here in the Land of the Rising Sun that visitors can feel like they are traveling around the world just by visiting Japan's most popular amusement parks. In addition to American themed attractions such as Universal Studios or Disneyland, there are also Dutch or Spanish themed parks. Tobu World Square is another park worth visiting. There, visitors can see the samurai kingdom and the rest of the world in one place.
There is no bad weather?
Indoor entertainment complexes are an excellent option for those who do not want to make their leisure time dependent on weather conditions. The brainchild of SANRIO, Puroland Indoor Park provides fans of the famous Hello Kitty and other characters with the opportunity to spend a comfortable and exciting time among themed attractions and shows, even if the typhoon is raging outside the park walls or the heat is stifling. Recently, large shopping complexes and malls have begun to be built next to indoor amusement parks. This allows visitors to organize their leisure time as efficiently as possible, combining shopping, going to the cinema and dining in a restaurant with visiting attractions. The owners of the parks are often large companies that produce game consoles and computer programs. Typical examples of parks of this kind are the JOY POLICE network (Tokyo, Osaka, Okayama) of SEGA, as well as NAMJA TOWN (Tokyo, Ikebukuro station) and the ancient Hanayashiki, managed by NAMCO.
Indoor park JOY POLICE
The limitless possibilities of modern attractions can give a person the experience of immersion in the virtual reality of popular computer games, three-dimensional images and advanced technologies, the experience of participating in virtual races behind the wheel of a real car and a fierce shootout with zombies and monsters.
Virtual car racing
The theme park can even be found inside a traditionally popular attraction such as Tokyo Tower, where visitors can experience adventures in the company of characters from the popular anime One Piece (link in English). At Tokyo's Ikebukuro Station there is the J-World Tokyo park (link in English), which hospitably opens its gates to fans of the anime NARUTO and DRAGON BALL.
