There are many theme parks in Japan. You will find well-known big theme parks, such as Disney, Universal Studios, and Legoland, but Japan also has unique theme parks.
7 Best Theme Parks in Japan
1. Sanrio Puroland
Sanrio Puroland is an indoor theme park in Tokyo where you can see Sanrio characters, such as Hello Kitty. Young children can enjoy watching parades of popular characters, visiting the house of Hello Kitty, and shopping for cute goods.
2. Tokyo Disney Resort
Tokyo Disney Resort includes two theme parks: Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. They are the third and fourth most visited theme parks in the world after the Magic Kingdom in Florida and Disneyland in California.
Tokyo Disneyland opened in 1983 and was the first Disney theme park to open outside the United States. DisneySea opened in 2001 and is unique to Japan. The theme park is more geared toward adults but is still fun for children. The rides are marine-themed, there is a larger variety of restaurants, and the park serves alcoholic beverages.
There are seasonal events and parades with the most popular during Halloween and Christmas.
Photo by Agustin Rafael Reyes / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
3. Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura
Edo Wonderland in Nikko, also called Edomura, is a historical theme park that recreates a town from the Edo period (1603-1868). Townspeople are dressed in Edo period clothing. You can also immerse yourself into the culture by dressing up as geisha, samurai, or ninja. There is Edo street food and live shows including the Grand Ninja Theater.
4. Fuji-Q Highland
Fuji-Q Highland in Yamanashi Prefecture near Kawaguchiko features record-breaking roller coasters with incredible views of Mount Fuji.
Several roller coasters have been listed in the Guinness World Record. Fujiyama was the world’s tallest roller coaster when it opened in 1996 with a drop of 79 meters. Dodonpa was the world’s fastest roller coaster in 2001. It reaches a top speed of 180 kilometers per hour in 1.56 seconds. Takabisha is one of the world’s steepest roller coasters with a drop angle of 121 degrees.
There are also traditional rides and amusements for children, such as the Thomas Land.
5. Universal Studios Japan
Universal Studios Japan or USJ opened in 2001 in Osaka and is the fifth most visited theme park in the world.
It offers roller coasters, rides, parades, and shows based on Hollywood movies, such as Despicable Me, Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, Spiderman, and Terminator 2. The latest attraction is Super Nintendo World, an immersive Mario Kart ride.
6. Nagashima Spaland
Nagashima Resort opened in 1964 outside Nagoya and is one of the top 25 most visited theme parks in the world. There are over 40 rides and 13 roller coasters. Steel Dragon 2000 is the tallest steel roller coaster in Japan at 97 meters.
The resort also features a hot spring complex, waterpark, outlet mall, flower park, and Anpanman Museum in the same area.
Photo by 663highland / CC BY-SA 4.0
7. Toei Kyoto Studio Park
Toei Kyoto Studio Park in Kyoto is a movie theme park that opened in 1975. The Toei Company films many historical movies and television dramas at the park, so you may see a live production in action. There are historical backdrops, such as the Edo period Nihonbashi Bridge and Yoshiwara red light district.
There are ninja shows, an Oiran Parade, and sword fighting. You can dress up as a geisha, samurai, ninja, and other costumes.
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Becki and Shawn
Japan Travel Specialists
Hi, we’re Becki and Shawn! We love Japan and are truly passionate about Japan and Japan travel.
We’ve lived, worked, and traveled in Japan for 20+ years, so we know where to go, what to see, and how to get there. Join us in Japan for an adventure of a lifetime!
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