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Japan's Lesser-Known Theme Parks: More Fun, Less Waiting in LineMaybe you're in Japan with kids, or maybe you adore rollercoasters, but really, most of us can enjoy a good day out at an amusement park! Japan certainly has quite a few to visit, and lots of travelers will stop in at Tokyo Disney, or head to Universal Studios Japan in Osaka. These huge chains have big, well-known rides, and sure, that can be fun, but popular parks mean long lines! Some visitors are shocked by the two hours or more that they can often expect to wait when lining up for a popular attraction.
So, instead, we'd like to recommend that you spend your time more wisely, and head to one of Japan's many home-grown amusement parks, or theme parks with more unique attractions. You might encounter fewer princesses wandering the grounds, but you'll be sure to have a day filled with much more fun, and much less boring waiting around, with unique stories to tell back home!,ソース：
東京：
ーよみうりランド
https://www.japankuru.com/en/entertainment/e1554.html (メイン）
https://www.japankuru.com/en/entertainment/e482.html
https://www.japankuru.com/en/entertainment/e1746.html
ー東武動物公園
https://www.japankuru.com/en/entertainment/e43.html
http://www.tobuzoo.com/global/english/
ー豊島園
https://www.japankuru.com/en/entertainment/e1067.html
関西：
ーひらかたパーク
http://www.hirakatapark.co.jp/
ー京都映画村
http://www.toei-eigamura.com/
地方：
ー箱根小涌園ゆねっすん
https://www.japankuru.com/en/accommodation/e162.html
https://www.japankuru.com/en/entertainment/e1423.html
https://www.japankuru.com/en/accommodation/e47.html
ー那須どうぶつ王国とモンキーパーク
https://www.japankuru.com/en/entertainment/e1427.html
https://www.japankuru.com/en/entertainment/e1379.html
https://www.japankuru.com/en/entertainment/e1361.html
ー沖縄ビオスの丘
https://www.japankuru.com/en/tour/e2016.html
https://www.japankuru.com/en/entertainment/e463.html
おまけ：
ージブリパーク
https://www.japankuru.com/en/culture/e2077.html,Tokyo Parks,Yomiuriland Amusement Park is Tokyo's biggest amusement park! It's an easy trip out of the city, and the park has 43 different attractions, including rollercoasters, spinning cups, merry-go-rounds, bungee jumping spots, and more, so there's something for visitors of any age (and any level of courage.) During the summer, the water park area opens up for Tokyoites fleeing the summer heat, and you can splash around in the pools and slip down the slides. Yomiuriland is also known around Tokyo for the spectacular winter lights that go up each year and glitter warmly during the chilly, dark nights, with literally 6 million bulbs. Take a ride in the park's gondola to float over a sea of pink petals every April for cherry blossom season(before getting onto a rollercoaster and zooming through the pink trees instead!)
Yomiuriland Amusement Park
Google Maps
Hours: 10:00 - 20:30
Access: Keio Yomiuriland Station, Yomiuriland-Mae Station
One Day Pass: Adults ￥5400/Middle and High School Students ￥4300/Children ￥3800/65+ y.o. ￥4500
Official Website (en),____________________________________________________________________________,The Tobu Zoo is a "hybrid leisure land" in Saitama, just outside of Tokyo. The place is a cross between your every-day zoo, and an amusement park, with both animal enclosures and exciting rides to be found. Approximately 120 species of animal call the Tobu Zoo home, including rare white tigers, and their ridiculously cute cubs. You can even feed some of the animals snacks, or otherwise get some one-on-one time with them. Head over to the eastern part of the park to ride rollercoasters, float around in paddle boats, and try out the "sky cycle." During the summer they also have pools, with slides and wave pools.
Tobu Zoo
Google Maps
Hours: 9:30 - 17:00 (June: closed Wed | Jan: closed Tue, Wed | Feb: closed Tue ~ Wed)
Access: Tobu Doubutsu Koen Station
One Day Pass: Adults ￥4,800/Children & Seniors ￥3,700
Official Website (en),____________________________________________________________________________,Toshimaen is an amusement park with a history of almost 100 years, and while it's a park with lots of fun modern rides, you can still see some of that antique charm. Aside from three different rollercoasters, petting zoos, a big water park area for the summer, a "sky train", and plenty of other rides, they also have a beautiful old-fashioned carousel that looks especially amazing lit up at night. If rollercoasters etc. aren't really your thing, Toshimaen also puts up lights in the winter, and sets up an ice-skating rink, so you can glide on the ice under the stars. Within the park complex there's also an actual fishing area, along with a hot spring spa (Toshimaen Niwa no Yu)!
Toshimaen
Google Maps
Hours: 10:00 - 17:00 (check the calendar for more exact information)
Access: Toshimaen Station
One Day Pass: Adults ￥4,200/Children ￥3,200
Official Website,
Kansai Parks,Hirakata Park has daily song and dance performances around the park, greatly entertaining younger visitors to the park. You won’t see many international visitors in Hirakata, Osaka, but if you do, you might find a few of them enraptured by the gnome-themed theatrical entertainment, as well. Even on the busiest days, the park never gets overly crowded, so it feels like you have the rollercoasters, river rafts, and much more, all to yourself. Of course there is a waterpark area open in the summer, but perhaps the real draw for many is the themed events they have periodically. In the past there have been large inflatable pokemon scattered around the entrance, and right now there's a Cardcaptor Sakura exhibition going on (read more about the exhibition right here).
Hirakata Park
Google Maps
Hours: Weekdays 10:00 - 17:00/Weekends 10:00 - 18:00
One Day Pass: Adults ￥4,400/Elementary School Students ￥3,800/Children 2 y.o. & up ￥2,600
Official Website (en),____________________________________________________________________________,TOEI Kyoto Studio Park is both an attraction for visitors looking for a fun day out, and also a movie and TV studio in active use. (The park even closes for a few days here and there for shooting!) Their official English tagline is "Experience Samurai Movies", and just walking through the park is indeed a fun experience, since they've recreated a historical town, complete with shops and homes and bridges. There are even historical reenactors putting on performances in the streets to further convince you that you've traveled back in time to be with Japan's samurais. You can dress up in old-fashioned kimono, too, if you want to fit in better (or take some amazing pictures). If that's not enough, there are also stage shows and more hands-on attractions to enjoy, like shuriken throwing contests and laser mission "Escape the Castle". (Here's a chance to show off how good you got at shuriken throwing during that Naruto phase of yours.)
TOEI Kyoto Studio Park (東映太秦映画村)
Google Maps
Hours: 9:00 - 17:00 (Occasionally open later.)
Access: 2 min. from Satsueisho-mae Station, 5 min. from Uzumasa Station, Uzumasa-Koryuji Station
One Day Pass: Adults ￥2,200/Middle & High School Students ￥3,200/Children 3 y.o.+ ￥1,100
Official Website (en),____________________________________________________________________________,Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka City, Mie was built as the first full-scale standard international racing course in Japan. Huge pro-racing events are still held there every year, but they've also added a racing-themed amusement park to the big complex. Now there are opportunities for drivers of all ages and skill levels to safely race around the tracks in electric race cars, specially made kids' motorcycles, and all-terrain vehicles. It's a speed-lover's dream! If you need a break after all that racing, there are more relaxed rides, plus cool exhibition areas with interactive exhibits and interesting models to teach you about the history and practicalities of racing today. Perfect for race car fans big and small.
Suzuka Circuit Theme Park
Google Maps
Hours: Weekdays 10:00 - 17:00/Weekends 9:30 - 18:00
Access: From Shiroko Station, either take a taxi or a Mie Transportation bus.
One Day Pass: Adults ￥4,300/Children (7~12 y.o.) ￥3,300/Children (3~6 y.o.) ￥2,100/60+ y.o. ￥3,000
Official Website (en),Parks Around Japan,Hakone Kowakien Yunessun is a uniquely Japanese combination of hot springs and novelty entertainment. Slip into your swimsuit and take a dip in hot tea baths, cool iced coffee baths, red wine baths, and more! These baths are really made with the ingredients they say, so if you've dreamed of a cup of coffee so big you can get your whole body into it, this might be your chance. They even have limited-time-only baths that change seasonally, so you'll always find some new intriguing bath to relax in. Lots of the tubs also have event times, which often include staff carefully splashing bathers with more concentrated versions of whatever drink they're submerged in. If that doesn't sound fun enough for you, they have something of a hot springs water park! And of course, you can go there to experience a more traditional onsen hot spring as well.
Hakone Kowakien Yunessun
Google Maps
Hours: Weekdays 10:00 - 18:00/Weekends 9:00 - 19:00
Access: From Odawara Station, take a bus to Kowakien bus stop.
One Day Pass: Adults ￥2,500/Children ￥1,400
Official Website,____________________________________________________________________________,Nasu Animal Kingdom is, to put it simply, something of a zoo. But instead of focusing on animal enclosures, Nasu Animal Kingdom is known for its many animal performances. The shows are fun enrichment for both the animals performing, and those watching. Sitting in the stands for the Bird Show, you can watch stunning eagles, hawks, owls, and other winged friends soaring past your head. (And after the show, nab a picture with one!) When you visit, check the show schedule (jp) first thing, so you'll know exactly when to go see the bird show, or shows with cats, seals, or sheep. More recently, they also opened their Wetland area, an indoor section where you can observe (and sometimes feed) rainforest animals. Don't forget to meet the Wetland's star jaguar!
Nasu Animal Kingdom (那須どうぶつ王国)
Google Maps
Hours: Weekdays 10:00 - 16:30/Weekends 9:00 - 17:00 (Winter: ~16:00)
Access: Check the official website for free shuttle bus information!
One Day Pass: Adults ￥2,400/Children (3 y.o. to elementary school) ￥1,000 (Winter discount available.)
Official Website (en),
Nasu World Monkey Park has more than monkeys, and you can interact with almost all of the animals there! Other zoos might let you observe the monkeys from afar, but Nasu World Monkey Park has a petting zoo area with Japanese macaques, squirrel monkeys, and more, plus multiple species of lemur. They also give visitors opportunities to spend some time with macaws and ball pythons, if monkeys aren't your favorite. There are even elephant rides, where you can take a quick trip on the elephant's back, and then have a few minutes to thank it (and feed it some snacks). If the Animal Kingdom shows weren't enough for you, the Monkey Park also has a Monkey Playhouse! Watch some of the park's monkeys show off their unique personalities and obvious intelligence, as they play around with their handlers.
Learn more about these two parks, PLUS the Nasu Safari Park!
Nasu World Monkey Park
Google Maps
Hours: Weekdays 10:00 - 17:00 (closed Wednesdays)
Access: From JR Kuroiso Station, take a bus towards Highland Park to Rindo Lake bus stop.
One Day Pass: Adults ￥2,100/Children ￥1,200
Official Website,____________________________________________________________________________,Bios Hill in Okinawa is a huge chunk of land is dedicated to celebrating the flora and fauna of the subtropics. You can certainly spend some time in nature and with the animals being raised on the premises, if that sounds like fun! As a theme park, you can get on a boat and cruise the lake, get in your own canoes, ride in an Okinawan water-buffalo-drawn car, and dress up in traditional Ryukyu (Okinawan) costumes. These outfits are a little like your average Japanese kimono, but they've got some distinct island spirit. There's also the "Big Swing", a standing swing raised in the air, giving you a great view of the lush green surroundings!
Bios Hill (ビオスの丘)
Google Maps
Hours: 9:00 - 18:00
Access: Take the route 111 or 117 express bus from Naha Bus Terminal. Get off at Ishikawa IC bus stop and go the last 15 minutes by taxi.
Admission Fee: Adults ￥900/Children ~15 y.o. ￥500 (various activities at additional cost)
Official Website (en),____________________________________________________________________________
So, are we all set for summer, now? If you were feeling a little limited by the pair of bigger amusement parks in Japan, you've certainly got a few more options after reading this! (Speaking of which, aren't we all waiting with bated breath to hear more about the Ghibli Park opening in the next few years?) These parks aren't all huge, and they're not all the same, but those unique features are what makes each of them so much fun. We hope you'll have a great day out at one of the theme parks!
If, after checking all these parks out, you're thinking that maybe theme parks aren't actually your thing, there are lots of good summer festivals to go to in Japan, and the fireworks that happen every year are spectacular too! Or take a look at our new event calendar to find something to do today.
Be sure to look out for more exciting articles every day at JAPANKURU!
Or add us on Instagram and Facebook to share your pictures of Japan. 🗾#tokyo#entertainment#theme park2019.06.19
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4 
Suzuka Circuit Theme Park: Spend the Day as an F1 Racer, Live the Dream!"When I grow up, I want to be a race car driver!"
Are you one of the many children who had this thought growing up?
Maybe you heard it from one (or all!) of your friends?
If you're looking for an outlet where that dream can come true, we'd like to present:
Suzuka Circuit!
It's highly recommended for racing lovers, as a place where all of your Formula 1 dreams can come true.
Strap on your helmet, start the engine, grab the steering wheel...
(For F1 racing, do you still place your hands in the 10 and 2 positions?)
Join the Japankuru team, and step on the gas.
Today we're living that race car driver dream!,About Suzuka Circuit
Suzuka Circuit was built as the first full-scale standard international racing course in Japan! Completed in 1962, it has a history of almost 60 years of major events. It's famous for hosting the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix, along with the "Suzuka 8 Hours", an 8-hour endurance race for motorcyclists. As the venue for these big races, famous professional drivers can also frequently be seen moving around the facilities. In order to simplify the process of bringing in large-scale contestants and racing teams, Suzuka Circuit's hotel was built near the racetrack. Since then, the hotel has become an impressive racing-themed establishment, and things like restaurants and natural hot springs were developed nearby to cater to guests. Now, there's a Formula 1 racing-themed theme park! Even if you just buy tickets to visit the park, the racetrack's proximity means you might just spot a pro racer as well.
Suzuka Circuit
Address: 7992 Ino-cho, Suzuka, Mie
Access: From Shiroko Station, either take a taxi or a Mie Transportation bus.
Official Website (en),The most interesting part of this theme park built around a Formula 1 circuit is how much the circuit is really opened up to visitors. Suzuka Circuit teamed up with pro racer Takuma Sato to create the world's first electric racing system, allowing racing fans big and small to enjoy a realistic race car experience in a safe and easy-to-operate driving environment. Whether you've only ever sat in a car seat, or already have a license and drive a car every day, you learn about how to drive an electric car through the staff's professional explanations. The experience is open to guests two years and older, although car drivers must be at least 9 years old, and only drivers 11 years and up can drive unaccompanied. Pile the family into this three-seater, and race as a team!,Before the race, each driver gets a keycard. Then you just jump in, start the engine, and you're ready to go! The electric race cars are equipped with a voiced navigation system (English and Chinese available!), and each driver is guided around the track. Once finished with the race, each driver can take their keycard to a designated machine outside to get a transcript with their driving score. (Are you ready to look into that pro racing career yet? The machine will let you know!)
Although precautions are taken to make the experience safe enough for the average person, it is still an electric car race, and there are rules to keep everyone from hurting themselves or others. While on the track at Circuit Challenger, no photo taking is allowed. But don't worry, an official commemorative photo will be taken during the race. Each driver can take home a perfect snapshot of their heroic driving, as long as they're willing to pay for it.,Suzuka Circuit's Racing Theater is no average screening room, with a whole building devoted to the motto “Watch, Try and Meet the Genuine Things”. The main theater has a full-scale wide screen and sensory sound system, with seats modeled after racecar bucket seats, open to guests 3 years and older.
Outside of the main theater are a number of interesting racing-themed exhibits. Various cars sit on display, alongside helmets from previous competitions, and signatures collected from well-known professional racers around the world. There are also rooms of games that give visitors the experience of driving an actual F1 vehicle, from seeing how an actual steering wheel handles, to feeling the wind speed of a racing car.,After learning all about racing, are you thinking you might want to work on your driving skills? Then the Acro-X Evolution attraction will introduce you to the world of off-road vehicles, and will take your driving to the next level. The track takes drivers through 12 different geographical settings with different challenges, based off of the various obstacles you might face driving through nature, including steep slopes and water cannons. The off-road vehicle is also equipped with a scoring function, so as you pass through each section of the track, it'll let you know how you're doing so far. At the end of your adventure, grab another transcript and see how your skills really pan out when it comes to off-roading!
Children between the ages of 2 and 8 can join in, but must be accompanied by a companion 13 years or older. Drivers over 9 are free to enjoy the experience on their own or with others!,Stopping by the Racing Theater you get to see a lot of very suave Formula 1 car drivers, but the videos also feature some very cool motorcyclists. Everyone leaving the theater is probably dreaming of how cool they would look tearing down the road on two wheels, too. Younger viewers might not even be able to ride a bicycle yet, though, so it might seem like a bit of a challenge to skip that major step and get right on a motorbike.
At Suzuka Circuit, though, you'll see some surprisingly young children doing just fine, and balancing without a hitch. The newly launched Acro Bike attraction features mini-motorbikes specially designed just for children, making it pretty easy to leapfrog right over bicycles and get going already! There's a track made just for these motorbikes, with hills to add some extra excitement to the ride.
Children ages five and older can try out Acro Bike. Children under 9 must obtain an "A License" at Kids Bike Training beforehand, however.,With lots of attractions focused on the challenge of driving a fast car, the park has a few other kinds of rides to balance things out, of course.
Suzuka Circuit Theme Park has a variety of fun rides! "Adventure Drive" is Japan's first voice-accelerated coaster attraction, for when you want to be loud and silly, and the "Putti Grand Prix" is a less intense kind of race that can be fun for just one person, as well. Tic-Tac Train and Run-Run Balloon are both very cute for kids and adults, and Adven-Boat Frontier is a boating adventure that's fun for the whole family to embark on together. If your group is looking for something off the racetrack, you can always try a different kind of driving!,Inside the Suzuka Circuit theme park, there's a good variety of places to get food and drinks, from snacks to full meals. Our recommendation, though, is that you stop into the warm and inviting Bun Bun's Pancake Shop while you're there.
You can eat your fill of dishes like pork chops and hamburger steaks, but while you're at the pancake shop you can't miss their specialty pancakes. The pancakes are made with high-quality wheat flour produced in Mie Prefecture, and are topped with fragrant Japanese acacia honey. One of their most popular dishes is "Bun Bun's Smile Pancake", a dish with pancakes arranged in the shape of their cute bee mascot, Bun Bun! (You may be thinking "why isn't Bun Bun a bunny?" Well, in Japanese bees say bun bun instead of buzz buzz, so they've got a little honey bee there to sweeten your pancakes.)
The shop's interior is also carefully designed to make it a comfortable space, with fir wood tabletops and floor-to-ceiling windows to let in the sunlight. Grab a sweet snack here and relax and recharge, before heading back out into the park.,The Suzuka Circuit Hotel was originally designed to accommodate the drivers and teams that came to the racetrack for large international events. However it has expanded since then, and now includes natural hot springs, restaurants, and even a family camping area, turning it into quite the resort. Whether you're there to visit the theme park, watch a racing event, or even participate in one, staying at the Suzuka Circuit Hotel is sure to round out your experience of living the racecar driver dream. The hotel caters to all kinds of customers, offering rooms ranging from your normal suite, to a variety of racing-themed rooms all over the hotel, with furniture and decorations designed to complete your experience.,Next to the hotel is S-PLAZA, which includes the natural buffet restaurant SORA・TABEYO, the premium grill and bar SHUN, and the organic cafe Sunpo. SORA・TABEYO focuses on cuisine using lots of fresh, seasonal ingredients, creating dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. SHUN offers a different dining experience, featuring a fantastic chef show, and then a little chef experience just for children.
Within the Suzuka Circuit Resort is a natural hot spring with hot water coming in from Suzuka, which is open to all hotel guests. If your family just spent the whole day running around with children in an amusement park, melting away the day's fatigue with a soak in the hot spring might be just the ticket.
If camping is more your thing, there's also a camping ground on the premises, a favorite with younger guests. Tents, sleeping bags, and even BBQ equipment can be rented out while you're there. Whether you're visiting from within the city of Suzuka, or halfway across the world, it's easy to enjoy the fun of camping at the circuit.,
Theme parks are where we go to live out our dreams, and with race cars being a passion for so many kids, the Suzuka Circuit experience might be a dream come true. We can't all grow up to be Formula 1 racecar drivers, or whatever we dreamed when we were little, but there's no reason not to pretend for a while, and have a good time while you're at it! Plop down in the driver's seat on the Suzuka Circuit racetrack, and race towards a fun time with family and friends.
Be sure to look out for more exciting articles every day at JAPANKURU!
Or add us on Instagram and Facebook to share your pictures of Japan. 🗾#chubu#entertainment#theme park 2019.06.1250
4 Japanese Fireworks Shows for Beach LoversYou'll get a good idea of what it means to the people of Japan by just watching a few Japanese movies or dramas. When the setting is summer, you know all of the characters are headed to the beach, and there just has to be one super-dramatic scene at the fireworks festival! Do the main characters have their first kiss!? Well, we'll never know, but you too can enjoy the natural drama of fireworks exploding over the ocean this summer if you head to any of these great fireworks festivals on the coast! If you've never seen a Japanese fireworks display before, you may be pretty wowed at the length and scale of their shows. Find yourself a comfy spot in the sand, then lay back, relax, and enjoy the hour+ of really well-executed explosions.
(Although, if you're looking for romance and fireworks aren't your style, you could always visit a Tanabata festival instead.),This is a smaller scale event when it comes to Japanese fireworks display, which means only... 2,500 fireworks? That doesn't seem all that tiny to me. The show is set off over Kamakura's famous Yuigahama Beach, so everyone can sit in the soft sand and get a good view of this small display, admiring the colorful lights over the water. This year's theme is "a fireworks festival created by everybody," so do your part and pay a visit!,71st Annual Kamakura Fireworks Festival
Location: Yuigahama Beach, Zaimokuza Beach
Date/Time: July 7 | 19:20 ~ 20:10
Access: 5 min. from Enoshima Electric Railway's Yuigahama Station or Wadazuka Station, 15 min. from JR Kamakura Station
Official Website,Here at Japankuru, we're so taken with the fireworks set off over Tateyama Bay each year that we wrote a whole article dedicated to just that festival. Aside from the fireworks, Tateyama Bay is famous for its great view of Mt. Fuji across the water. It's been chosen as one of the country's "100 Best Views" of the mountain, and the best view is during sunset. Get there at the right time and with the right weather, and you'll see the sun setting right into the mountain's peak. Once the sun has set, though, it's time for fireworks! The Tateyama Fireworks Festival is a pretty huge fireworks display, with more than 10,000 fireworks set off over an hour and fifteen minutes. Throw on a yukata and find a good place to sit on the beach before it gets too crowded.,Tateyama Fireworks Festival 2019
Location: Hojo Coast
Date/Time: August 8 | 19:30 ~ 20:45
Access: 5 min. from JR Tateyama Station
Official Website,This festival is unique in that it doesn't just take place over the course of one or two hours, once a summer. The festival is broken up into lots of parts scattered throughout the seasons, so whatever time of year it is when you visit Atami, you can probably check out a little chunk of the festival. The event originally started when the Atami area wasn't doing very well, and the colorful fireworks were a way of cheering up the populous, but it's been going on for over 60 years now. The layout of Atami, with mountains surrounding the water where the fireworks are set off, creates a basin that encourages echos. It makes the whole experience very dramatic.,Atami Fireworks Festival 2019
Location: Atami Bay
Date/Time: 20:20~
Spring: 6/16, 6/29
Summer: 7/26, 7/30, 8/5, 8/8, 8/18, 8/23, 8/30
Autumn: 9/16
Winter: 12/8, 12/15
Access: Atami Station
Official Website,This fireworks display has been going on since the Taisho Era, the early 20th century. Nowadays many still come to relax on the beach and enjoy the fireworks going off over the water. The fireworks come in a variety of types, with some meant to represent azaleas, the city of Tsu's official flower.,
Tsu Fireworks Display
Location: Akogiura Coast
Date/Time: July 27 | 19:45 ~ 21:00
Access: Shuttle bus from Tsu Station.
Official Website
Image Source: Tsu City Tourism Association,Can you just imagine yourself in that one Japanese drama, now? Enjoying a magical evening under the colorful fireworks, with the lights flashing across the water...
No matter who you plan to go with, a night out on the beach enjoying the fireworks sounds like a pretty good way to spend a summer evening to me.
If you'd rather enjoy the season some other way, though, there's so much else you can do in Japan. From art exhibitions in Tokyo, to hydrangea flower-viewing, or even a trip to Okinawa; Japan is your oyster!
Be sure to look out for more exciting articles every day at JAPANKURU! 🐶
Or add us on Instagram and Facebook to share your pictures of Japan. 💖🗾#kanto#entertainment#fireworks 2019.06.0320
The Tateyama Fireworks Festival: A Must-See Event, Right over Tateyama BayIf you'll be in the Tokyo area during the summer, don't miss the chance to head over to Chiba for this famous fireworks event! Fireworks are a hugely popular part of celebrating the excitement of summer in Japan. Festivals where people gather to watch the colorful explosions and have a good time are ingrained in modern Japanese culture! These events happen all over the country, with long fireworks exhibitions alongside a fun festival atmosphere, but the yearly festival in Chiba is particularly famous. ,Many festival celebrants like to dress up in traditional Japanese yukata (which are a bit different from formal kimono!) to enjoy the festivities. The fireworks at Tateyama Bay go off right over the water, which results in a spectacular view, but the beach offers its own kind of fun. Stalls selling festival food and offering fun games for children (and children at heart) line the surrounding streets.,The festival is held yearly on August 8th, although it is sometimes postponed due to weather conditions. Since it's all about the fireworks, they last a good long time! From 19:30 to 20:45, the show goes on for more than an hour. It's best to find a nice place to recline, and then sit back, relax, and enjoy the show. Standing the whole time would probably be exhausting!
The festival location is basically the beach area off of Tateyama Bay, and you can get there by walking right over from JR Tateyama Station's west exit. It's less than 5 minutes from the train station, but if you want a great spot to sit on the beach, don't cut it too close!,If you choose to drive over, the area will get pretty crowded and traffic won't be great. The event officially recommends that you try to find parking a little ways away, and then walk the rest of the way to the beach. If you do this, though, it's a great opportunity to stop at a nearby convenience store and stock up on cheap chilled drinks and snacks. You'll be all ready to hang out on the sand.
(For our readers 20 years or older, drinking on the beach is legal in Japan. Feel free to grab an adult beverage while you watch the show. Just don't get too drunk; please stay polite for everyone's sake! 🍻),With the warm sand and the lights sparkling over the water, the event is fun for kids, but also very romantic for any lovebirds out there. You can even dress up with a friend in matching yukatas!
Tateyama Fireworks Festival Official Website,A popular way to finish off a summer night like this in Japan is to get your own sparklers, and play with them near home. You can even get little fireworks like this at many convenience stores in Japan. Spend the night appreciating both the majesty of the fireworks above the bay, and the small pleasure of holding your own sparkler. ⁂,I don't know about you, but I can't wait to get out there already and enjoy the warm summer air! We still have a few more months to go before the Tateyama festival, though, so in the meantime there's plenty else to do during the summer in Japan! Head to central Japan for festivals in Fukui, or stick around in Tokyo for other local events.
Be sure to look out for more exciting articles every day at JAPANKURU! 🐶
Or add us on Instagram and Facebook to share your pictures of Japan. 💖🗾#kanto#entertainment#tateyama 2019.05.27160
Get Into the Summer Spirit with Tokyo's "Three Great Festivals of Edo"As the Tokyo weather heats up, Tokyoites begin to flee their stuffy offices and classrooms to feel the cool breeze outside. For some, that means throwing on their lightweight yukata (not heavy kimono!) and going to watch fireworks. But the most exciting summer activities are undoubtedly the traditional festivals that take place all over Japan during the summer.,The Kanda Shrine is a major Shinto spot in Tokyo, and its biennial festival is a big deal. The Kanda Festival, or Kanda Matsuri (神田祭) has been going on long enough that it was already a big deal back when Tokyo was known as Edo (which is why these are the "Great Festivals of Edo!) While today we're discussing Tokyo's major festivals, the Kanda Festival has also been named one of Japan's three major festivals, so it's known nationwide.
Many festivals of all sizes include processions where teams of locals will carry portable shrines, "mikoshi" (神輿), on their shoulders. These little shrines are usually lavishly decorated and beautiful, and they are definitely very heavy, but they have to be small enough that groups of people can carry them. The Kanda Festival also includes larger versions around the size of a car! The smaller mikoshi and the larger parade-floats make their way through the streets of Tokyo, guided by enthusiastic festival participants. Traditionally the Kanda Festival and Sanno Festival are both biennial festivals, and alternate years! This year (2019) the Kanda Festival has already begun, but you can start planning for 2021 now!,Kanda Festival
Event Dates: May 9, 2019 ~ May 15, 2019
Location: Kanda Shrine, 2 Chome-16-2 Sotokanda, Chiyoda City, Tokyo
Access: 5 min. walk from Ochanomizu Station or Shinochanomizu Station. 7 min. walk from Akihabara Station.
Official Website,The Sanno Festival also has a long history, beginning in the Edo Era. It started out as an annual festival of the Hie Shrine in Akasaka, and with support from the shogunate then in power, paraded through the city and even Edo Castle. It's still going strong today, and now it's popular with those who want to admire the traditional outfits of festival participants, and the really beautiful mikoshi and parade floats. Lasting about 10 days, the Sanno Festival still starts at the Hie Shrine, and winds its way through the city, complete with 500 people in traditional court costume. Alternating years with the Kanda Festival, the next Sanno Festival will be in 2020, so before attending the Tokyo Olympics, spend some time admiring Japan's rich traditions!,Sanno Festival
Event Dates: June 7 ~ June 17
Location: Hie Shrine, 2 Chome-10-5 Nagatacho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo
Access: 5 min. walk from Kokkaigijidomae Station, 8 min. walk from Akasaka Station or Akasakamitsuke Station
Official Website,The final Great Festival of Edo is also the latest in the year, as the Fukagawa Hachiman Festival usually starts around August 15th. In the midst of hot and humid August weather, you may be excited to find that this festival is also nicknamed the "Water Splashing Festival" because it includes the tradition of splashing the festival participants, those carrying mikoshi in the parade, with lots and lots of water! Hopefully it cools them down while they carry the heavy structures on their shoulders. Every three years a special imperial carriage joins the ranks of the parade, making it a special "hon-matsuri." Maybe you'll get lucky and be there for one!,Fukagawa Hachiman Festival
Event Dates: usually around August 15th (dates not yet announced)
Location: Tomioka Hachiman Shrine, 1 Chome-20-3 Tomioka, Koto City, Tokyo
Access: 3 min. walk from Monzen Nakacho Station, 15 min. walk from Ecchujima Station
Official Website,So, are you feeling that summer heat yet? Ready to go see some portable mikoshi shrines glitter in the sunlight, or mikoshi bearers get soaked? The summer festivals this year have already begun, but there's still plenty remaining, and they're a great way to get into the Japanese spirit!
(If you're reading this article right when it comes out, you have time to make it to Asakusa's Sanja Festival. It may not be one of the "Great Festivals" of Tokyo, but in our hearts it's top 3 worthy! Definitely worth a look if you're in Tokyo.) ,
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Top 9 Places To Go in Tokyo This April: Must-do Activities in a Must-see City!Traveling to Japan in the spring means the weather is great, the flowers are gorgeous, and all the Japanese students starting their new school year lend an air of excited anticipation all over the country. This makes it a popular time to visit, with tons of travelers planning their trips around the season. The lovely plum and cherry blossoms have never been the only attractions for travelers, though, and this year is no different. As the zenith of cherry blossom season has passed, and sakura petals are slowly raining down on the city, visitors may now be at a loss as to what else Tokyo in the spring has to offer. But we're here to tell you: spring is just beginning!
Whether it's wisteria trees or imperial exhibitions, azaleas or Dragon Ball experiences, you're bound to find something fun to do. Please take a look at what we recommend for your April trip to Tokyo, and check out what the city has to offer!,Natural Wonderlands: Luxurious Flower Viewing,Ashikaga Flower Park offers lovely views in all seasons, but the curtains of wisteria flowers that blossom and create graceful hanging tunnels in the spring are the real draw. Visitors from all over the world come to wander the park and admire upwards of 350 wisteria trees in an area covering 1,000 square meters (about 10,800 square feet). Streams of flowers in pink, yellow, white, and a rich purple all blow in the breeze, surrounding you with lovely shifting colors, and making it feel like you just walked into fairyland (or perhaps a Ghibli film?) Some of these trees are over 150 years old, so you can stroll the park and imagine yourself alongside the many others doing the same thing 100 years ago. On top of all this, there are more than 5,000 azalea bushes in the park, for visiters who appreciate more vibrant blooms. With such majestic trees, the park has even been designated a natural monument by Tochigi Prefecture.
Perhaps the most romantic option, though, is visiting the park in the evening. If these wisteria trees seem magical in the sunlight, their beauty really shines at night, when the flowers are lit up from the ground. With such a totally different atmosphere, a night-time visit gives you a whole new experience, perfect for those looking for an enchanting evening activity.
When you go to Ashikaga Flower Park's "A Tale of the Wisteria" festival this year, you can also head over to Ashikaga City to try on some Showa Era kimonos and walk around the historical site of Bannaji Temple.,"A Tale of the Wisteria" - The Great Wisteria Festival 2019, Ashikaga Flower Park
Event Dates: April 13 (Sat.) to May 19 (Sun.)
Business Hours: 7:00～18:00 (21:00 when doing the night-time "light up")
Admission Fees: Adults 900~1,800 yen, Children: 500~900 yen
Evening "Light Up" Dates: April 18 (Thu.) to May 12 (Sun.)
Night Admission Hours: 17:30~21:00
Night Admission Fees: Adults 600~1,500 yen, Children 300~800 yen
Access: 3 minute walk from JR Ashikaga Flower Park Station
Official Website
,If you head to Hitachi Seaside Park in the late summer or fall, you might find yourself surrounded by vibrant red shrubs, covering the gentle slopes of the ground. In spring, though, you'll be greeted by waves of baby blue eyes flowers, smallish blue flowers that carpet the ground. With such large expanses of the flowers in every direction, a visit to Hitachi Seaside Park makes you feel like you're in the sea, without even looking for the actual water nearby. This year's flower forecast expects the flowers to bloom in mid-April, and continue a ways into May. These blue blossoms should be "in full glory," as they put it, around April 24th to May 3rd.
If you want to flesh out your trip to Ibaraki a little more, be sure to take a look at the impressive Kamiiso no Torii shrine gate, the "gate at the beach of the gods," which is part of the nearby Oarai Isosaki Shrine.,Hitachi Seaside Park: Baby Blue Eyes Bloom
Event Dates: Mid-April to Early May
Admission Fees: Adults 900~1800 yen, Children 500~900 yen
Access: Take a bus from bus stop 2 at JR Katsuta Station, get off at the Seaside Park West Entrance or South Entrance
Official Website,The Bunkyo Ward of Tokyo plays host to a handful of flower festivals each year, one of these being the Tsutsuji Matsuri (つつじまつり), or Azalea Festival, at Nezu Shrine. The azaleas bloom each spring without fail, drawing Tokyo residents out to enjoy the flowers and springtime weather. Layered onto the hills surrounding the walkway, the azaleas create a lovely mosaic of red and purple. On top of this, Nezu features a whole path full of torii shrine gates, similar to Kyoto's Fushimi Inari Shrine, adding some extra atmosphere to the shrine. Our Taiwanese writers went out to visit last year, and took the video below, showing off some great views of the Nezu Shrine and its flowers.,Nezu Shrine Bunkyo Ward Azalea Festival 2019
Event Dates: April 6th (Sat.) to May 6th (Monday)
Admission Fees: 200 yen (free for children in elementary school or younger)
Access: 5 minute walk from Tokyo Metro Nezu, Sendagi, and Toudaimae Stations
Official Website,If you're looking for that wisteria magic, but aren't quite feeling up to getting all the way over to Ashikaga Flower Park, we have one more suggestion for you: the Kameido Tenjin Shrine in Tokyo! While the scope isn't quite the same as the park, this shrine does have more than 50 wisteria trees, many of which are even older than the ones in Ashikaga. During the day, you can look into the water and enjoy the frankly adorable turtles swimming around, which are Kameido Tenjin Shrine's namesake. At night these wisteria trees get lit up just like those at Ashikaga Flower Park! You can even sample some tasty treats at one of the little food stalls specially set up at the shrine for this festival.,Kameido Tenjin Shrine Wisteria Festival 2019
Event Dates: April 13th (Sat.) to May 6th (Mon.)
Access: 15 minute walk from JR Kameido Station or Tokyo Metro Kinshichou Station
Official Website,Urban Excitement: Tokyo Events and Exhibitions,For all of us who grew up reading about Pooh Bear and his friends, new Winnie-the-Pooh-related opportunities on the horizon are always exciting. That's why we were pretty psyched when this exhibition featuring original Winnie-the-Pooh art opened in Shibuya earlier this year, to great fanfare. Sink into the nostalgia, and spend an afternoon with Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, and all of your favorites, at this great exhibition!,Winnie-the-Pooh: Exploring a Classic
Event Dates: February 9th (Sat.) to April 14th (Sun.)
Hours: 10:00~18:00
Location: Bunkamura B1F (2-24-1 Dougenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo)
Admission Fees: 1,500 yen
Access: 5~7 minute walk from JR and Tokyo Metro Shibuya Station
Official Website,Looking to check out some cherry blossoms, but the weather isn't great? Or maybe you're just hoping for a more intense and modern flower-viewing experience. If that's the case, the Sumida Aquarium at Tokyo Skytree has just the thing for you. Their Sakura and Jellyfish digital exhibition features cool lightscapes and glowing jellyfish aquariums inside their "kaleidoscope tunnel", working together to create kind of a magical atmosphere. If you want to feel like you're in a spring-themed movie dream sequence, take a walk through this Sumida Aquarium exhibition.,Sumida Aquarium Sakura and Jellyfish Digital Interactive Exhibition
Event Dates: from now until April 25th (Wed.)
Hours: 9:00~21:00
Admission Fees: Adults 2,050 yen, High School Students 1,500 yen, Middle and Elementary School Students 1,000 yen, Younger Children (3+) 600 yen
Access: Oshiage Station (Skytree), via Tokyo Metro, Tobu, Keisei, or Toei Subway
Event Official Page
Sumida Aquarium English Website,To celebrate Japan's Children's Day, a part of the week of Japanese holidays called Golden Week, the famous landmark Tokyo Tower is getting a head start on the tradition of koinobori (鯉のぼり), or carp-shaped windsocks. Representing the 333 meter height of the tower, 333 bright, fishy banners are hung to blow in the wind, now a yearly practice at Tokyo Tower. These days this includes a six meter sanma-nobori (さんまのぼり), which is not a carp but a saury fish banner! Giving off very different impressions in the daylight and when lit up at night, it's worth checking out Tokyo Tower at both times of day during the spring season (or maybe even enjoying a romantic sunset with the fish!?) These carp will stick around for Children's Day (May 6th), of course, but swim away at the end of Golden Week, so don't miss them before they head back upstream.,Tokyo Tower's Koinobori Carp and Saury Banners
Event Dates: from now until May 6th (Mon.)
Access: 5 minute walk from Toei Akabanebashi Station
7 minute walk from Tokyo Metro Kamiyacho Station
6 minute walk from Toei Onarimon Station
10 minute walk from Toei Daimon Station
15 minute walk from JR Hamamatsucho Station
Official Website,April 2019 is the very last month of the Heisei Era, meaning that this is also the end of Emperor Akihito's reign, before he officially abdicates in May. While political power in Japan is now held by politicians, the imperial family is still very much around, and a change in emperor (and therefore era) is a meaningful event. As of May, children in Japan will be born in the Reiwa Era, and bureaucratic forms around the country will change accordingly! First, though, Takashimaya is holding an exhibition in honor of the Emperor's 30 years on the throne, along with his 60 years of marriage to his wife, Empress Michiko. The exhibition will display 200 images of the Emperor and his reign, records, and a variety of items used by the imperial family and received as gifts. For anyone interested in royalty, this is a great chance to see Japan's take on the theme, and how the imperial family in Japan is still a national symbol.,Takashimaya's Imperial 30 and 60 Year Anniversary Exhibition "国民とともに歩まれた平成の30年"
Event Dates: April 3rd (Wed.) to April 21 (Sun.)
Hours: 10:30~19:30 (~18:00 on the final day)
Admission Fees: free of charge
Location: Nihombashi Takashimaya Shopping Center Main Building, 8th floor
(2-4-1 Nihombashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo)
Access: Tokyo Metro Nihombashi Station, 5 minute walk from Tokyo Metro Tokyo Station,
Official Website
Image Source: Official Website,Known for making other anime-themed escape rooms, unusual escape room brand SCARP has really outdone itself this time with a Dragon Ball room, giving us all a chance to imagine ourselves saving the planet. Realizing that Dragon Ball is a true classic, popular not only in Japan but abroad as well, the creators took pity on our English-speaking souls and decided to add an English-language version at some locations. This means that those of us with less-than-stellar Japanese will also be able to truly get into the experience, and immerse ourselves in Dragon Ball goodness. If you're hoping to try this out while in Tokyo, head over to Ajito of Scrap in Asakusa, where English support is provided.,Dragon Ball Escape Room
Event Dates: from now until May 31st (Fri.)
Location: Ajito of Scrap Asakusa/Real Escape Room Asakusa (1-17-2 Azumabashi, Sumida-ku, Tokyo)
Hours: weekdays 13:00~20:00, weekends: 10:00~20:00
Admission Fees: in advance 2,400 yen, day-of 2,900 yen
Access: 5 minute walk from Tokyo Metro Asakusa Station
Official Website,Having learned about just a handful of the many fun things Tokyo has to offer this month, are you starting to feel like there's too much to do, and too little time? Maybe thought about extending your trip a couple days, just to squeeze in some more great activities? If you're still looking for more, this is Tokyo, there's always something new to do! Check out some of our past articles about the city below, and keep an eye out for new things to do coming soon! (And let us know if you find any amazing things going on in Tokyo that we missed!
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Kanazawa Spotlight: Walking "Underwater" at the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art...Whether an art aficionado or a casual museum-goer, visitors to Kanazawa interested in art, architecture, and design would be wise to include a stop at The 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art. Since its opening in 2004, over three million visitors have come to the museum to experience some of its many world-class temporary exhibits, and popular, immersive and illusory permanent displays (which are free of charge to the public).
The modern design and layout of the museum is in itself a unique feature—especially when compared to the traditional architectural styles found throughout Kanazawa—as the circular, sprawling grounds do not incorporate a main entrance, allowing visitors to experience the various exhibits from a variety of directions.,The museum is positioned within the immediate vicinity of both Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden (to the south of the castle, and west of the garden), making for a convenient combination if visiting all three attractions is of interest.
Use bus terminal 3 or 6 from Kanazawa Station's East Exit. Get off at "Hirosaka·21st Century Museum", and walk 1 min. Additional options include departing from East Exit bus terminals 8–10, and getting off at "Korinbo (ATRIO-mae)." From there it is a 5-minute walk, and the bus ride should take around 10-minutes.,Like many do, should you want an interesting photo to share on social media or for a personal keepsake, this is by far one of the more unique places in the area to take a great shot!
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