2025.10 Go Beyond—New Experiences at Theme Parks in Japan A world of fun for families and thrill-seekers alike awaits!
Tokyo Disneyland and Universal Studios Japan may be the biggest names among Japan’s theme parks, but the country’s theme-park scene encompasses many more destinations than just these two. Explore the country’s playful side and enjoy adrenaline-pumping roller coasters, family-friendly fantasies, immersion in your favorite universe, and a slice of Japan preserved from the past at these exciting locations.
Scenic Thrills—Ride Japan’s Extreme Roller Coasters at Fuji-Q Highland and Nagashima Spaland
Riding on a Fuji-Q Highland roller coaster feels like flying through the heavens.
Photo: Fuji-Q Highland
At the base of majestic Mt. Fuji in tranquil Yamanashi Prefecture lies a kingdom of laughter and excitement. Fuji-Q Highland is home to some of Japan’s most thrilling roller coasters, which will take you to the sky and back. One of these is Fujiyama, dubbed the King of Coasters, which climbs 79 meters, offering unparalleled views of the sacred mountain.
Takabisha, with its heart-thumping drop angle of 121 degrees, is one of the steepest coasters in the world. Then there is Eejanaika, a fourth-dimension (4D) hypercoaster, for a ride that is sure to make you stop believing in gravity with its 14 upside-down inversions.
Access:
Approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes by train via the JR Chuo Line and the Fuji Kyuko Fujikyuko Line from Tokyo Station to Fujikyu-Highland Station. Highway buses departing from major stations like Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ikebukuro and Akihabara are also available.
Fuji-Q Highland
Nagashima Spaland offers a world of fun.
Photo: Nagashima Spaland
Nagashima Spaland in Mie Prefecture, part of Nagashima Resort just outside Nagoya, roars like thunder whenever Steel Dragon 2000 zooms by. This behemoth is one of the world’s longest roller coasters, stretching nearly 2.5 kilometers, and it approaches a speed of 153 kilometers per hour. Not to be missed, though, is the 1.5-kilometer-long Hakugei with its dizzying inversions and steep plunges.
The park also has, among others, the Arashi, Japan’s first 4D free-spin coaster, which lives up to its name (“storm” in English) with cars that spin freely for an unpredictable, gravity-defying dance that makes you feel like you’re tumbling through different dimensions.
Access:
Approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes by the Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train from Tokyo Station to Nagoya Station and then 35 to 50 minutes by bus from Nagoya Station to Nagashima Resort
Nagashima Spaland
Take Your Family on a Journey of Imagination at Junglia Okinawa and Legoland Japan
Photo © Japan Entertainment.
Discover JUNGLIA OKINAWA, Japan’s newest must-visit theme park, which opened in July, 2025. Nestled in the island’s lush northern forests, this extraordinary destination blends excitement, luxury, and the natural beauty of Okinawa. Step into a hyper-realistic world of dinosaurs with cutting-edge ride attractions that let you feel the thrill with your whole body. Soar high in a balloon experience, champagne in hand, while gazing over the island’s sparkling blue sea, endless skies, and vibrant greenery. After adventure, indulge in the ultimate relaxation at the largest infinity public bath, officially recognized by Guinness World Records, where luxury meets breathtaking views.
More than a theme park, JUNGLIA redefines travel in Okinawa by offering an unforgettable combination of thrills, indulgence, and immersion in nature. For visitors seeking both adventure and serenity, JUNGLIA is the new must-go spot that elevates any trip to Japan’s southern paradise.
Access:
Approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes by air from Tokyo Haneda Airport to Naha Airport and then about 2 hours and 20 minutes by express bus from Naha Airport to JUNGLIA OKINAWA
JUNGLIA OKINAWA
2025 The LEGO Group.
LEGOLAND®︎ Japan invites all visitors to a world of imagination.
Another of Japan’s premier family destinations is LEGOLAND®︎Japan, where children’s imaginations take physical form. This Nagoya theme park boasts more than 40 rides and play zones. In the Knight’s Kingdom, for example, young adventurers can ride The Dragon roller coaster in a medieval LEGO®︎setting, while the Submarine Adventure will take them deep into underwater LEGO®︎ realms teeming with real fish—like sharks and rays!
LEGOLAND®︎ Japan is designed for the entire family, with stroller rentals and shaded zones available throughout the park.
Access:
Approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes by the Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train from Tokyo Station to Nagoya Station and then 25 minutes by the Aonami Line from Nagoya Station to Kinjofuto Station, followed by a 10-minute walk
LEGOLAND®︎ Japan
Believe in Magic During Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo—The Making of Harry Potter
The green screen broomstick experience combines the magic of filmmaking with the magic of Harry Potter.
Photo © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (WBEI). Publishing rights © J.K. Rowling (JKR).
Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter isn’t a theme park full of thrilling roller coasters where screams of excitement are heard. Instead, it’s a place of awe that leaves visitors speechless as they immerse themselves in the magical world of cinema.
In The Making of Harry Potter experience, you’ll step behind the curtain into the wizarding world where you’ll walk through Diagon Alley, enjoy a Butterbeer, or fly over London in the green screen SFX broomstick experience. There are robes to wear, props to touch, and hundreds of authentic film memorabilia on display. This is a world that celebrates the magic of human imagination.
Access:
Approximately 45 minutes by the Marunouchi Line and the Oedo Line from Tokyo Station to Toshimaen Station, followed by a 2-minute walk
The Making of Harry Potter - Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo
Nostalgia and Tradition Greet Visitors at Asakusa Hanayashiki and Edo Wonderland
ASAKUSA HANAYASHIKI amusement park provides a connection to Tokyo’s past.
Photo: ASAKUSA HANAYASHIKI
Nestled beside Tokyo’s famous Sensoji Temple is Asakusa Hanayashiki, Japan’s oldest amusement park, which has been delighting guests since 1853. Today, it stands as a vintage love letter to Tokyo’s great past.
HANAYASHIKI’s roller coaster, the oldest in existence in the country (since 1953) continues to thrill visitors as it winds above the rooftops and streets of Asakusa. As people laugh and shout with excitement on the coaster above, children giggle with joy on the slower rides below or scream with fright at the haunted house. Get to know the charming past of the biggest city in the world in a fun setting for the whole family at Asakusa Hanayashiki.
Access:
Approximately 15 minutes by the JR Yamanote Line and the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line from Tokyo Station to Asakusa Station, followed by a 10-minute walk
ASAKUSA HANAYASHIKI
Step back in time to feudal Japan at Nikko’s Edo Wonderland.
Photo: Edo Wonderland
To travel even further back in time, visit Edo Wonderland in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, where Japan’s 17th century lives on in a bustling town full of merchants, ninja, and samurai.
Get in on the fun by dressing up as any historical character from a princess to a warrior and wander the streets of ancient Japan, with history coming at you from every side. Kids can delve even deeper into the past with training in the art of the ninja or by solving mysteries just like the samurai of old. You can find history exhibited in many places in Japan, but in Edo Wonderland, you can become part of it.
Access:
Approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes by the Tohoku Shinkansen bullet train and the Nikko Line from Tokyo Station to Nikko Station and then 30 to 40 minutes by bus to Edo Wonderland
Edo Wonderland
Related Links
Fuji-Q Highland |
Junglia Okinawa |
Legoland Japan |
Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo |
Asakusa Hanayashiki |
Edo Wonderland |
