Nagashima Resort ナガシマリゾート

For families traveling through central Japan and seeking some resort-style fun on their itinerary, Nagashima Resort, located just outside Nagoya, is a great summer retreat. It's an amusement park, hot spring resort, water park and outlet mall all in one place.

Nagashima Resort and its different parks are easily accessible from the Nagoya metropolitan area and neighboring Mie Prefecture by bus and car. Buses run from Nagoya Station and Kintetsu Kuwana Station.

From Nagoya Station , the bus bound for Nagashima Onsen takes between 35 and 50 minutes depending on which park you choose to go to. There are also buses from Sakae Bus Terminal in downtown Nagoya.

A non-stop shuttle bus running from Chubu Centrair International Airport takes 50 minutes.

Drivers taking the local expressways should exit at either the Wangan-Nagashima Interchange or the Nagashima Interchange.

The main attraction here is the roller coasters, including the highest ascending roller coaster in Japan. That may be an exciting way to get unique views of the Ise Bay area, but if you're not a thrill-seeker or you have small children in tow, the more low-key attractions may be more to your liking.

Joyful Waterpark has plenty of slides and pools, including a wave pool. Note that it's only open in summer. (The exact dates change each year but it's generally open from the beginning of July to the end of September.)

Nagashima Spa Yuami no Shima has outdoor and indoor baths in both artificial and natural surroundings designed to feel like a traditional Japanese inn out in the countryside. Soak in a hot spring, warm your body in a sauna, treat yourself to a soothing massage, and choose from three restaurants for dining.

Young children might enjoy meeting a new cartoon superhero at the Anpanman Museum. It's all about Anpanman, a cartoon character known and loved by virtually every Japanese child and many kids in other Asian countries as well.

In addition to incredible physical strength, Anpanman feeds hungry people by giving them a part of his head, which is a bread roll stuffed with red bean paste filling. The baker who made him provides a full-grown head when needed.

And if you want to do some shopping, the resort has the answer; Mitsui Outlet Park, where you can find nearly 300 outlet stores selling Japanese and foreign brands at discount prices.

Last but not least is Nabana-no-Sato Flower Park . The gardens here boast beautiful scenery year-round, but especially between late October and late May when lavish illuminations light the grounds.