Theme parks in Japan

With its generation-spanning love of cartoon characters, costume and colours, plus a proclivity for zany, neon-drenched entertainment, some would argue that Japan was even better set up for the theme park craze than Florida or California ever were. As befits a country that can continue to confound and amaze even those lucky outsiders who have made repeated visits, or even lived here for years, many in the Western world still see little correlation between Japan and the whole theme park concept – it’s amazing that it still feels like a magical secret in some ways, but the business here is almost preposterously huge, with some locals making multiple visits to their favourite park each and every year. And, of course, these are not only theme parks in general, but theme parks in Japan... as you might expect, the country has brought its own delightful quirks to proceedings.

Your guide to the best theme parks in Japan

While some amusement parks popped up around Japan in the 1960s, the real mega-developments only started to appear in the 1980s. Fast forward to the present day, and Japan boasts three of the world’s top ten most-visited theme parks – and some years, they’re actually three of the top five.

As such, here’s the full skinny on how to visit and make the most of your time at the best theme parks in Japan. Two of them – Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea – sit on an island a stone’s throw away from the centre of Japan’s endlessly fascinating capital. Out west there’s Universal Studios Japan, tucked into the seaside fringe of the country’s spellbinding second city, Ōsaka.

If forced to choose, you can’t really lose, though there are some handy blogs detailing which of the two Tokyo parks may be the one for you. However, if you’ve got the time, why not visit all three on your way across Japan?

Tokyo Disneyland

The grandaddy of theme parks in Japan is still going strong after all these years – and looking great for a forty-something. When it opened up in April 1983, Tokyo Disneyland not only became the first Disney park in Asia, but the first outside the US full stop. Instantly recognisable with its signature fairytale turrets, it keeps visitors coming back year after year with an ever-evolving roster of attractions, rides and themed zones. Some highlights include:

• World Bazaar: a themed zone styled along the lines of 20th-century America, with plenty of souvenirs to buy
• Monsters, Inc. Ride & Go Seek: an interactive dark ride on which you can play “flashlight tag”
• Cinderella’s Castle: an almost identical replica of the one out in Florida
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant: where you can spin in the air atop the world’s only flying elephant
• Critter Country: home to the Splash Mountain ride
• The Disney Ambassador Hotel: one of the only accommodation options in the park itself, with a sharp Art Deco-style design

Tokyo DisneySea

Aimed at a slightly older crowd than Tokyo Disneyland (though there are still plenty of rides for kids), Tokyo DisneySea is made up of seven “Ports of Call” – some are based on real-life harbours (such as Italian port towns), and others on fantasy (like Mermaid Lagoon, or the Jules Verne-inspired Mysterious Island).

• Fantasy Springs: only opened in 2024, this themed area is already a huge hit, pleasing fans of Frozen, Peter Pan and more
• Mount Prometheus: a volcano-like mountain with even steeper sides than nearby Mount Fuji, which rises above Mediterranean Bay and occasionally erupts in flame and steam, with booms heard across all of the Seven Ports
• Journey to the Center of the Earth: a thrilling ride on a subterranean vehicle that (spoiler alert) doesn’t quite make it to the centre of the earth, but well into Mount Prometheus
• Time to Shine Greeting Parade: different to the usual Disney park parade, in that your favourite characters appear on floats that do actually float

Getting to the Tokyo parks

Whisper it gently, but... neither Tokyo Disneyland or Tokyo DisneySea are actually in Tokyo! They’re actually both located just out of the city in the neighbouring prefecture of Chiba – a short journey east along the coast of Tokyo Bay, to an island in the city of Urayasu. Although you can get there in less than twenty minutes from Tokyo station, and a little longer from Shinjuku or Shibuya, these are some of the biggest and busiest train stations in the world, and newbie visitors may find things a little confusing. As such, it may be worth thinking about taking a shuttle bus from Shinjuku, or even going for some affordable luxury, and splashing out on a private transfer.

Tickets to the Tokyo parks

As with transportation, it’s quite possible to purchase tickets to the two Tokyo theme parks by yourself, though the range of options can be a little bewildering – in addition, the official websites sometimes have processing issues with foreign credit cards. Klook has better pricing for Japanese theme parks than all of the other major online ticketing agencies, plus the highest ratings and volume of reviews – the one-day pass options cover entry and all the most important bases at either park.

Universal Studios Japan

Set on the bayfront of Ōsaka, a city whose searing neon signs were said to have inspired the original Blade Runner movie (which, in turn, was said to have inspired the future we ended up living in), Universal Studios Japan – or “USJ” to its buddies – is one of six Universal Studios theme parks across the world. Most years, it’s actually the most visited of the whole bunch, and that’s no real surprise given the amount there is to see and do. It packs even more “Japan” in than the Tokyo Disney parks, with highlights among its 60-odd attractions including:

• Super Nintendo World: opened in 2021, this became the world’s first Nintendo-themed land, with Mario and Donkey Kong making guest appearances. Rides include Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge, and Yoshi’s Adventure, and there are heaps of Nintendo-themed restaurants and shops
• Wizarding World of Harry Potter: plenty of visitors dress appropriately for their trip to this wing of the park, which includes Hogwarts Castle, and the chance to enjoy a butterbeer feast
• Hollywood Dream – the Ride: hurtle through the skies backwards on this stomach-churning rollercoaster
• Universal Wonderland: ride the Flying Snoopy, sate your Hello Kitty urges, or give Elmo a tickle

Klook is the leading online ticketing agency offering express passes for USJ for the best price, which allows visitors to cheat the queues. More details can be found here.

This article was made in partnership with Klook.