Whenever you travel on a holiday with your family or friends, there’ll always be some reason or another to slot an amusement park into your schedule. Be it to give the young ones in your family a chance to have fond childhood memories, to see which one of your friend group has the lowest threshold for roller coasters, or even as a golden opportunity to have some fun with your significant other, theme parks are places that you always end up enjoying far more than you’d expect.
While it is well-known to everyone that Tokyo (東京) is home to one of the biggest and most popular theme parks in the entire world, it might come as a surprise that the metropolis actually has many more theme parks scattered around, waiting to be explored. From deeply immersive franchise experiences to diverse entertainment complexes, here are five theme park recommendations for the next time you get a chance to travel to Tokyo!
1. Tokyo Dome City
While Tokyo Dome City (東京ドームシティ) may be a near and dear household name to the residents of Tokyo, it is still a place that many foreign tourists are unfamiliar with. Tokyo Dome is the premier indoor stadium of Tokyo, where several high-profile sporting events and musical concerts are held every year. Completed in 1988, it forms the massive entertainment complex of Tokyo Dome City along with many other entertainment venues in the vicinity.
As far as amusement parks go, Tokyo Dome City is as well-balanced as it can get. Thrill-seekers will enjoy the rides of Tokyo Dome City Attractions, a free-to-enter park where you can purchase tickets for individual rides. Shopaholics can browse a selection of over 50 stores spread throughout the City, specialising in a range of goods from clothes to collectibles. And at the end of a long day, kick back and relax at Spa LaQua, one of the largest and most elaborate hot spring spas in Tokyo.
Tokyo Dome City (東京ドームシティ)
Address: 1-3-61 Koraku, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-0004
Access: 3-minute walk from Suidōbashi Station (水道橋駅)
2. Sanrio Puroland
A wonderland for lovers of all things kawaii, Sanrio Puroland (サンリオピューロランド) is an indoor theme park featuring the cute and popular mascots of the Sanrio Company, including Hello Kitty, Gudetama, and Pompompurin. This theme park has a focus on character sets and immersion rather than rides, featuring attractions such as a tour of Hello Kitty’s Mansion or the Sanrio Character Boat Ride.
Cameras and Instagram accounts are a must-have before you visit this place, as you’ll find yourself spoilt for photo-taking opportunities with every step you take. From the large fluffy mascots strolling the premises, the whimsical parade that marches through the villages, and a neverending selection of themed food and shopping, this place is sure to delight the photographer in everyone. With its character-heavy attractions and focus on the kawaii aesthetic, Sanrio Puroland may not appeal to everybody, but it will certainly be a must-visit for anyone who holds these characters close to their hearts.
Sanrio Puroland (サンリオピューロランド)
Address: 1-31 Ochiai, Tama-ku, Tokyo 206-8588
Access: 5-minute walk from Keio-Tama-Center Station (京王多摩センター駅)
3. Tokyo Joypolis
Another indoor theme park at the opposite end of the spectrum, Tokyo Joypolis (ジョイポリス) is a facility dedicated to cutting edge technologies in entertainment. Situated in the heart of Odaiba, this three-storey facility on the inside of DECKS Tokyo Beach shopping mall (デックス 東京ビーチ) is a prime offering by SEGA, a video game company which is also famous for its hundreds of arcades spread throughout the country.
Don’t let its location on the inside of a shopping mall fool you—Tokyo Joypolis makes use of every square metre to cram a surprisingly large number of rides and attractions. In addition to boasting several virtual reality theatre coaster rides, they actually have a fully realised indoor rollercoaster snaking through its complex which you can control using a music rhythm game! Every one of its attractions makes full use of state-of-the-art technology, from zombie tag shootouts, horror houses, and even fortune-telling.
Tokyo Joypolis (東京ジョイポリス)
Address: 3F–5F DECKS Tokyo Beach, 1−6−1, Daiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo 135-0091
Access: 5-minute walk from Tokyo Teleport Station (東京テレポート駅)
4. Harry Potter Studio Tour
Built on the former grounds of the recently closed Toshimaen Amusement Park, The Making of Harry Potter Studio Tour is the second time a major Harry Potter-related permanent attraction will open in Japan, after the Wizarding World zone in Universal Studios Japan Osaka.
In this exhibition, fans will be able to see the magic that goes on behind-the scenes to create the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts series of films in real life. Enjoy a range of interactive experiences, such as riding a broomstick (in front of a green screen), becoming a moving portrait, and chugging a refreshing mug of Butterbeer from the cafe! Featuring recreations of famous scenes from the films such as Daigon Alley and Platform 9 and 3/4, and a comprehensive gift shop with every single piece of Harry Potter paraphernalia you can imagine, Potterheads will most certainly have one more thing to look forward to on our next trip to Japan!
The Making of Harry Potter
Address: 1-1-7 Kasugacho, Nerima-ku, Tokyo
Access: 2-minute walk from Toshimaen Station (豊島園駅)
5. Tokyo Disneyland • Tokyo DisneySea
We’ll be ending off this list with the most popular theme park in Japan by a long shot. Tokyo Disneyland (東京ディズニーランド) is a park that needs no introduction, but Tokyo DisneySea (東京ディズニーシー), which sits directly next to it, may cause a bit of confusion for first-time visitors. In essence, the attractions of Tokyo DisneySea have a sort of “water” theme attached to them (think Mysterious Island, Mermaid Lagoon, Mediterranean Harbour, etc) and are far more unique and well-developed than those at Disneyland. The rides of Disneyland are also a lot more subdued and relaxed as they are aimed towards young children, while the thrill rides of DisneySea may be more appealing to those who want a bit more excitement in their theme parks.
Both parks are equally immersive and nostalgic, with the Venetian and deep-sea kingdom architecture of DisneySea rivalling the classic Disney movie atmosphere of Disneyland. My personal recommendation is to dedicate at least two separate days to visit Disneyland and DisneySea each, but if you really only have the time or budget to fit one into your itinerary, then experiencing DisneySea should be your priority by far.
Tokyo Disney Resort
Address: 1-1 Maihama, Urayasu, Chiba 279-0031
Access: 1-minute walk from Maihama Station (舞浜駅)
Did any of these parks tickle your fancy? It is easy to be astounded by the breadth of the hundreds of theme parks scattered all across Japan, so the fact that so many of them can already be easily accessed from just Tokyo alone is sure to guarantee options for many trips to come. So whether you have a lot of time to kill or have a specific itch for a ride to get your adrenaline going, I hope this list has given you a few ideas as for your next pit stop adventure in Tokyo!
