Five Best Japanese Amusement Parks For a Fun Summer

You may not know it, but many amusement parks exist in Japan. In fact, many of them are world-famous theme parks and entertainment spots. Many domestic and foreign visitors choose these exciting Japanese amusement parks to enjoy summer vacations. Here are five must-visit amusement parks in Japan!

Universal Studios Japan (Osaka)

Top of our list has to be Universal Studios Japan (USJ). It’s one of Japan’s most fantastic theme parks and one of the best things to do in Osaka this summer. You can indulge in the various universes of famous movies and animations like Jurassic Park, Jaws, Spiderman, Minions, Peanuts, and more. 

What rides are there at Universal Studios Japan?

Relevant to each theme, there are many exciting attractions, rides, and delicious dishes, including snacks. If you dare, don’t forget to try “Hollywood Dream – The Ride,” which is the iconic roller coaster at USJ serving two ride selections: the regular forward version and “Backdrop” – the challenging backward version.

Plus, if you’re a fan of Harry Potter, you’ll definitely want to come here. You can buy many wizard goods. These range from magic wands to Hogwarts cloaks. You can also enjoy a mysterious adventure in the wizarding world. You can admire the splendid scenery outside of Hogwarts Castle and even explore its bizarre secrets. 

Under the heat of the Japanese summer, Harry Potter butterbeer will be a perfect refreshment for you. Go to any beverage stand in the wizarding world and drink this tasty butterbeer. 

As one of Japan’s most popular amusement parks, USJ also contains numerous theme areas of top anime, such as Sailor Moon and Attack on Titan. More than that, you’ll also have a chance to experience Super Nintendo World. So many fun live-action games in Super Mario are waiting for your turn. If you wait a while, you can even experience the Donkey Kong expansion of the Super Nintendo World.

Love fun and exciting adventures in Japan? How about equally fun snack adventures? Then check out TokyoTreat! TokyoTreat sends an exciting box of Japanese snacks, sweets, drinks, noodles, and more right to your door straight from Japan for an exciting Japanese snack adventure at home!

Tokyo Disneyland (Technically in Chiba)

Summer is the best time to visit Tokyo Disneyland. You can gaze at the fascinating fairytale castle and gorgeous Disney princesses in the summer sunshine.

There are a lot of colorful attractions and indoor musical shows that always give a nostalgic feeling to customers. You may quickly come across and exchange warm greetings with friendly childhood characters on the road. Examples include the lovable Winnie the Pooh and the elegant Cinderella.

One of the best Japanese amusement parks offers outdoor attractions. It’s a good idea to experience them to enjoy the energetic summer heat. Don’t miss riding on a raft to explore Tom Sawyer Island!

You can also enjoy a thrilling trip on a log boat across Splash Mountain. Another exciting experience is discovering the Rivers of America on a canoe. Here, you must cooperate with other passengers to paddle the canoe!

At Tokyo Disneyland, you can enjoy daytime and nighttime parades. These allow you to meet Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, and many other Disney friends.

Additionally, “Disney Light the Night” is a beautiful event. It presents sparkling fireworks accompanied by Disney songs for five minutes at night. The firework truly makes Disney Castle look even more magnificent and enchanting.

Want to know more about the rides? Check out our blog on the most popular rides at Tokyo Disneyland.

Tokyo DisneySea (Also Technically Chiba)

Right next to Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo DisneySea is also a perfect spot for the summer. At Tokyo DisneySea, you’ll still meet many Disney friends from well-known Disney films like Toy Story, Aladdin, and The Little Mermaid. However, you’ll have an opportunity to get familiar with some unique characters only at Tokyo DisneySea, like lovely Duffy and adorable friends.

Unlike the neighboring Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo DisneySea has more thrilling and intense attractions, ranging from a high-speed ride through the darkness to a roller coaster with a 360-degree loop. Plus, there are also diverse voyages aboard steamer lines for you to enjoy some leisure time and admire the romantic scenery of this Japanese amusement park. 

Visiting this ocean theme park, you can even get on submersibles to explore the broad ocean with Finding Nemo’s friends or investigate marine creatures at the “20,000 miles” under the sea. Also, remember to drop by Mermaid Lagoon to experience numerous fun attractions and watch a musical concert by Ariel – the mermaid princess, and her friends at the theater. 

Check out more about the top rides of Tokyo Disney Sea here!

Snacks at Tokyo DisneySea are really amazing. You can find various summer-themed food here: Donald Duck Ukiwa Bun (swimming ring bun), Nemo and Friends Churros, Sultan’s Sandae (coconut ice cream with fruit and jelly toppings), Deep Sea Pineapple Smoothie, and more. 

Popcorn is also a popular nibble at Tokyo DisneySea, with different popcorn flavors in each park area, such as caramel, chocolate, matcha white chocolate, black pepper, garlic shrimp, and curry. 

Sanrio Puroland (Tokyo)

We can’t talk about Japanese amusement parks without talking about this super cute Tokyo park.

Sanrio Puroland is a kawaii wonderland for people who love Hello Kitty and other cute Sanrio friends. This small indoor theme park is a perfect place to take shelter on those extra-hot days in Tokyo. You can meet and take a photo with various world-famous Sanrio characters like Hello Kitty, My Melody, Pompompurin, Cinnamoroll, and many more. 

At Sanrio Puroland, there are also a lot of themed attractions and games to create a wonderful and joyful adventure for visitors. Specifically, a brand new attraction called “Character Greeting House” just opened at the beginning of this July.

This attraction was designed as a lovely condominium that has 5 rooms with different functionalities and styles: “Gamer Modern” room, “Vintage Pop” room, “Workout Style” room, “Music Base” room, and “Cutie Strawberry” room. 

Besides fun attractions, you can enjoy yummy and lovely meals at this kawaii theme park. You’ll find that every food and drink here is decorated with extra cute Sanrio characters to eat. Themed curry and cinnamon rolls will never disappoint. It’s definitely one of the best kawaii theme parks in Tokyo.

Fuji Q Highland (Yamanashi) 

Located near Mount Fuji, Fuji Q Highland will definitely be one of the hottest Japanese amusement parks for thrill seekers in the summer. Here, you can find the most adventurous and tremendous attractions, including Dodonpa – the world’s fastest launch acceleration roller coaster, and Takabisha – the world’s steepest roller coaster. Furthermore, if you dare, visit here to challenge yourself in many unforgiving mazes and explore the haunted area.  

Aside from risky and scary things, this world-famous amusement park also has an adorable side – Thomas Land, which is very suitable for kids. Many family-friendly attractions include Thomas’s party parade and Thomas & Percy’s Fun Ride, which are exciting and fun for kids. If you like this famous manga and anime, visit Hidden Leaf Village – the Naruto theme park inside Fuji Q Highland. 

The Ferris wheel at Fuji Q Highland is also fun for people who want romantic moments with family and friends. After having an exciting and energy-consuming adventure at Fuji Q Highland, dropping by any hot spring spot nearby can be a good idea to relax your muscles and refresh your mind. 

Now, you know a bit more about Japanese amusement parks. Try to make your own list of ones to visit this summer. Which park do you want to visit most? Leave us a comment to share your thoughts!