Water and amusement parks are the best go to places for tourists and locals alike, especially during the summers where the weather is at its warmest and a lot of people are on vacation making these places more exciting and fun. There are numerous varieties of parks in the world but most of them are around areas where tourists flock to because there are other famous attractions too like museums, gardens, zoos and the like.
There are countless theme parks across Japan that are famous worldwide. Some are franchises of well-loved brands that also have equally popular parks in the US and Europe. Every city in Japan has their own signature theme park where tourists and locals visit all year round, but more often in spring and summer seasons when it’s vacation time for kids and when festivals are scheduled.
Kobe is just one of the cities with the most unforgettable amusement parks. Some of them are not only entertaining but educational as well so they’re popular with kids, teenagers and even the young at heart. These parks provide interactive entertainment and historical infotainment and provide a relaxing respite from the hustle of reality.
Sumaura Sanjo Amusement Park
This park is mainly known for the rope-way that lets you marvel at the spectacular views of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge and Kobe city. You can also view Kansai International Airport and the Osaka bay area on a clear sunny day when you’re being transported to the revolving observatory at Sanjo Park.
The park itself has nostalgic rides including the sky-riding cycle monorail, which takes you on a pedal-powered loop up to eight meters above the ground. Nearby attractions include Kobe Suma Seaworld and Suma Rikyu Park. Full entry price is 2,100 yen (adults) and 1,600 yen (kids), with rides around 300 yen a go.
Website: https://www.sumaura-yuen.jp/en/
Dekapathos
Grab your tent, a cooler of drinks and your trusty swimwear and head to this water park in Rokko Island, Higashi-Nada Ward. Enjoy the different features such as a running water pool, a wave pool, and a 60 meters long body slide. There’s also a water jungle gym much like a playground jungle gym but this time in the middle of a pool. The food court sells warm meals like noodles and curry. General admission is 1,800 yen, with discounts for kids.
Website: https://www.dekapathos.com/en
Nesta Resort
This large scale forest adventure resort in Hosokawa spans across 2.3 million square meters and features over 30 different activities. If you include additional facilities such as accommodation and hot springs, this expands to 60. You can try out water rides, zip wires, boating, climbing walls, arcade games and more. Full entry price is 4,390 yen for a 1-day pass.
Website: https://nesta.co.jp/en/
Mount Rokko Adventure Kingdom Greenia
Renovated in 2021, this athletic adventure course in the Rokko mountain range includes courses set on land, water, and in the air. You can enjoy unlimited play in six different areas for 3,000 yen. There is everything from pre-school play to courses testing experienced athletes and climbers; from fun games to challenges that test muscle strength. Equipment such as helmets, gloves, and supporters are available to rent.
Website: https://enjoy-osaka-kyoto-kobe.com/article/a/greenia/
Mosaic Big Ferris Wheel
This ferris wheel in Harborland gives you a captivating view of the harbor, the shopping center, and several other entertainment areas in Kobe. Its location is also home to other amusement centers and restaurants catering to visitors from all walks of life. The wheel is open at night, giving riders the opportunity to see the night-time illuminations in the city. Cost is around 800 yen per ride.
Address: 1-6-1 Higashi Kawasaki-cho, Chuo Ward, Kobe 650-0044
Kobe Sky Adventure Suzuran
If you want a park that is a bit more challenging than just wood and rope obstacles, Kobe has something even better for you. Imagine yourself suspended from seven meters above the ground tied to a harness and braving the obstacles in mid air. You can enjoy this thrilling adventure with your colleagues such as in team building activities and with your family and friends when you visit this city together. It’s a one of a kind bonding experience that will surely be most memorable to everyone.
Address: 11-1 Myogayama, Yamada-cho, Kita Ward, Kobe 651-1101
Some tourists and locals love staycations but at times you’d think just sitting around or taking a dip in a pool alone would be completely boring. In any case, if you really just want to lounge around on a family vacation, pick a hotel near any of these amusement parks so that the rest of the family can fully enjoy their time off while you relax, take a dip in an onsen or just shop ‘til you drop.
By Mti [CC BY-SA 3.0], from Wikimedia Commons
