Don’t take the Japanese summer for granted. The temperatures might look mild on paper, but the high humidity makes the weather dangerous. Thousands are hospitalized from heat stroke each year.
Staying in your apartment with the AC blasting might seem like the safest way to spend your summer, but there’s another option.
Japan has many awesome water parks. They help you enjoy the warm summer without an unplanned hospital visit.
In this article, we cover the top ten water parks in Japan. You can cool off in the pools, rides, and slides… but make sure you put on plenty of sun-screen!
Japan’s water parks help you escape the heat and have a blast.
Let’s start our escape in Nagashima.
1. Nagashima Spaland, Mie
Nagashima Spaland is a huge complex. The complex has several theme parks, an outlet shopping mall, a spa resort, and the Joyful Water Park.
Nagashima Spaland’s record-breaking roller coasters are the park’s star attractions. You wouldn’t know it in summer when the Joyful Water Park draws massive crowds.
This is great news for people wanting to cool off — and coaster aficionados. The pools draw the crowds away from the rides. This leads to shorter waits, especially during the week.
Joyful Water Park has 10 pools and 18 slides. The main draws are the Jumbo Seawater Pool, the Tornado Slider, and Spa Kids, an indoor pool for children.
Hours
The Park Opens at 9:30am.
Closing time varies from 4:30pm to 6:00pm, depending on the season.
The park typically opens in early July and closes in late September.
Check out their information page before you go (Japanese only).
Admission (Water Park Only)
- Adults (Junior High School and Over): 3,000 yen
- Elementary School Students: 2,100 yen
- Infants (ages 2 and up): 1,200 yen
*Combined entry tickets for the theme park and water park are available.
For More Information
Nagashima Spaland Water Park Page
2. Yomiuri Land Water Amusement Island, Tokyo
Yomiuri Land is a family friendly park with 43 attractions. The water park within the amusement park is known as Pool Wai.
Head to Pool Wai’s five pools and three slides in the summer. The pools include a wave pool, a river, swimming and diving pools, and an Anpanman themed pool for the kids.
The straight line and slalom water slides are free. The giant sky river ride costs 600 yen unless you buy the one-day special pass.
Hours
Pool Wai is open from early July to September
The hours vary, though typical hours are from 9:30am to 5:30pm
Check their schedule before you go.
Admission (Includes Admission to the Pool and Amusement Park)
- Adults (18-64): 3,200 yen
- Junior High School Students: 2,500 yen
- Children (3- Elementary School): 2,100 yen
- Seniors (65 and above): 2,000 yen
For More Information
Water Amusement Island Hompage (Japanese only)
3. Toshimaen Hydropolis, Tokyo
Toshimaen is an aging amusement park. It comes to life every summer with the opening of its water park, Hydropolis.
Hydropolis
The most famous attraction in Hydropolis is the Nautic Jet. The Nautic Jet combines a water slide with a boat ride.
Other Water Attractions
The park has 25 water slides (the highest reaching 22 meters). You pay an extra charge to ride some of the slides.
The kids love the pools designed just for them. There’s an Olympic sized swimming pool and diving area for the more serious swimmers.
Hydropolis has a strict no tattoo policy. The pool only opens in summer.
The Onsen
Right next to Hydropolis you find an onsen surrounded by a traditional Japanese garden. The onsen stays open year-round.
In addition to the traditional gender segregated baths, the onsen has a mixed area where you wear a bathing suit. There’s also a pool that recreates the high salt content of the Dead Sea for a truly unique bathing experience.
Hours
Check the site before you go. The water park typically opens in July and closes in September.
Check out their schedule before you go.
Admission (Includes Entry to Toshimaen Amusement Park)
- Adults (Junior High Students and Older): 4,000 yen
- Child A (Above 110cm Tall): 3,000 yen
- Child B (Less Than 110cm Tall): 2,000 yen
- Children below the age of 3: Free
For More Information
Toshimaen Hydropolis Homepage (Japanese only)
4. Tobu Zoo Super Pool, Saitama
Tobu Zoo Park includes a zoo, amusement park, dog village, and the super pool.
Check out their commercial here:
The Water Park
The water park has a wave pool, a 300-meter running river, and water slides. It also has kids only pools, making it a popular option for families.
Water blasters shoot jets of water over the crowds periodically.
The Zoo
The zoo has 120 animal species on display — including white tigers. It’s one of the few places near Tokyo where you can see fireflies.
The Amusement Park
The amusement park has thirty attractions. They include a few coasters and a big Ferris wheel offering an amazing view of the park.
There are restrictions on tattoos. Unlike many other parks, you can bring your own food and drinks in.
2018 Hours
- July 21st – September 2nd 9:30am – 5:00pm
- September 8th & 9th: 9:30am – 5:00pm
The pool typically opens in mid-July and stays open through September. Check the site before you go (Japanese only).
Admission (Includes Entry to the Pool and Zoo)
- Adults (Junior High School Students and Older): 2,400 yen
- Children (ages 3 and older): 1,100 yen
- Seniors (60 and above): 1,700 yen
For More Information
5. Rusutsu Resort Super Jumbo Pool, Hokkaido
Hokkaido is usually thought of as a winter destination, but it’s a great summer option as well. It doesn’t have nearly as much humidity as the rest of Japan.
The Resort
The Rusutsu resort has all your pool needs covered with the Super Jumbo Pool area.
The outdoor pools stay heated to eighty-two degrees (Fahrenheit). They include a 300-meter lazy river, the aqua coaster, and traditional water slides. There are two kids’ pools (one with built-in water pistols) and a covered competition pool.
The Wave Pool
The indoor wave pool stays open year round. It’s inside the hotel building.
The wave pool is free for hotel guests staying overnight. It’s available to non-guests for 1,080 yen or as part of the amusement park admission.
2018 Hours
July 23rd – August 19th: 9:00am – 4:00pm
Check out their schedule here
Admission (Includes Amusement Park Admission)
- Adults (13 and over): 5,500 yen
- Children (6-12): 4,500 yen
- Family Discount: 4,500 yen
- Student Discount (with ID): 4,500 yen
For More Information
Rusutsu Resort Super Jumbo Pool Homepage
6. Spa Resort Hawaiians, Fukushima
Spa Resort Hawaiians is Japan’s first theme park. It was built in the 1960’s.
The Water Park has a Hawaiian theme. You’ll see lots of tropical plants, and the staff wears Hawaiian shirts. There’s a stage where a hula dance troupe performs.
The Hawaiian theme continues into the food courts. Your taste buds will think you’re in Hawaii!
Inside the Dome
Inside the all-weather dome, you find a large pool, a lazy river, three water slides, and kid’s pools. The water comes from the Yumoto hot spring. The average water temperate stays around eighty-two degrees (Fahrenheit).
There’s even a chance to learn some history. A museum dedicated to the history of the Hawaiian Islands sits within the water park.
Other Attractions
Spa Resort Hawaiians doesn’t have just one water park. Here’s a list of the many water attractions you can try:
The Spring Park is a fun onsen themed attraction.
A variety of European themed mixed-gender baths (bathing suits required) are available.
You can relax in an open-air gender segregated bath.
Spa Garden Pareo is an outdoor pool with onsen temperatures. The brightly colored zones are marked for active playing or relaxation.
Edo-Jowa Yoichi is the largest open-air bath in the world. It recreates the atmosphere and ambiance of Edo-period public baths. Guests at Edo-Jowa Yoichi can enjoy Edo-period shadow plays or take in herbal saunas.
The Earthquake
The park suffered damage following the Tohoku Earthquake and tsunami.
The hula girls visited the devastated areas to cheer people up. They became a symbol of post-earthquake recovery. The park remains a popular destination since reopening in 2012.
Hours
Typically 9:00am -10:15pm
Check the schedule before you go.
Admission (Entry to All Water Parks)
- Adults (Junior High School and above): 3,500 yen
- Elementary School Students: 2,200 yen
- Infants (3 and above): 1,600 yen
Prices drop after 3:00pm and 6:00pm. Tickets to individual water parks are also available.
For More Information
7. Uminonakamichi Seaside Park, Fukuoka
This seaside park is a great destination any time of year.
There’s something for all seasons. You can enjoy cycling trails and rental bikes, beautiful flowers, and even an aquarium.
The Sunshine Pools
You don’t want to miss the Sunshine Pools in summer.
There are six pools and slides. They include the ten-meter-tall, one-hundred-meter long Dragon Slider, a lazy river, a wave pool, and, strangely, a collection of dinosaurs.
Other Fun Activities
The water jungle playground periodically gets drenched in water. You can climb inside an aqua roll, an inflatable tube you propel across the water’s surface. You can also have dead skin removed from your feet by “Doctor Fish.”
Normal Park Hours Hours
- March 1 to October 31: 9:30am to 5:30pm
- November 1 to end of February: 9:30am to 5:00pm
Last Entry: 1 hour before closing time
*Park hours may be extended during busy days and event periods.
2018 Water Park Hours
- July 21st – August 31st: 9:00am – 6:00pm
- September 1st & 2nd: 9:00am – 5:00pm
- September 8th & 9th: 9:30am – 5:00pm
*Times are subject to change
Check their schedule (Japanese only) before you go.
2018 Admission
- Adults (15 and over): 1,900 yen
- Elementary and Junior High Students: 950yen
- Infants (3-5): 300 yen
For More Information
Uminonakamichi Seaside Park Homepage
8. Hakone Kowakien Yunessun, Kanagawa
Have you ever wanted to bathe in wine or coffee? At Hakone Kowakien Yunessun water park, you can.
The park combines pools and water slides with a variety of onsen style baths. The most popular are the coffee bath and the wine bath.
There are other ‘additional flavors’ available. They vary depending on when you visit. I tried the green tea, soda, and sake baths.
Despite the presence of alcohol-themed baths, kids run freely through the park. The park offers many attractions for them.
The park gets very loud and very crowded. The onsen like baths inside the “caves” on the roof offers a calm place to relax.
The baths require a bathing suit. You can rent one if you didn’t bring yours.
If you want a real onsen, the Mori no Yu onsen is in the same building and shares facilities with Yunessun.
You can buy a shared entrance ticket. You can also buy a ticket for entry into one park only.
Hours
9:00am – 7:00pm
Admission (Yunessun Only)
- Adults: 2,900 yen
- Children: 1,600 yen
For More Information
Hakone Kowakien Yunessun Homepage
9. Tokyo Water Adventure Summerland, Tokyo
Summerland celebrates summer all year long.
Inside Area
The inside pool area is called the ‘adventure dome,’ and hosts a wave pool, water slides, a hot tub, and an onsen area (keep your swimsuit on — it’s not an authentic onsen!).
Outside Area
There are more water slides outside. You’ll also find the park’s star attraction outside – the 750-meter long lazy river.
The Crowds
With all these attractions, you may wonder why Summerland isn’t higher on this list. The answer? Crowds.
You’ll find Summerland a challenge if you’re even slightly claustrophobic. Go off-season, early, and during the week to avoid the crowds.
Note: Summerland has strict entry policies because of a slashing attack in 2016. Bottles, cans, and carts used to lug around kids are banned (baby carriers are allowed).
They also forbid people with tattoos from entering the park.
Hours
Varies by season
Closed December – February
Check the calendar in advance.
Admission: Entry Only – Rides Cost Extra
Summer July 1st – October 1st
- Adult (agest 13-60): 3,500 yen
- Children (ages 7-12): 2,500 yen
- Infants (ages 2-6): 1,800 yen
- Seniors (ages 61 and above)
Regular prices (Outside of Summer)
- Adult: 2,000 yen
- Children/Infants/Seniors: 1,000 yen
For More Information
Tokyo Water Adventure Summerland Homepage https://www.summerland.co.jp/english/
10. Spa World, Osaka
I love Spa World, so it was hard to put it tenth on this list. To be fair, Spa World’s water park doesn’t compare to the size of the other parks on this list.
If you love water slides, check out their reverse drop water slide.
Your family will enjoy the spinning water slide and the kid’s play area. Children love the extensive in-pool playground.
There’s also an indoor pool and an outdoor pool. Both offer incredible views of Osaka’s cityscape. You get a particularly nice view of the Tsutenkaku Tower.
Admission to Spa World includes the pool floor and one of two floors with Asian or European themed onsen. The floors are separated by gender and swap over every month.
Spa World also has a gym, restaurants, and relaxation spaces. There’s even a hotel if (like me) you discover you don’t want to leave!
Hours Indoor Pool
- Weekdays: 10:00am – 7:00pm
- Weekends/Public Holidays/Days Before Public Holidays: 10:00am – 10:00pm
The outdoor pool only opens in the summer. The indoor pools stay open year round.
Check their hours here.
Admission (3 hours/All day):
- Weekdays: Adults (ages12 and above): 2,400/2,700 yen
- Children (under 12): 1,300/1,500 yen
- Saturday/Sunday/Holidays/Special Days: Adults: 2,700/3,000 yen
- Children: 1,500/1,700 yen
Many hotels in the Namba area give you discount vouchers to Spa World.
For More Information
Insider Tips
- Most parks won’t let you bring food and beverages in. Bring some coins with you — almost all the parks have vending machines.
- Make sure you don’t get dehydrated. Stock up on sport’s drinks or add a little salt to your water. Refill a water bottle from drinking fountains if you’re on a tight budget.
- You might have trouble finding strong sunscreen in Japan. Ask your friends or family to send you some from home, or order some online.
- Most parks forbid tattoos. If yours is small enough to conceal, consider using waterproof bandages or a rash guard to cover up.
Do You Have a Favorite Water Park in Japan?
Have you been to any of the parks on our list? Did we miss any you think should have made the list? Let us know in the comments.
