Japan welcomed a record 42.7 million international visitors in 2025, with its theme parks a major draw alongside the country's culture, cuisine and scenery. The parks range from record-breaking roller coasters and immersive themed lands to attractions based on films, games and television series.
Resort parks plan substantial investment
Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, which opened in 2001 with lands based on Harry Potter, Jurassic Park and Minions, became the first Universal park worldwide to open Super Nintendo World in 2021 and added the world's first Donkey Kong Country area within it in 2024. The park runs limited-time collaborations featuring franchises including Demon Slayer, Jujutsu Kaisen, Pokémon, One Piece and Resident Evil. In 2026 it announced its first expansion since 2001, planning to invest up to 300 billion yen in new attractions across 60,000 square metres of nearby land.
Tokyo Disneyland, which opened on 15 April 1983 as the first Disney park outside the United States, is based on the original Disneyland in California and features seven themed lands. It and its companion park, Tokyo DisneySea, are owned and operated by the Oriental Land Company under licence from The Walt Disney Company — the only Disney parks in the world not owned by Disney. In 2026 the park announced Space Mountain Earthrise and Sugar Rush: Sweet Rescue as part of a 100 billion yen ($630 million) Tomorrowland transformation, with the new Space Mountain set to replace the original coaster in 2027.
Tokyo DisneySea opened in September 2001, spanning 49 hectares and seven themed ports. In 2024 the resort opened Fantasy Springs, its largest expansion to date, a $2.2 billion development introducing worlds inspired by Frozen, Tangled and Peter Pan.
Character-led attractions expand
Ghibli Park, located within the Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park, brings Studio Ghibli films to life across five themed areas. It opened in November 2022 with three lands, added Mononoke Village in November 2023 and completed the set with Valley of Witches in March 2024. Although it has no major thrill rides or roller coasters, highlights include a large-scale recreation of Howl's Moving Castle and Catbus electric vehicles. In 2026 the park announced plans for a new indoor area inspired by the 1984 film Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind.
PokéPark Kanto, described as the world's first permanent outdoor Pokémon attraction, opened in February 2026 at Yomiuriland in Tokyo. The 26,000-square-metre park features more than 600 Pokémon across two themed zones, Pokémon Forest and Sedge Town, plus a parade and two attractions, Pika Pika Paradise and Vee Vee Voyage. Its tickets also include admission to Yomiuriland.
Sanrio Puroland, an indoor park in Tokyo opened in 1990, centres on characters including Hello Kitty, My Melody and Cinnamoroll. Its outdoor sister park, Harmonyland in Oita Prefecture, opened Nakayoku Lab in 2026, an area featuring the Sky Pal Collection augmented reality experience.
Coasters and regional parks
Fuji-Q Highland in Yamanashi Prefecture, opened in 1968, is known for record-breaking coasters including Fujiyama, Eejanaika and Takabisha, and for views of Mount Fuji. Nagashima Spa Land in Mie Prefecture opened in 1966 and has 13 operating coasters — more than any other amusement park in Japan — including the world-famous Steel Dragon 2000.
Huis Ten Bosch in Nagasaki Prefecture recreates a European-style Dutch town across about 152 hectares, making it Japan's largest theme park by area. In 2025 it opened Japan's first premium flying theatre with Brogent Technologies, featuring an 8K LED dome screen, and the Miffy Wonder Square area. Other parks include Legoland Japan in Nagoya, Moominvalley Park in Saitama, Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura, Asakusa Hanayashiki — considered Japan's oldest amusement park, dating to 1853 — Greenland in Kumamoto and Hirakata Park, Osaka's oldest.