Japan's theme park sector covers record-breaking roller coasters, immersive themed lands and attractions based on films, games and television, according to a roundup of the country's leading parks. Japan welcomed a record 42.7 million international visitors in 2025, and its theme parks have become a major draw alongside its culture, cuisine and scenery.
Universal and Disney lead expansion plans
Universal Studios Japan in Osaka opened in 2001 with lands and attractions based on Harry Potter, Jurassic Park and Minions. It became the first Universal park in the world to open Super Nintendo World in 2021 and added the world's first Donkey Kong Country area in 2024. The park runs limited-time collaborations with franchises including Demon Slayer, Jujutsu Kaisen, Pokémon, One Piece and Resident Evil. In 2026 it announced its first expansion since opening, with plans to invest up to 300 billion yen across 60,000 square metres of nearby land.
Tokyo Disneyland opened on 15 April 1983 as the first Disney theme park outside the United States and features seven themed lands. In 2026 it announced Space Mountain Earthrise and Sugar Rush: Sweet Rescue as part of a 100 billion yen ($630 million) transformation of Tomorrowland, with the new Space Mountain set to replace the original coaster in 2027. Tokyo DisneySea, which opened in September 2001 across 49 hectares and seven themed ports, added the $2.2 billion Fantasy Springs expansion in 2024, inspired by Frozen, Tangled and Peter Pan.
Character-driven and cultural parks
Ghibli Park, located within the Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park, opened in November 2022 and completed its five themed areas with Mononoke Village in 2023 and Valley of Witches in 2024. It has no major thrill rides but includes a large-scale recreation of Howl's Moving Castle and Catbus electric vehicles. In 2026 it announced plans for a new indoor area inspired by 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 site features more than 600 Pokémon across Pokémon Forest and Sedge Town, plus two attractions, Pika Pika Paradise and Vee Vee Voyage. Sanrio Puroland, an indoor park in Tokyo that opened in 1990, presents Hello Kitty, My Melody and Cinnamoroll, while its outdoor sister park, Sanrio Harmonyland in Oita, added the Nakayoku Lab area in 2026.
Thrill rides and regional parks
- Fuji-Q Highland (opened 1968) is known for record-breaking coasters including Fujiyama, Eejanaika and Takabisha, and for its views of Mount Fuji.
- Nagashima Spa Land (opened 1966) has 13 operating coasters, more than any other amusement park in Japan, including Steel Dragon 2000.
- Huis Ten Bosch (opened 1992) recreates a Dutch town across 152 hectares, Japan's largest theme park by area, and opened the country's first premium flying theatre in 2025.
- Yomiuriland in Tokyo's Tama Hills has more than 40 rides, attracted around 2.4 million visitors in 2024 and marked its 60th anniversary that year.
Other parks in the roundup include Legoland Japan in Nagoya (2017), Moominvalley Park (2019), Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura, Asakusa Hanayashiki (established 1853 and considered Japan's oldest amusement park), Sylvanian Park, Greenland in Kumamoto and Hirakata Park, Osaka's oldest, with origins dating to 1910.