This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
Park Profile www.parkworld-online.com


In 2012 Japan’s oldest continually operating


amusement park celebrates its 100th anniversary.


Thomas Clarke visits a whimsical world of elves and fairies outside Osaka


Hirakata Park Dowsing Mountain


Osaka’s stalwart amusement outlet L


ocated in the town of Hirakata on the outskirts of Japan’s second city, Hirakata Park opened its gates for the first time on October 6, 1912.


Although Tokyo’s Aasakusa Hanayashiki is technically older, opening in 1853, it was closed for 12 years from 1935 to 1947, giving Hirakata the bragging rights it enjoys today.


The family amusement park is home to 43 rides and attractions, including five rollercoasters, spread across a 40-acre hillside site. Still owned by the founding Keihan Electric Railway, the family park has suffered a little since the arrival in Osaka of Universal Studios Japan in 2001, but still entertains a respectable 1.2 million annual guests. Although elves and fairies provide a loose backstory, beyond the entrance plaza it’s hard to tell the park actually has a theme. Stepping through the turnstiles guests are imediately greeted by Dowsing Mountain, a large rock formation which is home to an unusual attraction. Here children explore the mountain searching for bags of treasure which get weighed in and exchanged for toys. On warmer days the Magical Lagoon around the volcano becomes a popular paddling area. Walking away from Dowsing Mountain, the theming all but ends. All of the park’s rollercoasters are family-friendly, with no inversions in sight. Catering for the smallest


36


DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46