TPR in Japan - 2018 - Theme parks and Japanese Fun!

In a week or 2 that 77dollar ticket will be 150 dollars. Also I can pretty much guarantee that flying dinosaur and minions that are timed entry will also not be allowed as alternatives to a regular ride down for maintenance

Sorry to read your Universal day didn't go that well.
But awesome that the next parks worked out great!

And green rain ponchos given to you!
Very cool of them to do that.

I've been following this thread and love how well organized it is, and the great time everyone is having. Love the pics and reports, and I am very impressed how everyone made the best while at Universal. Surprised to hear about the problems there. I hope I can make one of these Japan trips in the future as they look like a great time and a nice change of pace from the US. Enjoy the rest of the trip everyone.

yay for the Twitter Updates that show y'all got to go back and ride the closed coasters. . . but yeah, I can't believe how poor the customer service was.

Glad it didn't cause any damage to the fun y'all had (and that the universe stepped in to allow the rides the next day).

Great report!

For all the zoos and aquariums we go to, I've never seen a Capybara. That really needs to be corrected...

It's unfortunate that the Universal visit turned into a bust in several ways. Nevertheless, this trip looks like another amazing TPR adventure to Japan! I love living vicariously through these trip reports and remembering the awesome time I had there with you all a few years ago!

Sorry to read about your Universal Trip. Would love to go you guys and gals on a Japan trip in the future. looks like fun.

Loving the report and finding all the information incredibly helpful as I'm looking to go to Japan in late December/early January. Haven't mapped out the whole trip yet as I've been debating just staying in the Tokyo area or going around to different cities as well. Definitely thinking about not bothering with Universal now but I'd like to go to Spa Land. I really need to get planning on it, probably gonna splurge and stay at one of the Disney hotels for a few nights at least too.

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Day Sixteen - Today we made a stop at one of my favorite "smaller family parks" in Japan - Hirakata. This park has a bit of an old-school feel to it while still remaining a really nice, clean, family park. It's geared mostly towards kids in the same way a Legoland park would be, but it does have some decent rides, a drop tower, and enough fun for a good few hours. Originally this day was supposed to be a morning at this park and then some "free time" for our trip participants to go do some sightseeing (some of them did go to Kyoto this day) but we also build in days like this into our tours as a contingence in case something went wrong at one of the parks. And such a day like this is good to have on a trip as we found out at the Universal coasters that were missed two days ago would be open today and some people in our group used this time to get back to Universal, along with taking a short visit to Hirakata during the middle of the day.

Here's how it all went down...

First of all... watch this video! lol

*Filming was made with safety enough device on Hirakata’s special permit.


Today’s TPR adventure takes us to Hirakata Park! A really nice “family” theme park just outside of Osaka!


Our day started out on the wooden roller coaster “Elf.”


...which actually does stand for “Episode of Little Fairies!” (Seriously!)


Elf may only be a “junior” wooden roller coaster, but it’s a really fun ride! Some surprising moments!


Serious question: If Japanese parks can all sell sodas for about $1.50 - $2.00 why do the US parks feel the need to charge so damn much?


Hirakata Park has an interesting coaster line-up. Here you can see Red Falcon and the Mouse are very close to each other!


Red Falcon sprawls all over the park! It’s kind of a crazy “Jet Coaster!”

Kristen from @OceanSprayInc shows Jack how to harvest cranberries! @WaltDisneyWorld #EpcotFoodFestival @WDWToday pic.twitter.com/UMnKfUdzS5

— Theme Park Review (@ThemeParkReview) September 26, 2015

According to the ride sign at Hirakata...


...we assumed the proper riding position on the dolphin ride!






Yes, of course there is a giant Ferris Wheel at Hirakata... it’s a Japanese amusement park!


The “Big Refrigerator” attraction literally was a walk-through of a big refrigerator!!!


GIANT CHEESECAKE!!!


This is hilarious!




Best themed teacup ride ever?


Peek-A-Boo Town. It’s a kids roller coaster not, um... something else!


The petting zoo area at Hirakata is amazing!!! Kristen got to feed a Capybara!


...and hang out with a Sulcata Tortoise!!!


One of the Hirakata Park characters came and hung out with us today!


Huge thanks to Mr. Kitagawa helping us sort out this day and our Cosmoworld day!


If you think Dan looks comfy in that Shinkansen you should send him an email to mrt0ad13@aol.com and tell him! (Seriously, do this!)


Hirakata Park has a McDonalds in it so we tried some new Japanese McDonalds offerings along with some old favorites!


Shaka Shaka Chicken FTW!


Even Kristen loved the spicy nuggs!


So Hirakata Park is doing some sort of “haunt” later this year. I don’t know about you but that image is CREEPY!!! How many of our followers are deathly afraid of clowns?


TPR had a really good day at Hirakata Park! Such a fun "family" amusement park in the Osaka, Japan area! Highly recommend visiting if you're nearby!

Now, POST YOUR COMMENTS!!!! After all, we took the time to write this report, the least you can do is post something nice about it!

Last edited by robbalvey on Mon Jun 25, 2018 5:47 pm.

Serious question: If Japanese parks can all sell sodas for about $1.50 - $2.00 why do the US parks feel the need to charge so damn much?

One bright spot which I'm hoping changes things here is that in Atlanta at the new stadium where the NFL Falcons play they lowered all their concession prices and brought in more revenue so maybe other stadiums and theme parks will finally follow suit and do the same...

https://mobile.nytimes.com/2018/01/25/sports/football/nfl-concessions.html