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TR/PTR: Hamanako Pal Pal


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I'm going to post my full text TR first, then follow up with a bunch of pictures from my trip.

 

Where: Hamanako Pal Pal

When: 6 February 2006, Superbowl Monday!

Who: Just me.

 

The weather was a brisk 40 degrees and there was a breeze. Not too

much cloud cover though, so it was pretty nice.

 

I took the Shinkansen from Shin Yokohama to Hamamatsu station on the

"slow" train. The older trains only go about 185-190 km/h, and stop

more frequently than the new trains. About 90 minutes later I arrived

at Hamamatsu station and transferred to a city bus. (Stop 1 outside

the station.) A little more than 30 minutes later and I arrived at the

park.

 

Entry and Free Pass was 3700 yen with a coupon printed online. (Thank

you Babelfish!)

 

Mega Coaster looms large over the entrance plaza outside the ticket

booths. Before you can ride though, there is a round building with

arcades, restaurant and shops. The park has two main areas and to get

between them you have to pass through this building and across a

bridge over the street. (No, it's not like 6FKK!)

 

Immediately outside the door to the smaller side of the park is the

entrance to Mega Coaster, a TOGO looping coaster that, to quote Robb

Alvey: "is the result if Manhattan Express at and Viper (6FGrAdv) had

unprotected sex." (This description is so sppropriate, I have to give

him the credit.) The station is up a rainbow stairwell just above the

second story and there are two trains. In pictures I had only seen the

blue/purple train, but that day the red/yellow train was running.

 

Out of the station the track turns left and climbs the lift hill. At

the top, the train turns left 180 degrees and hits the first drop.

It's pretty decent, hitting 51 mp/h and 60 degrees, providing the rear

of the train some decent air. The train rises and makes a large fan

turn to the right dropping down a straight ramp before rising again up

a long ramp and executing a twist and diving at the ground. (It's an

Immelman reversed.) Pulling out of the dive, the track flattens out

above the go kart track and makes a 270 degree left turn, rising

enough to pass through the center of the first inversion. The track

levels out again and enters a series of rings that provide the support

for the heartline roll. Next, the train passes through nearly 720

degrees of downward helix before popping up into the brake run.

 

While nowhere near as rough as Manhattan Express, (or Viper based on

other's experience) this coaster isn't super smooth. It is definitely

re-rideable and a pretty decent experience. It's completely unique

experience is definitely a draw for die-hard coasterphiles.

 

Next, I rode the go karts to get some more shots of Mega Coaster and

looked at the flats on this side of the park. There was a kiddie

flume, a Zamperla Baloon Race, a motion simulator, a car-go-round and

what appeared to be a Huss Flipper themed to Football (US type) named

Super Bowl! So despite not being in front of a TV, I still got to

watch the Super Bowl on Super Bowl Monday. (Time zones mean the

Superbowl is shown live Monday morning in Japan.)

 

Next, I rode the parks Mini Coaster. This is one of those weird

coasters that doesn't know what it wants to be. It has Model T shaped

cars with wild mouse seating. The track looks like Arrow, and the

layout has no switchbacks or air hills. In general, these turn out to

be boring for a jaded guy like me, and this one proved to be no exception.

 

I rode Mega Coaster again before crossing to the other side of the

park. Once on the other side of the bridge, there is a nice looking

row-building that house some typical midway games, but being indoors

in a park that's open year-round is a nice touch. After looking in at

the games, I tried my hand at a simple shooting dark ride. I thought I

was doing pretty well, but when I got off, I discovered that I didn't

have enough points to get a prize.

 

Moving on, I climbed the hill to the park's Caripro Batflyer named

Batflyer. Such originality! A standard single model, at least the

brakes weren't 'rack-your-nuts' tight. Either that or I've learned how

to ride these defensively. (I actually think it's the first one.)

 

Next, I passed a carousel and what looked like a 4-sided frog hopper

with a crab / tide pool theme, (Huh, a jumping crab?) and tried the

park's fun house. I entered, not knowing what kind of attraction was

inside, as the attendant knew no Eigo (English) and I don't know

enough Nihonji (Japanese). Not amazing, but not terrible, with

shrinking rooms, trick doors, a mirror maze and a cage maze with

rubber bars. There was a walk through spinning room that didn't start

spinning until I tripped a beam and the sudden change in perception

actually knocked me off balance! After exiting I told the lady that

the phrase for what the attraction was fun house and she had me write

it down so she could memorize it!

 

I continued up to the top of the hill to take Ferris Wheel Photos,

passing up on a well-themed mini-parachutes ride, flying elephants and

pedal monorail. After the wheel, I proceeded down the hill and past

the show amphitheater and the oddly named park train: Food Train.

 

At the bottom of the hill I passed the summer only lazy river, speed

slides and a single water slide. Next to that were some upcharge boat

rides including jet boats, fan boats, pedal boats and a party barge.

Proceeding along, I rode the fouth and final coaster in the park,

Jungle Mouse. It looks like an old Herschell but is from one of the

older Japanese ride manufacturers. This coaster sits in what looks

like used to be a pool, making for a weird appearance.

 

Next up was the park's Log Flume. With Splash Mountain (MK) style

boats (2 across seating, 4 rows) and a large windshield, I felt

confident I wouldn't get too wet. A decent length and a figure-8

layout weren't the odd part of this ride, but the chain lifts on a log

flume was definitely pretty unusual! I didn't get wet, and I wasn't

terribly impressed either.

 

I rode the spinning boats ride, because I'd never seen one before,

then made my way past the Red Baron, Mini wave swinger, ball house and

a Zamperla version of the Huss Nightwing at 6FNE.

 

I looked at the brochure for the Organel Museum that the large ropeway

takes you to from inside the park across the lake (included in the

admission), but I opted to grab a bite to eat and take a couple more

spins on Mega Coaster and catch an earlier train home instead.

 

In all, the park was very clean, nicely themed, (although Jungle Mouse

desperately needs a paint job) the staff was friendly and efficient.

In other words, it was like most Japanese amusement parks that aren't

Nara Dreamland!

escape.jpg.9c4d42190afa8065b7a91d6f564aefcc.jpg

One last look back as I ride away from the park in the bus. I think I lost her.

Psycho.jpg.2b131979824e44753739c6a0a102e617.jpg

OMG! Pala you're a psycho!

Pipe.jpg.9ccb4a1d0d31bd07129664a3bd8123d9.jpg

Hey, look there's someone on Megacoaster, and it isn't me!

Mens.jpg.d02e814f42181ef3ec0f3f8a09023fdb.jpg

What the heck are you doing in the Men's bathroom?

Wheel.jpg.130e365ffabc7eea0957f86fc8d27c20.jpg

The Ferris Wheel here is less meatnormous than at other parks, but it is on top of a hill, so it looks pretty big.

Ropeway.jpg.437e7ce9dac417a9224157ebf241a6bb.jpg

This is the cable car station to the Organel museum. Look at all the plants! Pretty.

X4.jpg.355be4c74c460ee8cce93ca3d5ffad05.jpg

Look, Pala, stop following me, OK?

Don.thumb.jpg.9e4118179f203f07f674e81b236ad790.jpg

Since no TPR PTR in Japan is complete without a picture of Don and Katsu in Taiko Drum Master!

X3.thumb.jpg.e214572183577c0902daaf27f98ad23e.jpg

Um, Can I help you, Pala?

Jungle.jpg.2891eef8beda36672291a2bc4ab1c08d.jpg

Check out the amazing Jungle theming on the Jungle Mouse!

Drop.jpg.47fa7e4eddf8fc81fb48a9ced36dc595.jpg

Here's the flume's runout, the cable car, and a flat from Zamperla. Is Wildstorm onbe of the model names?

X2.thumb.jpg.e09d55c28a589d2a8642c15103b95ae2.jpg

Oh, Hello again, Pala...

Flume.jpg.a48e0d6a0055e703c8bf7caaf0b642b3.jpg

The park's flume had Splash Mountain (MK) type logs and this odd combination lift hill.

spin.thumb.jpg.f84d9ae71cfee7f27e0bf06f7443fba9.jpg

I took a ride on those spinning boats Elissa hates, and I ran into Pala again.

fanboat.jpg.90fd1a9e579df8b7d852f8ba6a6466a9.jpg

Too bad there was a 4-person minimum.

yellow.jpg.5ec80fb87019249d8b81179cc9df14f7.jpg

And then I saw the boats...

Phantom.jpg.4bd4a5f9c5df53f2200f48c90af391ba.jpg

At first I thought this was funny...

Stacked.jpg.e345178b65ecadad23af1a1873b9039f.jpg

They do like to stack rides here in Japan, even if they don't have to. That's Helicopters over Teacups if you can't tell.

flats.jpg.a23882da8b8dd71408c4a3cfb98bd631.jpg

There was a decent selection of flats, check out the themed parachute drop.

crab.thumb.jpg.0836d0dad188aec6a6b8bf35e4798b5e.jpg

4 sided, crab themed frog-hopper, anyone?

Pala.jpg.232830395a6c95fe4827112d8a7a5650.jpg

I took a ride on the Ferris to get some pics. This chick named Pala got in my gondola. That's when the day got weird!

gourmet.jpg.cbef257653601bd590c06135fa8dc1ff.jpg

Robb, your train is here! (JK, It's actually the ACEr Express.)

Batflyer.jpg.299097b5d24aa921e7e1661219a9d778.jpg

Oh, It figures.

Bat.jpg.56f2a13af870d1af990f91cff4dea18b.jpg

Hey, look! It's a Batflyer! What's the name of this one?

mini.jpg.d5f3b0fd750ed77b882dfffe50c345a7.jpg

Megacoaster: This is my evil clone, I will call him: Minicoaster! (Evil laughter.)

Superbowl.jpg.8561aa47ddee9d5c9122c80948a0a915.jpg

I got to see the Superbowl in person! (Is this a HUSS flipper?)

red.jpg.a1bf9db8c5efd204745a02591d11d157.jpg

I got to ride the never-before-seen red train!

next.jpg.d3844814baa4ac04a910507fffb848a2.jpg

From the left: Twist and dive, kiddy flume and first drop of the day.

Station.jpg.a399099cbb5a73204188dc52b92a5a68.jpg

Ooh! Look at all the pretty colors! Wait, 4G's?!? What am I waiting for?

first.jpg.a3fd1e9ef93be7716bcb7b63acfd9ce0.jpg

Let's go ride that TOGO freak of nature!

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Nice PTR!

 

Yeah we really liked this park, so much in fact that we decided NOT to go get more credits somewhere else!!

 

The one flat ride you make mention to though was nothing like Nightwing at SFNE, it was totally different!

 

Hamanako Pal Pal one, you sit down in an SLC sort of seat.

 

Evil SFNE One

 

You Lay down.

 

And get crushed!

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Pretty - colors - candy - Pala.....

 

OMG "it's ordained gushiness and rainbow gleefulness. wrapped in a candy wrapper of a park...."

 

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack.

 

 

(Lovely TR, Chris. Great first-time there. Congrats.)

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Thanks to those who gave me props! No, Pala will not be in my avatar. I am married, so I was finally able to get rid of her by stuffing her in a mailbox as a gift to one of my Japanese nieces. I hope Mana-chan likes her new friend!

 

To R&E:

Ah, carp!

Sorry, I didn't even look at that thing closely! I'm really not into flats, and I've seen at least a few of these before that do have the lay down seats from TOGO, Senyo Kyogo and Zamperla over here, so I just thought it was yet another one of those. I didn't even see it (or a few of the other rides) operate while I was there, it was SOOOOO dead. There were about 5 or 6 guests in the park besides me, and a couple were pretty young.

 

Again, thanks!

 

I just got approved for my little trip in Kyushu, but apparently, Kagoshima Jungle Land is no longer in operation, so now this weekend's itinerary is:

Friday: Miyazaki City Phoenix Zoo + Wonder Rakutenchi if time allows

Saturday: Harmonyland + Kijima Amusement Park

Sunday: Mitsui Greenland

 

EDIT: Wow! I just realized that R&E actually read the text TR! That's cool! I figured everybody'd skip over that to the pictures! Thanks, I didn't waste my time actually writing (typing) all that down!

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