rollermonkey Posted February 20, 2006 Share Posted February 20, 2006 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! One last look back as I ride away from the park in the bus. I think I lost her. OMG! Pala you're a psycho! Hey, look there's someone on Megacoaster, and it isn't me! What the heck are you doing in the Men's bathroom? The Ferris Wheel here is less meatnormous than at other parks, but it is on top of a hill, so it looks pretty big. This is the cable car station to the Organel museum. Look at all the plants! Pretty. Look, Pala, stop following me, OK? Since no TPR PTR in Japan is complete without a picture of Don and Katsu in Taiko Drum Master! Um, Can I help you, Pala? Check out the amazing Jungle theming on the Jungle Mouse! Here's the flume's runout, the cable car, and a flat from Zamperla. Is Wildstorm onbe of the model names? Oh, Hello again, Pala... The park's flume had Splash Mountain (MK) type logs and this odd combination lift hill. I took a ride on those spinning boats Elissa hates, and I ran into Pala again. Too bad there was a 4-person minimum. And then I saw the boats... At first I thought this was funny... 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. There was a decent selection of flats, check out the themed parachute drop. 4 sided, crab themed frog-hopper, anyone? 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! Robb, your train is here! (JK, It's actually the ACEr Express.) Oh, It figures. Hey, look! It's a Batflyer! What's the name of this one? Megacoaster: This is my evil clone, I will call him: Minicoaster! (Evil laughter.) I got to see the Superbowl in person! (Is this a HUSS flipper?) I got to ride the never-before-seen red train! From the left: Twist and dive, kiddy flume and first drop of the day. Ooh! Look at all the pretty colors! Wait, 4G's?!? What am I waiting for? Let's go ride that TOGO freak of nature! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rollermonkey Posted February 20, 2006 Author Share Posted February 20, 2006 OMFG! She's on my effin' TRAIN! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhishyBrewer Posted February 20, 2006 Share Posted February 20, 2006 I'm suprised she's not your avatar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bubba Z Posted February 20, 2006 Share Posted February 20, 2006 Looks like you had a great time together. I guess she'll be in all you PTR'S now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharkTums Posted February 20, 2006 Share Posted February 20, 2006 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! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted February 20, 2006 Share Posted February 20, 2006 And the flat ride at Hamanako was a Togo...or at least that what was marked on the seats. --Robb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shockwave Posted February 20, 2006 Share Posted February 20, 2006 Hanamako looks like a pretty nice park to visit. I really like the look of that Togo "not-quite-a" death machine! That train reminds me of Zoidberg from Futurama. Can't thhink why! Glad you had a good day Chris, great images! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hattuchili Posted February 20, 2006 Share Posted February 20, 2006 LOL, nice Photo TR, Chris! It looks like you had a good day! Thanks for posting! --Sören Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nrthwnd Posted February 20, 2006 Share Posted February 20, 2006 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.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rollermonkey Posted February 21, 2006 Author Share Posted February 21, 2006 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! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharkTums Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 Awww Mitsui Greenland...make sure to eat at the McDonalds!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rollermonkey Posted March 2, 2006 Author Share Posted March 2, 2006 ^Done! We also had a McD's in the hotel in Beppu, but it was closed when we arrived at 11:30 PM and didn't open fro breakfast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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