Junglia, a brand-new theme park on Okinawa’s main island, opened in Nakijin Village in the southeast portion of Motobu Peninsula on July 25.

The large-scale theme park spans a whopping 60 hectares, which exceeds major theme parks on the mainland like Tokyo Disneyland (51 hectares) and Universal Studios Japan (54 hectares).

In addition to spa and dining facilities overlooking the park, Junglia also features 22 attractions.

Dinosaur Safari, arguably the star of the park, involves a ride on an off-road vehicle that takes you through a forest where dinosaurs are waiting. The ride is quite bumpy and fun. Plus, at some point, you get out of the vehicle and join rangers played by the park’s staff as they fight the dinosaurs. I liked this attraction as it felt like being immersed in a movie.

On Titan’s Swing, visitors can take a thrilling ride over the forest. The swing starts at a height of 8.86 meters and sweeps over at a velocity of 30 kilometers per hour. The ride provides some dizzying excitement.

Other notable attractions include Horizon Ballon (a balloon that takes you up to an elevation of 200 meters), Buggy Voltage (an ATV ride), Bungee Glider (a mixture of bungee jump and ziplining), and Human Arrow (a horizontal bungee jump).

Online reviews are mixed, but the consensus is that this place is crowded and staff are still figuring out how to operate smoothly. If you are interested in visiting, you may want to wait it out.

Also, be prepared to walk a lot, as the only means of transportation around the park is the Tam Tam Tram that has no set timetable. The walkways are not covered, so bring a parasol and other supplies for weather protection in case of rain.

Admission fees and other costs are also something to consider. One-day entry for locals and residents (including SOFA members) 12 years and above costs 6,930 yen (approx. $47, tax included) and 4,950 yen for those ages 4 to 11. Though the passes are all-access, you are likely to purchase priority tickets, which cost an additional 1,980 to 2,970 yen per attraction. Parking is 2,000 yen, and entry to Spa Junglia has a fee. The spa is not tattoo-friendly.

Inside the park, you’ll find various food carts and three restaurants, including Panorama Dining, Wild Banquet, and Tropical Oasis, with menu items ranging roughly from 1,000 to 3,500 yen for lunch and 1,500 to 12,000 yen for dinner.

THINGS TO KNOW

• GPS Coordinates: 26.642215, 127.973598

• Hours: 10 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. (subject to change), noon – 9:30 p.m. (Spa Junglia)

• Ticket (1-day pass for the theme park for locals, residents, and SOFA-status): 6,930 yen with tax included for those 12 years old and above, 4,950 yen for ages between 4 and 11.

*Tourists from outside of Japan are subject to a different admission fee price (8,800 yen and 5,940 yen).

*Tickets for the spa cost 2,640 yen and 1,540 yen, respectively.

*Tickets need to be purchased online at (https://junglia.jp/en)

*Parking fee costs 2,000 yen per day.

Camp Schwab

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