Anyone who has lived in or traveled to Japan during the height of summer knows one thing for sure – it gets extremely hot and humid. For Tokyoites, there are various beach destinations in reasonable proximity to the city that help to beat the heat, but many top spots are located in neighboring Kanagawa and Chiba Prefectures. For those who want to stay within the Tokyo city limits but would appreciate the cooling properties of a refreshing dip, water parks are a great alternative – and one of the best is Tokyo Summerland.
Located in the Akiruno area, the water park is home to a wide array of pools and activities suitable for the whole family. The pools are broken down into two main areas – the adventure dome (indoors) and the adventure lagoon (outdoors).
Some of the highlights include the indoor Cobalt Beach, which is a large pool with shallow, child-friendly waters, or the monkey float area where visitors can make their way across the outdoor pool by holding onto criss-crossed netting. The park also contains Japan's longest lazy river, and a variety of waterslides catering from little ones right through to adult thrill seekers – and that's not even a full list of the fun on offer.
Along with the water-based attractions, there are various theme park style rides for patrons to enjoy, including a rollercoaster, merry-go-round, and tea cups.
If you do plan to visit, please note that like many water parks in Japan, tattoos are prohibited. Their website clearly states that in the event that someone enters with tattoos, they can be escorted out with no refunds provided.
Do also note that opening hours and admission fees differ depending on the time of year. The most up-to-date information on pricing and hours can be found on the Tokyo Summerland website.
