Hirakata Park

Ferris wheel in Hirakata Park

Hirakata Park (ひらかたパーク Hirakata Pāku) is an amusement park managed by Keihan Leisure Service in Hirakata, Osaka, Japan. Hirakata Park opened in 1910 and is the oldest amusement park in Japan. The park is on the Keihan line at Hirakata-kōen Station (枚方公園駅).

History

Hirakata Park is the oldest amusement park in Japan.[1] It originated in 1912, when Kikuningyō-ten, the "Chrysanthemum Figure Exhibition," was held near Hirakata Station. From that time until 1922, Kikuningyō-ten was held in Uji, but since 1923, it has been held in Hirakata Park.

In 1965, the family pool was built. Many families visit Hirakata Park to swim in the summer. In 1972, an ice skating rink was built, which expanded the park's appeal to the winter season as well as the summer season. In 1998, the “Red Falcon“ was built, which was popular with many children. In 1991, a big Ferris wheel was built. Many couples on dates visit, as well as many families.

Around 2000, Hirakata Park's popularity went into decline. The number of children in Japan had been decreasing and many amusement parks became less popular. In addition, Universal Studios Japan was built in Osaka in 2001. A lot of people went to Universal Studios Japan to enjoy the latest attraction. This made many amusement parks in the Kinki region close down. Despite being in debt, Hirakata Park was not closed down. In 2009, Ryūichi Kosugi, a popular entertainer in Japan, became a publicity ambassador called "Hirapā Nīsan".[2] This made Hirakata Park very popular. More and more people visited Hirakata Park and it was no longer in debt.[3] Recently, Junichi Okada, a famous actor in Japan who was born in Hirakata, became the second "Hirapā Nīsan". A lot of Japanese media reported about this, which has made Hirakata more well known.

Current Detectives

Hirakata Park has its own image character named Hirapā Nīsan. The first Hirapā Nīsan was Ryūichi Kosugi, a Japanese entertainer. He acted as Hirapā Nīsan until April 2009 to March 2013. He tried for a Guinness record of people who came to Hirakata Park and did an election campaign of the Hirapā Nīsan with Takashi Yoshida, who teams up with Ryūichi Kosugi, to promote Hirakata Park. He retired in March 2013, and new Hirapā Nīsan was born in April 2013. The second Hirapā Nīsan is Junichi Okada, who is a Japanese TV performer. He is a member of Johnny & Associates, and his "cool" demeanor makes him especially popular among women. He was born in Hirakata, so he can speak the dialect of Hirakata city. (“Hirapā nīsan” (2014, March 22)). Because he spoke it at his music concerts, his fans became more interested in Hirakata Park. He is very popular in Japan, so the Hirakata Park became more popular because of him, and more and more people in Kantō and Kyūshū began to visit there.[4] On April 1 in 2014, he became the Hirapā Enchō and was challenged to attract to Hirakata Park its millionth visitor by March 1 in 2015, or he would be fired.[5]

Facilities

Attractions

There are 45 attractions in the park.[6] You can use Free Pass for 40 attractions. To enjoy Dobutsu Haguhagu Town (どうぶつハグハグたうん), Kids Square, Hushigi Kouzan (ふしぎ鉱山), Arcade Game Festa, or Game House Joy Box, you can’t use Free Pass. The “Blindfold rides” began April 5, 2014.[7] To ride on Giant Drop Meteor, Mokusei Coaster Elf (木製コースター　エルフ) or Uncle Frodo no Korottorokko (アンクル･フロドのころっとろっこ), you are given a black sleeping mask or blindfold to wear during the ride, or you can buy a blindfold that is printed with Junichi Okada’s eyes for 700 yen.

・Mokusei Coaster Elf (木製コースター　エルフ)

・Troll panic Pachanga

・Yūreiza (幽霊座)

・Octopus Panic

・Legend of Luxor

・Kite Flier

・Wave Swinger

・Giant Drop Meteor

・Guruguruō (ぐるぐる王)

・Red Falcon

・Waterfall of Screaming Bash

・Hairpin Coaster Crazy Mouse

・Karakuri Yashiki Makafusigidō (からくりやしき摩訶不思議堂)

・3-D Laser Battle Makai no Mori Densetu (3Dレーザーバトル　魔界の森伝説)

・Merry-go-round

・Fantasy Cruise

・Gnome Train

・Rowdy

・Strawberry café (Teacup)

・Honey Hacchi (ハニーハッチ)　

・Burning Fight

・Kachinkochin (カチンコチン)

・Itazura Mazyo no Labyrinth (いたずら魔女のラビリンス)

・Putter Golf

・Sky Walker

・Cycle Monorail

・Card Meiro Gurui Mori Daibōken 2 (カード迷路　ぐるり森の大冒険2)

・Anpanman Happy Sky

・Circuit 2000

・Dolphin Paradise

・Fan Fan Journey

・Adventure Safari

・Fantasy Castle

・World Derby

・Panic Racer

・Pipin to Poppy no Kurukuru Helicopter (ピピンとポピーのくるくるヘリコプター)

・Uncle Frodo no Korottorokko (アンクル･フロドのころっとろっこ)

・Wizard’s Magical Jumping

・Dowsing Mountain

・Dōbutsu Haguhagu Town (どうぶつハグハグたうん)

・Kids Square

・Hushigi Kouzan (ふしぎ鉱山)

・Arcade Game Festa

・Game House Joy Box

Restaurants

・Grand Rose

・McDonald’s

・Pomu no Ki (ポムの樹)

・Frutta

・Pipin’s House

・Gnome’s Dining (food coat opened on March 1, 2014)

・Dippin’ Dots Ice Cream

・Falcon Cafe

・Magical Lagoon Kitchen

Shopping

・Gnome Shop

・Wizard Village

・Frodo no Mori (フロドの森)

Other facilities

・Piccolo Garden (zoo)

・The Boon (pool)

・Rose Garden

References

  1. ↑ Nihon saikono tēmapāku ōsaka Hirakatapākunomiryoku matome (Charms of the oldest amusement park, Hirakata Park in Osaka). (2014,March 5). Tabikore. Retriened: http://tabicolle.jp/u/vorfeed/4ueswe5/
  2. ↑ Nihon saikono tēmapāku ōsaka Hirakatapākunomiryoku matome (Charms of the oldest amusement park, Hirakata Park in Osaka). (2014,March 5). Tabikore. Retriened: http://tabicolle.jp/u/vorfeed/4ueswe5/
  3. ↑ Kōrigaoka syūhenno rezyasupotto(The place to enjoy various things near Korigaoka). (n.d.). COMMON CLUB. Retrieved: http://commonclub.jp/s-hirakata/7 [July 17, 2014]
  4. ↑ Hirapā nīsan ni Okada Junichi koka gatturi deta (Junichi Okada became “hirapā nīsan” and caused great effect). (2014, March 22). THE PAGE. Retrieved: http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20140322-00000004-wordleaf-ent [July 20, 2014].
  5. ↑ Okada Junichi hyakumannin toppa sinakereba kainin hirakata pāku enchō ni (Junichi Okada became the director of the Hirakata Park, if the number of the people doesn’t account to one million, he will be fired). (2014, March 31). SANSPO.COM. Retrieved: http://www.sanspo.com/geino/news/20140331/joh14033112180001-n1.html [July 20, 2014].
  6. ↑ Hirakata Park. (2014). Attraction. Retrieved:http://www.hirakatapark.co.jp/attractions/showlist/ [July 17, 2014]
  7. ↑ Hirakata Park. (2014). Mekakushi ride (Blindfolded ride). (2014). Retrieved:http://www.hirakatapark.co.jp/hirapar_niisan/mission01/index.html [July 17, 2014]

External links

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Coordinates: 34°48′20.8″N 135°38′17.27″E / 34.805778°N 135.6381306°E / 34.805778; 135.6381306

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