[Himeji City] “Himeji Central Park” A safari and amusement park that mixes nostalgia and newness

• Table of contents
• What is Hyogo Amazing Pass?
• 40th Anniversary of the Opening of Himeji Central Park!
• Let's start with safari
• Lunchtime at a facility with a wide variety of menus
• Go to the amusement park in the afternoon!
• Summer is full of fun, including pool and fireworks
• Souvenirs are also out of the ordinary and full of fun
• Hime Sen ticket information
• How to get to Himeji Central Park
• Access Information
• basic information

What is Hyogo Amazing Pass?

With this ticket, you can not only ride all local buses (orange Shinki buses) that run within Hyogo Prefecture for one day, but you can also ride the City Loop and Port Loop, which connect the main tourist spots in Kobe, as much as you like.

For more information on tickets, see this article

Hyogo Amazing Pass purchase and details page

40th Anniversary of the Opening of Himeji Central Park!

Himeji Central Park opened in 1984. Located in the mountains of Toyotomi Town, east of Himeji City, the leisure facility's safari park and amusement park occupy an area equivalent to 48 Koshien Stadiums.

It became so popular as a safari park that could be enjoyed by car that when it first opened, the surrounding roads were severely congested.

Amusement park gate

Forty years have passed since then, and Himeji Central Park is approaching its 40th anniversary.

For those who say "Really?" or "I've been there before," we definitely want you to rediscover Himeji Central Park. Of course, we also recommend it for first-time visitors.

In this article, we will introduce a classic model itinerary that includes enjoying the safari, amusement park, and the night pool at the summer-only pool, Aquaria, before heading home to watch the fireworks.

Let's start with safari

Himeji Central Park has a lot to offer, including a safari, an amusement park, a pool in the summer, and skating in the winter. How you enjoy it is up to you, but here are some recommended ways to enjoy it.

We recommend a morning safari. Although it depends on the type of animal, they are most active in the morning. Especially in summer, the animals tend to spend their time in the shade of the trees from noon onwards due to the heat.

The first gate you go through. You park your car on the side until the park opens, and when the time comes, you pay the parking fee and go through.

The safari at Himeji Central Park is known for its "drive-through safari." The safari, which you can take in your own car, has the appeal of being enjoyable without worrying about small children, elderly people with weak legs, or on rainy days.

For those coming in groups or by bus, we recommend the Safari Bus, which has wide windows that allow you to view the animals from a slightly higher vantage point.

Those who are taking the safari in their own car or just wanting to take the safari should go through the gate, turn left and head towards the Safari Park. Those who are taking the safari bus, taking rides or enjoying the amusement park should go straight ahead towards the amusement park.

A vehicle for "adventure rides." It has an observation deck.

And then there's the much talked about Safari "Ride" (there are two types: "Safari the Ride" and "Adventure Ride"). You board the impressive caged buses known as "Olivas," and with meat dangling from them to be eaten as snacks by the tigers and lions, you enter the wild animal zone.

Doesn't your heart beat faster just hearing it?

Snacks (meat) placed on the roof

The currently popular rides, "Safari the Ride" and "Adventure Ride," are 60-minute safaris on special vehicles called "Olivas."

There are two differences.

Firstly, the course changes slightly and the types of animals that approach you are different.

The second difference is the shape of the bus. "Safari the Ride" is an early version with a cage on the ceiling. You can feel the excitement of lions walking around and eating food right above your head. "Adventure Ride" (photo) has an observation deck on the ceiling, so you can enjoy the thrill of being at eye level with the tigers.

Inside the "Adventure Ride"

In both cases, you have to stand in the cage for 60 minutes. It's quite shaky. There is no roof, so if it rains, wear a raincoat.

This time, we will introduce the "Adventure Ride" - "Olivas" which has an observation deck. You won't know how much fun it is until you actually experience it, but we'll show you some photos.

Cheetah spotted

The bus moves from the wild animal zone to the cheetahs, tigers, and lions, in that order. The tigers roam overhead in search of meat placed on top of the bus.

Seeing a tiger up close is quite scary.

There are also white tigers.

I met a tiger looking for meat. It was scary.

But if you look closely, it's actually quite cute.

A lion approaches in search of meat hanging at the side. It has a strong presence, and is a little scary.

But it's pretty cute.

After the wild animal zone, there is the herbivore zone. The timid giraffes will also come to visit. Feeding the giraffes is also popular.

You can also get a close-up look at familiar zoo animals, such as hippos, rhinos, zebras, camels, and water buffaloes, relaxing on the vast grasslands.

A hippopotamus begging for food from his beloved zookeeper

The 60 minutes will fly by as you meet lots of animals. This is just a small sample.

You can even feel the animals breathing on this ride. It's a completely different experience from the zoo. The safari buses and rides arrive at a bus stop inside the safari park. You can enjoy the "Walking Safari" which is like walking around the zoo, or the "Sky Safari" where you can take a ropeway and look at the safari park from above. If you want to go back to the amusement park, you can take the shuttle bus from the bus stop.

Lunchtime at a facility with a wide variety of menus

After enjoying the Safari Park, it was time for lunch. There were several places where you could eat both in the Safari Park and the amusement park. There was nothing that could be called a specialty, but they had everything from light meals to lunch, and you could relax at the cafe.

Inside the family restaurant "Azzurro" located in the amusement park. You can eat udon, curry, and children's meals.

Go to the amusement park in the afternoon!

When most people think of Himeji Safari Park, they think of the safari. Even though locals in Himeji know of the park's existence, they may not be aware of how amazing it is, as the park approaches its 40th anniversary.

In fact, my memory of the park also stopped at "Diablo". Now, Hime-sen amusement park is a space where nostalgia and newness are mixed. And it has become an amusement park known only to those in the know, with people coming all the way from afar to visit.

There are five roller coasters alone, including Diablo (a suspended coaster where you cannot touch the ground; it was the first of its kind in Japan when it was in operation), boasting a lineup on par with that of a large-scale amusement park.

Venus GP, which will begin operations in 2022

Particularly popular is the "Venus GP." It is a large vertical loop roller coaster that puts the greatest strain on the body in Japan at 5.2G. It climbs 36m above the ground and then drops at high speed. It's an ultra-experiential coaster that goes up and down, twists and loops that feel just above the ground, and spins around until you lose track of up, down, left and right.

The design was done by Anton Schwarzkopf, also known as the "god of coasters."

This was the most popular roller coaster that had been loved for many years at Space World (Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, closed in 2018), but was relocated after the park closed. As a result, people from Kyushu visit every year out of nostalgia. Some people get addicted to it, while others say it's too scary for them. The coaster "Hurricane" was also relocated.

On rainy weekdays, the hurricane can even be rented out for private use.

This is a relocated Tornado from Kintetsu Ayameike Amusement Park (Nara City, Nara Prefecture, closed in 2004). The color has been changed, but those who are familiar with the park will likely recognize it.

"Imorinsu" is popular among kids

The old-fashioned "Jet Coaster" is still going strong. The "Imorinsu" coaster for kids is a hidden gem, and can be ridden by anyone over the age of 2 (children under 6 must be accompanied).

Other thrilling rides include the "Great Poseidon," a rocking boat, and the "Helios," which looks cute and has a heartwarming background music but is actually quite hard.

Attractions for kids. "Paopao" in the foreground, "Albatross" in the background

Of course, there are also the nostalgic "Party Cups" and "Merry-go-rounds." In fact, there are two merry-go-rounds. The Ferris wheel is still in the top 10 in Japan (according to a survey by Himeji Central Park).

Not only are there rides, but there are also animal shows, a 4D theater and more, so you'll wonder just how many facilities there are. You won't be able to enjoy everything in just one day.

Summer is full of fun, including pool and fireworks

Photo courtesy of Himeji Central Park

The summer Hime Sen will see the opening of Aquaria, one of the largest resort pools in western Japan. It will be open from July 15th (Saturday) to September 3rd (Sunday) in 2023. It will be located inside the amusement park. There is no special fee. With just an admission ticket, you can enter the pool, play in the amusement park, and go on a safari. (The same goes for ice skating in the winter.)

The recommended activities at Aquaria are the lazy river pool where you can relax and sway, and the wide beach pool where you can feel like playing on the beach. There is also the "Rock Pool" with a great view, five types of slides, and the "Pirates Kids Aquaria" for children, so you can have fun and relax in safety.

Although there is a fee, there is also a family deck (large tent) limited to 20 groups (first come, first served) and a sun deck (limited quantity), so you can enjoy a resort atmosphere.

Photo courtesy of Himeji Central Park

At night, it's night pool time, a great spot for taking photogenic pictures.

Summer Night Pool Information

Dates: Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from July 15th (Sat) to September 3rd (Sun) 2023, and five days (Obon period) from August 11th (Fri) to August 15th (Tue) 2023

Opening hours: 17:00-20:00 (Only the beach pool, rock pool, and kids pool are open), Day pool registration closes at 16:00, Slides registration closes at 16:00 (Slides are not in operation at the night pool), Leaving the water (for the flowing water pool, slides, etc.) at 16:30 (please leave the pool and move to the night pool area)

Photo courtesy of Himeji Central Park

The finale of the Hime Sen festival is a fireworks display. Approximately 2,000 fireworks will light up the night sky with a display of lights and lasers.

The music and other performances change depending on whether they are on odd or even days, so it might be fun to come and see it every week.

Fireworks event information

Midsummer Fireworks Festival 2023

Dates: Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from July 15th (Sat) to September 3rd (Sun) 2023, and five days (Obon period) from August 11th (Fri) to August 15th (Tue) 2023

Time: From 7:50 p.m. for about 10 minutes

Souvenirs are also out of the ordinary and full of fun

The most popular souvenir is the "White Chocolate Tart Cookie" (16 pieces, 1,080 yen)

Himesen also offers unique souvenirs.

Popular souvenirs are cookies and crunches, which are packaged in the typical Hime Sen style, but for those who are not satisfied with the usual, there is the "Safari Cookie" (800 yen), which contains one large chocolate-flavored cookie.

The original all-purpose sauce "Perorin Sauce" (710 yen) and "Adult Perorin Sauce" (870 yen) are also popular items with many repeat customers.

For those who want a stuffed animal after interacting with the animals, there is a selection to satisfy them.

There are also plenty of other original goods and products that you'll want to buy only because you came to Hime Sen.

Adventure Ride Netsuke (520 yen)

Hime Sen ticket information

Hime Sen is a place where you can have so much fun, but many people are probably wondering about the price.

Please check the official website for more details, but I will give you a brief explanation.

There are no tickets for just the Safari Park or just the Amusement Park, but rather an "Admission Ticket." The price varies depending on the date of admission.

Admission tickets: Adults (junior high school students and above) 3,600-4,400 yen per day, children (elementary school students) 2,000-2,400 yen, toddlers (ages 3 and up) 1,200-1,400 yen.

Additional fees will be required for parking (1,000 yen for a regular car), fees for each attraction, and the safari bus ride.

You can purchase tickets for each ride, but there is also an "Attraction Free Pass" (3,000 yen for adults) . Venus GP costs 1,500 yen per ride, so if you want to enjoy coasters, the "Attraction Free Pass" is definitely the better deal .

However, some rides may not operate in rainy weather, so it is best to purchase a ticket according to your purpose.

You can't enjoy Hime Sen in just one day. Once you've come, you'll want to come back again and again. If you plan on coming more than three times a year, we recommend the "Annual Entrance Pass" (12,000 yen for adults) or the "Annual Entrance Pass + Attraction Free Pass" (19,000 yen for adults).

Starting in 2023, a new "Premium Annual Pass" (50,000 yen) will be available, which comes with a lot of free perks. If you're someone who thinks, "I'll buy the annual pass until I try it out," you can upgrade after entering the park, so you should definitely try it out at least once.

How to get to Himeji Central Park

A wrapping bus celebrating the 40th anniversary of Hime Sen. The animal bus in this photo is used to transport employees in the morning, and is also used as a safari bus during the day. (Sometimes buses that are not available for customers to ride during the day are used as shuttle buses.)

Access Information

Himeji Central Park is located in the mountains of Toyotomi Town, east of Himeji City, but if you are driving, it is close to the Sanyo Expressway and the Bantan Link Road interchange. However, the only public transportation is by bus.

To get to the bus, take the 74 bus bound for Himeji Central Park from platform 14 at Himeji Station (North Exit) . The park opens at 10:00 (9:30 in summer), so we recommend taking the first bus at 9:30 (arriving at 10:05). The last bus on the way back (bus stop on the amusement park side) is at 17:00 on weekdays and 18:20 on weekends and holidays. The fare is 550 yen for adults one way.

The convenient "Hyogo Amazing Pass" costs 2,500 yen a day and allows unlimited rides on Shinki Bus route buses.

Click here for details and to purchase the discounted ticket "Hyogo Amazing Pass"

Luggage storage service

Would you like to go sightseeing empty-handed?

(Writer: Ryuji Tsukamoto)

*This article is current as of July 2023. Prices include tax. Product contents and prices may be subject to change.

basic information

Himeji Central Park

Address: 1434 Okura, Kamiya, Toyotomi-cho, Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture

Phone number: 079-264-1611

Business hours: 10:00-17:00 (summer weekdays 9:30-18:00, weekends and holidays 9:30-20:00), reception closes 1 hour before closing

*This may vary depending on the admission date. Please refer to the official website.

Closed: Wednesdays and other irregular holidays

*May vary depending on the season (open every day in summer, etc.) *Please refer to the official website for temporary closures

Admission fee: Adults (junior high school students and above) 3,600-4,400 yen per day, Children (elementary school students) 2,000-2,400 yen, Infants (ages 3 and up) 1,200-1,400 yen

*This may vary depending on the admission date. Please refer to the official website.

*Additional fees for attractions required Access By car: 25 minutes from JR Himeji Station, 5 minutes from Sanyo Expressway "Sanyo Himeji East IC", 15 minutes from Bantan Link Road "Hanada IC" Bus: 30 minutes from Himeji Station (North Exit) Bus Stop 14, Route 74 "To Himeji Central Park" to "Himeji Central Park". Direct flights available in summer

*For details, please refer to the official website or the Shinki Bus official website.

Parking: Available (1,000 yen/car), can accommodate approximately 5,000 cars

Official website here

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