This year we decided to stay in Japan during the end-of-year holidays, but we didn't have a clear idea of where we wanted to go. We had, however, known for some time of the existence of an Ultraman theme park in Kyushu known as UltramanLand, and given Jay's present obsession with the Ultra Heroes and Ultra Monsters, it seemed that we might as well go to Kyushu, since we had never been there before. We accordingly planned a nine-day trip, with three nights at UltramanLand and five nights in Nagasaki. I've posted a bunch of photos of UltramanLand here. (I may eventually post photos of the Nagasaki portion of the trip too, but then again I may not, because after all, temples and museums are not nearly as interesting as aliens and robots stomping on Tokyo.)
UltramanLand is really quite small, and I think it would get boring pretty fast for anyone other than a three-year old. Jay loved it. Its principal attraction is the live stage shows that take place several times a day, and after each show the Ultra Heroes descend from the stage to meet and shake hands with their young admirers. Jay shook hands with all of them, many of them more than once. (Showing unprecedented self-restraint, I stopped taking pictures of the handshakes after the first two days.) There are also a few other attractions, including an Ultraman-themed inflated bounce-chamber with a bubble pool, Ultraman bumper cars, a merry-go-round, and an expensive and supremely cheesy laser ride, which naturally was Jay's favorite activity. The gift shop is first-rate and the Ultra-themed restaurant is a real hoot.
UltramanLand was of course open on Christmas Day, because Christmas isn't such a big deal here in Japan. Christmas is essentially just a big date night and a marketing opportunity, and normally I wouldn't even get Christmas Day off, except that this year it fell on a Saturday. In Japan, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are the big family holidays, when everything shuts down and people go home to spend time with their families.
UltramanLand has a symbiotic relationship with the Hotel Verde next door, which has several Ultra-themed "Ultraman Rooms" that seem to be very popular (we could only get the room for two of our three nights). A big plus is that anyone who stays in an Ultraman Room and who spends 5000 yen or more in the UltramanLand gift shop can have an actual Ultra Hero deliver their purchases to their room in person.
UltramanLand and the Hotel Verde occupy just a tiny corner of a huge amusement park development called Mitsui Greenland, which includes a Ferris wheel, an immense windmill, scads of roller coasters, a lake, and (in wintertime) a fake-snow ski resort. The development seems to be about ten years old, and in both its positive aspects (architectural innovation, immense scale, grandness of vision) and problems (remoteness from any center of population, obvious lack of customers) it bears all the marks of being one of the boondoggles of the Japanese bubble economy of the late 1980s, when virgin countryside was swallowed up in great gulps to create tourist destinations like Reoma World, Seagaia and Huis Ten Bosch, mostly in remote locations and mostly now bankrupt. I suspect, however, that because Mitsui Greenland appears to be connected with the Mitsui group of companies, one of Japan's most powerful industrial and financial groups, there is little chance that it will go bankrupt, and that instead its sister companies will help it hobble forward as it accrues massive losses for another couple of decades. It's the way things are done here.
In any event, Jay had no interest in going to Mitsui Greenland (we asked him every day). For him, UltramanLand alone was enough. He didn't want to leave, and for several days afterward he kept saying that he wanted to go back. And it was indeed quite fun for us adults also. I'd go back.
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Posted by: Nirecoxude | February 16, 2009 at 09:25 PM
apart from Ultraman Stadium in Kyushu, are there any place in Tokyo that caters to Ultraman Series. My 3 yr old son is also a huge fan and can name almost all of the Ultraman by sight. :) (but still can & unwilling to learn his ABCs) :p
Am visiting Tokyo next March and it would be great if can find a good place to blow our budgets of all things Ultra...
Posted by: lina | November 10, 2005 at 07:39 PM
Wait a minute -- is it *still* Christmastime at Ultramanland? Jesus, Finch, write something!
Posted by: | October 14, 2005 at 04:08 AM
I was hoping to see some new photos or something about Jay's school.
Posted by: mom | May 29, 2005 at 06:56 AM
Dear Sam:
I sent you a reply a few hours ago - - perhaps your junk mail filter caught it? Please write me again if you didn't get it.
Keith
===============
Dear Sir,
After having seen your son’s photo-log my son Kin (4 years old) is begging me to take him there.
We are Thais. We have planned to spend our summer vacation (April)in our favorite country of Japan this year.
I have tried without success to contact Hotel Verde through several (at least 3 or 4) e-mails without any reply from the Hotel.
Since we could not understand Japanese, we could not understand the information in the Hotel Verde website.
We need to know what the room rate for 2 adults and 1 child in an Ultraman Theme room and it’s availability on April 9th, 2005.
Originally we will go to Tokyo first and travel southwest to Osaka and leave from Kansai International Airport.
With Japan Rail Pass, I believe we could travel to Kyushu also.
Would you be kind enough to give me some advise on the information that I need to know.
I am thankful that you have shared your enjoyment with the rest of the world through J-log.
Sincerely,
A father in need (to take his son to UltramanLand)
Sam
Posted by: Sam | March 23, 2005 at 05:11 PM
Dear Sir,
After having seen your son’s photo-log, my son Kin (4 years old) is begging me to take him there.
We are Thais. We have planned to spend our summer vacation(this April)in our favorite country of Japan this year.
I have tried without success to contact Hotel Verde through several (at least 3 or 4) e-mails without any reply from the Hotel.
Since we could not understand Japanese, we could not understand the information in the Hotel Verde website or how to make reservation.
We need to know what the room rate for 2 adults and 1 child in an Ultraman Theme room and it’s availability on April 9th, 2005.
Originally we will go to Tokyo first and travel southwest to Osaka and leave from Kansai International Airport.
With Japan Rail Pass, I believe we could travel to Kyushu also.
Would you be kind enough to give me some advice on the information that I need to know.
I am thankful that you have shared your enjoyment with the rest of the world through J-log.
Sincerely,
A father in need (to take his son to UltramanLand)
Sam
Posted by: Sam | March 23, 2005 at 03:06 PM