Niji no Sato

Niji no Sato

PARK

Niji no Sato is a Japanese/British/Canadian theme park based in the hills of Shuzenji, Izu. Each area is separated by different seasonal flowers, with a bus and a small railway connecting each area. The areas also have their own themed cafes and shops for you to enjoy.

The park features numerous areas including the British village, Canadian village, Izu village, Japanese garden, craftsman village and an Indian fort. It has enough to be fun for all the family.

Niji no Sato is also famous for its seasonal events and foliage. Make sure to check which flowers are in season for your visit. These flowers include wisteria, maple leaves, rhododendrons, irises, hydrangeas, cherry blossoms and also roses. You may also see cosplayers (people dressed as characters) having a photoshoot among the flowers. It is very common for them to visit here and take photos.

Review

The theme park is an attempt to bring foreign culture to the area, although a lot of it can be seen as stereotypes. It makes for a good day out if this doesn’t bother you. Personally I think they should’ve stuck to one or two areas and really researched the culture before opening the park but it’s still an interesting day out. There are multiple paths so feel free to visit the areas you want to in any order.

Upon entering the park you will enter British village. There are numerous British-style buildings as well as a steam train and toy museum, as well as many themed stores. You can also catch the Romney bus and railway from here, both of which are modelled after the Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway in England. The museum also features a lot of information about railways in the UK so take your time to explore.

The Canadian village is modelled after Nelson city, the sister city to Izu city. It also features a play park, a cafe and numerous shops. There is also a pretty red bridge which I think makes for a great photo opportunity if you manage to catch the train going across the bridge at the right time.

The Izu village is pretty small, located on a slope. It is near the entrance/exit of the park for you to rest your weary feet and also enjoy he food/souvenirs at the local stalls.

The Japanese garden is very pretty, with a small pong in the centre. I recommend walking around here and enjoy the scenery, especially if you come when the flowers are blooming.

The craftsman village is home to some very traditional craftsmen who are happy to help you make your own items to take home (I’m not sure how much this costs as I haven’t done it myself). If you’re not up for the challenge however, you are able to just watch them craft and take in the traditional techniques.

Near Canadian village is an Indian fort, fun for all kids. It features numerous slides and is a great way for your kids to expel some energy. It is also possible for adults to join in, although make sure to take care of your feet. Grab a mat and head to the top to slide down. The slides are really built for children so although you can go round no problem, it will be a bumpy ride for your legs and feet. Make sure to wear long socks for this as I ended up with multiple scrapes as my legs bashed against the side a few times.

ADDRESS

Niji no Sato,
4279-3 Shuzenji,
Izu City,
Shizuoka Prefecture,
410-2416

+81558727111 (English and Japanese available)
https://www.nijinosato.com/ (English page available)

RECOMMENDED ROUTE:

Niji no Sato is easiest to get to by car however you are able to take the train to Shuzenji on the Izu Hakone Tetsudo Line and then switch to the Tokai bus from Shuzenji station to Nijinosato bus stop. It takes around 20 minutes.