If you’re an anime fan like me, visiting an anime park is like stepping into a dream. Recently, I had the chance to explore Nijigen no Mori, an incredible anime park on Awaji Island, and it was everything I had hoped for and more. Let me take you through my unforgettable experience at this anime wonderland.
Table of Contents
Why Nijigen no Mori? The Story Behind the Anime Park
The name ‘Nijigen no Mori’ translates to ‘Two Dimensional Forest’ in English, which I find quite fascinating. The park features popular 2D Japan content like Naruto, Godzilla, Dragon Quest, and Shin-chan, and its expansive layout evokes the sense of a vast, adventurous forest.
Interestingly, the idea to transform this area of Hyogo Prefectural Park into an anime park emerged from a pitch contest, leading to the creation of Nijigen no Mori, now recognized as the world’s largest anime park!
Today, we’re exploring 3 of my favorite franchises: Naruto, Dragon Quest, and Godzilla!
NARUTO & BORUTO SHINOBI-ZATO
Who doesn’t love Naruto, right? It’s arguably one of the most popular anime in the world, and there’s a whole section of the anime park dedicated to it!
The entrance is striking, featuring Naruto-themed designs and character panels that build excitement. What’s even cooler is how the Naruto area closely resembles Konohagakure, the village where Naruto and his friends live, complete with the massive Hokage Rock.
I participated in two Ninja activities using the iconic Heaven Scrolls and Earth Scrolls from Naruto. In the first activity, I explored mazes and practiced hand seals, while in the second, I used those hand seals to solve mysteries.
The effort was absolutely worth it for a Naruto fan like me. I wrapped up my experience by dining at Ichiraku Ramen, Naruto’s famous favorite noodle shop! The Ichiraku Ramen really packed a punch!
For more on the Naruto Park, check this out !
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Godzilla Intercept Operation
As soon as I entered Nijigen no Mori and stepped into the anime park, the enormous figure of Godzilla immediately caught my eye. At this thrilling Godzilla attraction, you can take on challenges to prevent the awakening of this iconic monster!
The attraction features a series of activities. First, we watch an original short film only viewable here. It explains the background to the story where you become the hero. Then I ziplined stright into the mouth of Godzilla and shot its cells to stop the beast from awakening. What an exhilarating experience!
The adventure didn’t end there. I explored the Godzilla Museum, which showcased impressive exhibits of both current and past Godzilla movies. Next to the museum was a souvenir shop where I picked up a ton of awesome Godzilla merch!
For more details on my experience, be sure to read this article as well!
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Dragon Quest Island
Although I had never played the Dragon Quest game before, I heard great reviews about this section of the anime park. So, I decided to visit Dragon Quest Island to conclude my trip to Nijigen no Mori.
In the attraction, you become an adventurer, exploring various areas. I gave it a try, and to sum it up, it was incredibly fun, far beyond what I had anticipated.
You truly feel like the hero in an RPG World. You’ll start by collecting materials to forge a weapon, all within a town-like area. Once equipped, you battle various enemies. After each fight, you return to town and venture into different areas to face new challenges.
The boss battles, in particular, were a thrilling climax of the experience!
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Closing
It was a very fun, fulfilling day exploring the three areas at Nijigen no Mori. The anime park went above and beyond anything I had imagined. The vast park is such a relaxing environment, yet just around the corner are a wealth of fantastic attractions based on beloved franchises.
I also heard there’s a popular Shin-chan section, which I didn’t have time to visit this time. Given how much I enjoyed my first visit, I’m looking forward to returning to Nijigen no Mori to explore it further!
| Park Name | NIJIGEN NO MORI |
|---|---|
| Address | 2425-2 Kusumoto, Awaji City, Hyogo Pref. 656-2301 |
| TEL | 0799-64-7061 |
| Website | https://nijigennomori.com/ |
| Reservations | https://ticket.nijigennomori.com/en/ |
| Operation Hours | Everyday10:00-22:00 *Each attraction has a different last reception time and closing time. |
