Water sliders / Water Fes at Sayama Skiing Grounds in 2023.
Since the Sayama Indoor Skiing Ground reopened in Autumn 2020 there have been quite a few changes. The best, in my humble opinion, is that they have found a fun way to make use of the indoor ski slopes with water sliders in summer. Although Sayama Ski is an indoor skiing ground of artificial snow, they never use it for skiing in summer. It is not completely indoors, so it would be very hard for them to keep the snow frozen in 40 degree temperatures! But they have found a way to make use of the slope in summer since 2020…
Water Fes Summer 2023
Water Fes is the name of the summer event at Sayama Ski. Three water sliders occupy the slopes and the winter snow park is transformed into a water play area for children. It runs from the first day of Golden week to the first day of Silver Week!
Water sliders and Facilities
There are three sliders on the slopes. One is a long slide and two are “family” slides which are suitable for small children too. You need to use the snow escalator to get to the starting point of the 220 meter long slide! Children need to be over 120 centimeters tall to use the longest slide. The two family slides are 140 meters long. For each of the three slides up to two people can ride together once the weight doesn’t exceed 150 kilograms.
There is also a water play area, with an indoor splash pool and inflated water fountains! The inflated play areas that are there in winter are also there in summer. I imagine they are too hot to use in the height of summer though. During the day they have water fight and bubbles at specific times. They also have a treasure hunt in the bubbles. During Golden Week they also have snow play time!
In addition, there is a little festival area for kids where they can fish for yo-yos or throw hoops. In total there are six activities. This area has an extra charge though. And it has gone up in 2023. It now costs 300 yen per activity or a book of six tickets (one ticket per activity) for 1500 yen.
Golden Week Events
They have special events during Golden Week as it is the opening week of the season. For example, there is snow play time. From the 29th until the 2nd of May and again from May 6th to 8th it is on from 2 to 3 pm. From May 3rd to 5th the snow time is from 1 pm to 2 pm. They also have stage events during Golden Week, the specifics for 2023 have not yet been released.
Lions Summer Festival
Please note that the Lions Summer Festival is on next door to the ski grounds on Saturday August 19th and Sunday the 20th 2023 and the area will be very congested. Also, usually the parking lot is closed to cars when the summer festival is on.
Information
Event: Water Fes ウォーターフェス
Dates: Saturday April 29th to Monday September 18th 2023. Please note that after Golden Week until summer holidays the resort is only open from Friday to Monday. That is;
- Daily from April 29th to May 8th
- Fridays to Mondays only from Friday May 12th to Monday July 10th
- Daily from Friday July 14th to Monday September 4th
- Fridays to Mondays from Friday September 8th to Monday September 18th
Time: 10 am to 5 pm, last entry at 4 pm.
Cost: the price has gone up 200 yen per person in 2023. A one day ticket for adults now costs 1400 yen and for children, 1200 yen. (Night sliding ticket information not yet available. Last year it was 1000 yen, so presumably it will go up to 1200 yen).
Venue: Sayama Indoor Skiing Ground, 2167 Kamiyamaguchi, Tokorozawa, Saitama 〒359-1153. View on Google Maps.
Access
Sayama Indoor Skiing Ground is right beside the Leo Liner Yamaguchi Line Seibu Kyūjōmae station. By car the ski resort is about ten kilometers from the Iruma Interchange of the Ken-o expressway. Parking is charged – it costs 1800 yen, flat rate, for one day.
is it warm enough for water slides? otherwise cool!