We visited the Toy’s Kingdom during the summer, while staying in Karuizawa. They have a huge marketing and advertising campaign this year and its working; I would never have known about the place otherwise. It is a nice place for young children and it’s quite reasonably priced.
Toy’s Kingdom
They have different packages you can avail of. We wanted to stay in one of their hotels with unlimited access to the Toy’s kingdom amusement park, but as they were booked up we stayed in another hotel nearby. We bought two free passes and two entrances, our one year old was free.
Tickets / passes
The free pass does not cover all activities and the rides it does cover weren’t of particular interest to my toddlers, so I would actually recommend for children under 4 that you just purchase the entry ticket. The entry ticket covers the playrooms and small outdoor play areas. You can then purchase tickets separately for the rides you would like to try. One turn on a ride is approximately 300 yen; some are 200 and some are 400. An entry ticket and paying for 4 or 5 rides works out cheaper than buying a free pass. Fishing is not covered by either an entry ticket or a free pass. … Yes, their system is a little confusing!
This year there are lots of discount tickets available in many different places, including online. Keep an eye out for flyers in shops, they usually have a coupon attached. The normal price for an entry ticket is 1000 yen for adults and 800 yen for children 2 years old and up. Discounts are usually 100 to 200 yen off this price. The free pass price for adults is 2,800 yen and 2,600 yen for children. Most of the coupons offer 500 yen off these prices.
Playrooms
The kids loved the playrooms. Then 3-year-old son loved the “Tomica” room; wall to wall of cars and trains. 2-year-old daughter loved the mamagoto (playing house) room; kitchens, cookers, shopping, dolls etc.
My one year old also enjoyed the mamagoto playroom as it has a section suited to small babies with Anpanman toys. She also enjoyed the little play area outside this playroom with small slides and push-along-cars.
There is an athletic area that is suited to older preschool and primary school children. This is covered by the free pass, but not by the entry ticket. The kids have to put on elbow and knee pads and helmets for this area. My kids tried it out too, but it was a little beyond their level and they packed it in fairly quickly.
Amusement rides
They have a number of different amusement rides, most of them are suited to children of all ages. The one thing I found hard is that even with safer rides such as the carousel they require children younger than 4 be accompanied by an adult per child. At one point, my husband had gone for a roam and my son and daughter both wanted to get on the carousel with me, but they wouldn’t allow it. We had to wait for him to come back. When we were in FujiQ earlier in the year, both children were allowed come on the carousel with me and that was a bigger and faster carousel. There are also a few battery cars, a paddling area (in the summer), a sandbox, beetle “fishing” and other activities dotted throughout the park.
Facilities
There are a number of eateries, all over priced and drenched in fat! You can bring in your own food and there is open green areas where you can picnic. There is only one feeding room and designated baby changing room. There are quite a few toilets, some with smaller toilets for children. There are coin lockers. You can rent a buggy for a day.
One thing I really liked is that you can come and go from the facility once you have your ticket. We left the park after lunch to go for a drive and we were able to go back in on the same ticket. Parking is free. The surrounding area is also very pleasant and there is a little shop and bakery as you come into the resort with a lovely lake out back.
One thing to note is that this amusement park operates VERY differently during Winter. Please see the website for further details.
URL
https://www.omochaoukoku.com/karuizawa/index.html
Address
2277 Omae, Tsumagoi, Agatsuma District, Gunma 377-1512
群馬県吾妻郡嬬恋村大前細原２２７７
Phone
0279-86-3515
Opening hours
Monday to Friday 10.00 -17.00
Saturday/Sunday 9.30 – 17.00
GW/ Summer holidays 9.00 – 17.00
I have been おもちゃの王国 with my kids about three years ago. It’s an interesting place to play with toys. 😀 Karuizawa is our favorite town.
Its very popular ne! I really like it too, but I think Gotemba in Shizuoka is still my favourite. 🙂