19 New Attractions in Japan to Check Out on Your Next Trip

Most people’s dream destination, Japan, has recently opened its borders to leisure travellers. This news pretty much brought out our inner hodophiles who are dying to visit all the latest attractions in Japan that we’ve missed. From Instagrammable gardens and aquariums to your childhood-favourite characters coming to life, there are many new attractions in Japan worth checking out. We’ve rounded up the best ones that either recently launched or will open to the public soon!

Also read: 10 Unique Airbnb Homes in Japan for the Trip of a Lifetime

New attractions in Japan you should check out

1. Super Nintendo World

One of the most anticipated new attractions in Japan is the Super Nintendo World in Osaka. Officially opened in 2021, fans of the legendary Super Mario game can now let loose and have fun at this spectacular real-life-sized theme park inside Universal Studios Japan. Its attractions include Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge and Yoshi’s Adventure, allowing guests to go on a treasure hunt and race on the Mario Kart in the Mushroom Kingdom, literally.  

Address: Universal Studios Japan, 2 Chome-1-33 Sakurajima, Konohana Ward, Osaka, 554-0031, Japan

Also read: 15 Airbnbs in Osaka That Are Even Better Than Hotels

2. Shibuya Sky

Experience what it’s like to be high up in the air at Shibuya SKY, an open-air observation deck that offers panoramic views of the city’s skyscrapers. Approximately 230m above ground, this new attraction sometimes holds activities like rooftop live theatre and rooftop morning yoga. Be sure to check this place out the next time you are in Japan, and time your visit well so you can bask in the sunset view and Shibuya night lights vista! 

Address: Shibuya Scramble Square, Japan, 〒150-6145 Tokyo, Shibuya City, Shibuya, 2 Chome−24−12 最上階 スクランブルスクエア

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3. Ghibli Park

Walk along the towns from your favourite Studio Ghibli animation at Ghibli Park! The first phase of construction includes Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse, Hill of Youth, and Dondoko Forest! Here, you will find artefacts and exhibits of all forms, as if you just walk right out of the Studio Ghibli movies. Other attractions like the Valley of Witches and Mononoke Village are coming soon as well, so plan ahead to explore these wonders. 

Address: 1533-1 Ibaragabasama, Nagakute, Aichi 480-1342, Japan

Also read: 10 Destinations in Asia That Inspired (Or Were Inspired by) Studio Ghibli Movies

4. Gundam Park Fukuoka

Gundam lovers, imagine your favourite Gunpla (Gundam model), but 100 times bigger. LaLaport Fukuoka’ made this come true at Gundam Park! This RX-93 v Gundam (pictured above) is the world’s tallest and largest Gundam statue. Besides this massive mecha, there is also a theme park with all things Gundam inside the LaLaport shopping mall. Here, you can purchase and build your favourite Gunpla on the spot, or enjoy Gundam-themed video games and claw machines! 

Address: LaLaport Fukuoka, 6 Chome-23-1 Naka, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka, 812-0893, Japan

5. teamLab Planets

Love art? Check out teamLab, an international art collective consisting of artists from various industries to create out-of-the-world art experiences. Their art traces back to 2001 and is so famous that some people actually visit Japan just to have a look at the exhibitions. teamLab Planets is a museum in Tokyo with four exhibition spaces and two gardens, with the combination of visuals, sound, and touch, you can experience what it’s like to be truly, deeply immersed in the masterpieces, and become one with the art!

Address: 6 Chome-1-16 Toyosu, Koto City, Tokyo 135-0061, Japan

Also read: 12 Tokyo Museums for Every Kind of Art Fan

6. Shijo Kawaramachi Hotel

If you are someone who prioritises leisure during your travels, head to the Shijo Kawaramachi Hotel. Located in Kyoto’s Shimogyo Ward, it features an open-air outdoor hot bath on the top floor of the hotel, allowing guests to enjoy a dip while overlooking the cityscape. Its other must-try offerings include a silky jacuzzi bath, the Shijo Kawaramachi Onsen, and a rooftop lounge. Everything here is just so perfect that you’d want to pack for your trip to Japan almost immediately to relish the experience!

Address: 600-8022 Kyoto, Gionmachi, Shimogyo-ku Inari cho 324, Japan

Also read: 12 Gorgeous Airbnbs in Kyoto for Every Kind of Traveller

7. Átoa Aquarium

Put Átoa Aquarium on your bucket list, a hybrid of an art museum and an aquarium. Here, you can interact with the beautiful sea creatures while feeling like you’re in another dimension. The exhibitions include: the Cave of the Beginning, an area with fish tanks and colourful schools of fish-like decorations welcoming you into the aquarium; the Light and Shadow Miyabi that brings you on a journey to the four seasons of Japan with water under your feet; and Planets, the largest spherical aquarium in Japan with lights and mist so magical, you’d wonder if you have just entered an aquarium in outer space. 

Address: Kobe Port Museum, 7-2 Shinkocho, Chuo Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0041, Japan

8. The Making of Harry Potter

Opening very soon in June 2023, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter will be in Toshimaen, Tokyo. Similar to the attraction in the United Kingdom, this studio tour will bring visitors on a journey behind the scenes, learn how the Harry Potter films were made, step into the iconic film sets and settings, and put on the costumes and props like you’re one of the Wizards in Hogwarts. 

Address: Toshimaen, Tokyo

9. Hana Biyori

Resume your floral escapade at Hana Biyori, a new sensational flower park in Tokyo. This place is home to one of Japan’s largest floral chandeliers and its first-ever botanical garden Starbucks. There is also a flower and digital art show happening every day in the greenhouse, and an Asian small-clawed otter feeding experience. Sipping coffee while wandering around a tranquil floral paradise is no longer a dream here.

Address: 4015-1 Yanokuchi, Inagi, Tokyo 206-8566, Japan

Also read: 12 Best Starbucks in Japan for Exceptional Coffee & Design

10. Yokohama Air Cabin

One of the latest attractions in Japan is the Yokohama Air Cabin, Japan’s first advanced urban-type circular ropeway that opened in 2021. Other than travelling from one station to another, while enjoying the scenic cityscape, the cabins, stations, and the Ferris Wheel nearby will radiate vibrant LEDs at night, making it another stunning sight to behold.

Address: Sakuragi-cho Station Square, 1 Chome-200 Sakuragicho, Naka Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa 231-0062, Japan

11. Jurassic World: The Exhibition

Get close to the dinosaurs at Jurassic World: The Exhibition, which will be in Tokyo by spring 2023. Here, you will get to reminisce about the scenes from the famous movie, Jurassic World, and say hello to the life-size dinosaurs as well as the iconic Tyrannosaurus rex in Jurassic Dinosaur Land. Aside from this upcoming exhibition in Japan, Jurassic World: The Exhibition is also currently available in countries such as Canada, England, and the United States.

Also read: 15 Best Japan Theme Parks and Amusement Parks for a Fun Time

12. Tokyu Kabukicho Tower

The 225-metre-tall Tokyu Kabukicho Tower is more than just a tower. This skyscraper complex — scheduled to open on 14 April 2023 in Kabukicho, Shinjuku — will consist of two hotels and various entertainment facilities! The concept of the tower is to fuse culture, future, and new experiences. 

Tokyu Kabukicho Tower will also have a premium cinema, a  live entertainment theatre that features a cafe and bar with night views, and a nighttime entertainment hub. Besides that, the first floor to the fifth floor of the tower will be filled with tons of restaurants, The Tokyo Matrix gameplay, and wellness facilities like a gym and private sauna.

Also read: Off the Beaten Path in Tokyo: 16 Best Things to Do That Are Under the Tourist Radar

13. Tsutenkaku Tower Slider

Fulfil your childhood dream and slide all the way down from 22 metres above the ground. One of the coolest new attractions in Japan, the Tsutenkaku Tower Slider is a 60-metre-long slide located in Osaka. Stretching from Tsutenkaku’s third floor to the basement level, you get to experience the fun of the ride for approximately ten seconds. The tower slider opened recently in May 2022. 

14. Banpaku BEAST (EXPO BEAST)

If you love sakura viewing, then you’ve probably heard of the Expo ’70 Commemorative Park in Osaka. Aside from being a famous hanami spot, there is also an athletic facility called the Bampaku BEAST perfect for adventurous travellers. Here, you can enjoy up to 121 types of activities, including climbing, slacklining, and aerial biking. There are a total of four floors, together with an observatory at the top. 

Also read: Osaka Sakura Season Guide: Everything You Need to Know for Your Trip

15. Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs

Are you a fan of Disney? Start planning your Tokyo trip for the DisneySea Fantasy Spring that is coming soon in spring 2024. This fantasy world will feature three areas and a hotel based on Disney movies, namely Frozen, Peter Pan, and Rapunzel. Although not much has been revealed about this upcoming attraction in Japan, one thing we can confidently say is that it will look magical both day and night. 

16. Moomin Valley Park

Moominvalley Park is another one of the new attractions in Japan. The Moomins are actually adorable characters featured in books and comics that were later made into TV series and films. In Moominvalley Park, aka the House of the Moomins, there are several attractions like the Bathing Hut, Story Door, and Lighthouse, all of which were brought to life from the series. Visitors can also catch cute performances at Emma’s Theatre, enjoy artworks, and learn about Moomin as well as its Finnish author at the three-storey exhibition named Kokemus.

17. Tokyo Joypolis

Tokyo Joypolis is one of the largest indoor amusement parks in Japan. There are a total of three floors, more than 20 attractions, and several games available. Some of the must-try rides include the Gekion Live Coaster, the first self-operated sound and light roller coaster in the world, and Halfpipe Tokyo, the number one attraction in Joypolis where you can get into a “spin battle”. 

Joypolis will hold new special events from time to time. For instance, the latest Spring Easter event, PUI PUI Molcar tea party event, Hirogaru Sky! Pretty Cure Odaiba Festival, and Bluelock in Joypolis will all be available for several months in 2023. There are also other attractions that feature popular movies and video game series such as Sonic the Hedgehog, Transformers, and The House of the Dead.

18. Awaji Island Anime Park (Nijigen no Mori)

The Nijigen no Mori Theme Park, aka the Awaji Island Anime Park, is a manga and anime-inspired amusement park in Awaji Island, Hyogo, Japan. You will be totally thrilled if you’re a fan of famous series like Naruto and Crayon Shin-chan. Take pictures with the statues of classic Naruto and Boruto characters, or enter the Futaba Kindergarten that Crayon Shin-chan attends for hide-and-seek. 

What’s more, the park is also home to the huge and scary Godzilla. You can even participate in games like the nerve-racking shooting game and the zip-line game. The latter is divided into two courses, where you get to swing into the life-size Godzilla’s mouth, or glide beside Godzilla and perform missions on a zip line!

19. Small Worlds Tokyo

Dive into the world of tiny humans and everything small in Small Worlds Tokyo, one of the new attractions in Japan you should definitely stop by. This is an indoor amusement park highlighting moving miniature attractions, and visitors are able to experience it in six different ways. The experience comprises: watching and immersing yourselves into the details of the small worlds; picture-taking; making your own miniatures; eating; buying; and actually living in it by creating a tiny you using a 3D scanner. How fascinating!

Also read: 32 Things to See and Do in Japan for First-Time Travellers

Whether it’s your first time visiting the country or you love Japan so much that you would definitely go back again, these are the latest attractions in Japan that will leave you in awe. Make sure to bookmark the list and plan your trip to Japan ahead. Bon voyage!