Huis Ten Bosch, the largest theme park in Japan, is located in Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture. It is designed to resemble a Dutch town and has a European vibe. You can enjoy exploring this park as if you were in the Netherlands. I’d like to show you the second day of our trip here in Nagasaki. If you are interested in our first day exploring Nagasaki City, please click the link below.
My husband and I took the JR Seaside Liner from Nagasaki to Huis Ten Bosch, the terminal station. The journey took about 90 minutes. As we got off the train, we caught sight of a row of traditional Dutch-style buildings.
A Brief History of Huis Ten Bosch
The park’s name means “House in the Woods” in Dutch, and its concept was inspired by Japan’s historical ties with the Netherlands, dating back to the 17th century when the Dutch were the only Western traders allowed in Japan, operating from Dejima in Nagasaki.
Despite the beautifully designed and rich concept, the park has struggled financially many times since it was opened in 1992. It once went bankrupt in 2003 but managed to maintain operations with the support of Nomura Principal Finance. In 2010, a travel company (H.I.S.) took over and revived the park with new attractions and seasonal events. Then, in 2022, the park was purchased by a new owner (PAG), which has continued to expand its offerings, including high-tech attractions and luxury accommodations.
Welcome Area
When we stepped through the gate, we could not help but notice an exotic atmosphere with large windmills turning slowly. Even though it was February, colorful tulips were in bloom. The One Million Tulip Festival is supposed to run from early February to early April. While many tourists lined up at the photo spots, we headed to the first attraction to make the most of our limited time.
Canal Cruiser and Gondola
The park has a 6 km-long canal running through it, which visitors can explore by taking a scenic ride on a “Canal Cruiser” or, if you would like to make it more special, a peaceful trip in a stylish “Gondola.” We first decided to take a classic cruiser to get a feel for the vibe of this large park. The twelve-minute boat ride showed us a beautiful European-like townscape and rural landscape along the canal.. By the end of the ride, we had reached the Tower City area, where we looked up and saw the iconic tower, “Domtoren,” towering above us.
Domtoren
The Domtoren is the symbolic tower of Huis Ten Bosch and faithfully reproduces the exterior of the Domtoren in the Netherlands. Unlike the one in the Netherlands, the Domtoren in Huis Ten Bosch has an elevator and incorporates state-of-the-art technology to control vibrations. We went up to the observation deck 80 meters above the ground and enjoyed a spectacular view of the entire park and Omura Bay beyond.
Attractions
Next, we stepped into an indoor attraction area, the “Fantasia City of Light,” a magical part of the park that blends technology and beautiful lighting in a dreamlike environment. This area comprises several themed sections, such as flowers, space, and underwater, each offering immersive experiences through advanced digital lighting and projection mapping technologies.
If you want a more exciting experience, you should step into the “Attraction Town” area, which offers one of the most popular attractions: the VR world.
The weather got nicer in the afternoon as we headed to the “Adventure Park” area, where we tried one of the most thrilling attractions, the Shooting Star. It is a zipline where you slide down a 300 m long wire rope over the canal. It was our first challenge, but we enjoyed it and felt like we were shooting stars.
There are many more attractions than you can see in a day. They also offer entertainment, various shows, performances, and seasonal events. I’d recommend doing your homework to get some information beforehand so that you can make the most of your day.
https://english.huistenbosch.co.jp
Churī and Miffy
Churī is the official mascot of Huis Ten Bosch, inspired by a tulip, the park’s iconic flower. Miffy is another character drawn by Dutch graphic designer, Dick Bruna, and Miffy’s picture books have been loved for decades by Japanese people too.
A new area will open to mark Miffy’s 70th anniversary this summer in 2025. Here, you can experience new attractions, an Instagrammable restaurant, and specialty stores to boost your Miffy World.
Palace Huis Ten Bosch
The majestic palace stands in the deepest part of the park. The Palace Huis Ten Bosch was built with special permission from the Dutch royal family to faithfully reproduce the exterior of the palace where King Willem-Alexander resides. Permission was also granted to name the theme park Huis Ten Bosch after the palace.
The palace houses the Huis Ten Bosch Museum, which boasts an impressive collection of world art including a large number of oil paintings produced in the 17th century, commonly known as the Dutch Golden Age. A highlight of the museum is the “Mural Room,” which contains a 19-meter-high, 11-meter-wide dome-shaped mural. The Baroque-style garden at the back is the revival of the “Phantom Garden” designed in the 18th century but never realized. It is a must-see and can be described as the essence of Huis Ten Bosch, which strives to be authentic.
The tour of the Palace Huis Ten Bosch was overwhelming. As it was about time to catch a boat from here to Nagasaki Airport, we decided to rest in the Harbor Town area, feeling the sea breeze and observing many boats moored there. Most of these boats were stationary, creating the peaceful, scenic ambiance of a Dutch canal town with brick buildings and cobbled streets.
We had to leave Nagasaki by late afternoon to fly back to Osaka. One of the major disappointments of this visit was not being able to see the illuminations at this theme park.
Illuminations and Night Shows
The entire park transforms into a magical wonderland with dazzling lights at night. Millions of LED lights captivate you and take you to a breathtaking world.
Huis Ten Bosch in Nagasaki has been recognized as Japan’s top illumination attraction for ten consecutive years. In 2024, “Kingdom of Light” received the prestigious “International Illumination Award” for Best Illumination Event.
A spectacular new night show, “Shower of Lights,” with fireworks and fountains, is ongoing every night until June 29, 2025.
Huis Ten Bosch operates five official hotels and offers accommodation both inside and outside the park. If you visit, I recommend staying at one of the hotels to maximize your resort stay and enjoy yourself until nightfall.
https://www.huistenbosch.co.jp/event/hikari
Lives in Takatsuki city, Osaka. Has been engaged in English for work and fun for years.
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