Aside from being rich in nature, Tochigi prefecture also has fun theme parks you can visit. One of my favorites is Kinugawa Edo Wonderland Nikko. If you want to have other options aside from spending time outdoors, this is a good alternative. This place is so fun for those who want to experience being transported back in time, but with the convenience of being a theme park.
I can give you a list of ancient towns and villages where people have worked hard to protect. Obviously, Edo Wonderland is not it. It is, however, a place to have fun, cosplay, enjoy the attractions with friends and family.
Located in Nikko, Tochigi, this theme park is a cool place where you can pretend to be back in Edo Period. A lot of regular guests would come in their own costumes, take photos as the background is especially well-made. The stores, streets and buildings are carefully decorated to look like the old Edo Period. You can also check their official website for their events calendar as they have lots of seasonal events.
What elevated my experience is they have the in-house service to wear costumes. They offer a few selections of kimonos so you can walk around in traditional clothing. As I wanted something a bit more special than the ordinary kimono style (because you can wear kimonos on a normal day, you know?), I opted for their merchant outfit. (^^) Even the lady who was working there was chatting with me saying that it was the merchants who were rich during that time so it was a great choice.
The size of the park is enough to go around for half a day, but you can take your time and visit and enjoy the atmosphere of the Edo period. There are different booths that offer various experiences such as mazes, ninja training halls with shuriken and archery games. There are also areas where you can learn and try shamisen and other arts and crafts.
In the theme of Edo Period, there are also museums about swordsmanship, tea ceremonies and other interesting facts during that time. Not only you’ll have fun exploring how it was back in the day, but the various exhibits also offer a deeper learning experience for all visitors. It’s really well-made for friends and families to enjoy learning together.
When you’re tired, there are also fun food stalls that you can check out as well.
