Noboribetsu Date Jidaimura Village (Edo Wonderland) in Japan
One of the highlights of a trip to Hokkaido is visiting the historical theme park – Noboribetsu Date Jidaimura Village or Edo Wonderland.
Step back into the past and visit this village showcasing the splendor of Edo Period, the most beautiful era in Japanese history. Every detail inside the park feels like you went back in time: the attendants wear traditional Japanese after, the pathway is covered with cobblestones, and even the buildings look like you’re inside a movie set.
Before exploring the place, make sure to change into a Japanese costume to truly feel like you’re in an old Japanese village. Rental costume costs from ¥2,100 to ¥4,500 (adults). Here are some of the must-visit attractions inside Noboribetsu Date Jidaimura:
Nagaya
Learn about the people’s daily lives during Edo Period at Nagaya area. It looks like apartment houses built next to each other with life-size Japanese mannequins inside, re-enacting their daily lives.
Taiken Dojo
Learn how to throw ninja stars, knives, or arrows at Taiken Dojo. You will have to pay for ¥500 for every round but hit the bullseye and you’ll get a prize.
Ninja Maze
This attraction is for those who would like to test their inner ninja. Learning how to escape the tricks and traps inside while fighting dizziness against a variety of optical illusions is truly a challenge. And no, we’re not showing you how it looks since it is a maze.
Ninja Show
There are ninja fight sequences and drama with some slapstick comedy thrown in. The show is in Japanese so make sure to get the information sheet in English handed before the show. It will help you understand the flow of the story.
Other attractions include the Goblin Cat Temple, House of Monster, Outdoor Ninja Action Show, and Nyanmage Comedy. There are restaurants in the village, so you don’t need to worry if you feel hungry. If you’re looking for a snack, get the Dango Dumplings at Waraji-Ya. You can also get rice cake in flavors like black sesame, sweet soy sauce, and sweet bean. They are filling and sticky, perfect for the little ones in your group.
Edo Wonderland is an entertaining way to spend the morning or afternoon while in Hokkaido.
To get here, you have to take a 10-15 minute car or taxi ride from Noboribetsu Onsen area. If you’re coming back to the onsen area, ask the reception to call you a cab or for directions to the train. If you prefer to take the bus, you may check the bus schedule at either the Onsen Terminal or JR Noboribetsu Station. General admission for adults is ¥2,900, ¥1,500 for kids ages 6 to 12, and ¥600 for toddlers. It’s open from 9 am to 4 pm from November to March and 9 am to 5 pm from April to October.
Address: 53-1 Naka-Noboribetsu-cho, Noboribetsu, Hokkaido, Japan 059-0463
Website: www.edo-trip.jp
This also appears in Philippine Primer English Magazine’s January issue.
