Seibuen Amusement Park, a theme park with retro vibes

Seibuen Amusement Park, located in Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture, was founded in 1950. The amusement park, loved by many Japanese people, reopened for its 70th anniversary in 2020 after large-scale renovations.

The concept is to give visitors ‘heart-warming happiness’. The transformed park recreates Showa era townscape, a throwback to a time of no cell phones and rapid economic growth in Japan. Back then, everyone in Japan was burning with excitement about the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, with social infrastructure being built at a rapid pace.

The cityscape evokes nostalgic feelings for adults and fuels curiosity for young visitors, inviting those who aren’t familiar with the era to feel the ‘extraordinary’ times.

One of the most prominent renovations that transformed the park is the bursting area dubbed Sunset Hill Shopping Street.

How to pay in the park

When paying for meals or drinks, visitors will use the park’s currency ‘Seibuen Currency’. It’s design is based on Jungle Emperor Leo/Kimba the White Lion, a work by a popular 1960s cartoonist Osamu Tezuka.

‘Seibuen Currency’ has banknotes in the nominal values of 10 credits (120 Japanese yen) and 100 credits (1200 Japanese yen). The currency unit is fixed, and it’s better to ask about the amount you want to purchase, in Japanese yen.

At the ticket counter, visitors can purchase as little as 250 credits worth 3,000 yen.

One-day entrance ticket, which includes admission and unlimited attraction rides, costs 4,400 yen for adults and 3,300 yen for children aged 3-12.

The Value 1-Day Leisure Pack, which includes 450 credits (5,400 yen), costs 9,500 yen for adults and 8,500 yen for children aged 3-12, which is 300 and 200 yen off for adults and kids respectively.

Please note that park’s currency can only be used on the same day, refunds for unused money are not available.

Sunset Hill Shopping Street lined with retro stores

The entrance leads to the Sunset Hill Shopping Street, a reproduction of a 1960s shotengai. The 150-meter-long street is lined with 30 stores and art objects, from fruit and vegetable stands to coffee shops.

Visitors can take a look at the view-only stores and their items, offering a rosy window into the golden 60s of Japan.

Plastic foods on display resemble art!

One of the most eye-catching things in the shopping arcade is the meticulously recreated fake food. From fish to vegetables and desserts to drinks, these are astonishingly accurate replicas of real dishes. Don’t miss these miniature sculptures, developed as part of Japan’s rich culture.

In the shopping street, not only the buildings and food are recreated, but also people’s lives back then. Visitors can enjoy many nostalgic shows such as Thief x Policeman’s Chase and Greengrocer’s Knock-On Sale.

Enjoy Japanese gourmet from the 1960s

There are two restaurants in the shopping street.

Cafe VICTORIA

A perfect place to enjoy light snacks and desserts.

Sukerokuya

A mixed Japanese and Western-style restaurant that serves rice omelets and rice curry.
Both restaurants are very crowded at lunch time, and it is recommended to come early.

There are other treats you can eat while walking.

Niku-no-ohomi

Niku-no-ohomi sells hot Japanese korokke known as croquettes.

In addition, there are many foods and drinks such as Japanese dumplings dango, rice crackers senbei, and shaved ice kakigori.

Experience the world’s first large-scale ride at Yuhikan

In the 1960s, television was not widely available in Japan. In the nearby Yuhikan, a building designed to resemble a movie theater, visitors can strap in for a thrilling ride. Unlike the park’s nostalgic theme, it features cutting-edge technology.

The visuals were created under guidance of Takashi Yamazaki, the director of popular films such as Always Sunset on Third Street and Stand by me Doraemon, and the creative team led by Mr. Tsuno, who has worked on various productions at Universal Studios Japan. It takes visitors for a once-in-a-lifetime thrilling ride that feels very realistic. Visitors can witness a fierce battle between Godzilla and King Ghidorah up close. The experience is fantastic even without 3D glasses!

Finally

Seibuen Amusement Park has many other attractions for families, such as Let’s Go! Leoland and the outdoor pool adjacent to the park. Perfect destination for a one-day trip!

Access

Address 2964 Yamaguchi, Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture 359-1145
Transportation By train:
71 minutes by JR Chuo Line, Seibu Railway Tamako Line, and Seibu Railway Yamaguchi Line from Tokyo Station.
Official website www.seibu-leisure.co.jp/

Hashtag