EE Park, officially known as the Sio-Tōpu Hidaka Port New Energy Park, is an interactive educational facility in Gobo City, Wakayama Prefecture, where visitors can learn about renewable and alternative energy while having fun.
Located beside Hidaka Port, the park combines demonstrations of future energy technologies with the natural environment of the coastal area. Visitors can see actual energy-generation facilities in operation and take part in hands-on activities designed for both children and adults.
Opened in 2007, EE Park was selected as one of Japan’s “100 Best New Energy Projects,” a national selection recognizing outstanding examples of new-energy utilization. It is known as the only facility in Wakayama Prefecture to have received this recognition.
EE Park features a variety of energy-generation systems, including solar power, wind power, and small-scale hybrid generation. Simply walking around the open park while enjoying the refreshing sea breeze is a pleasant experience.
At the same time, the various facilities offer visitors an easy-to-understand introduction to how natural energy can be used in everyday life and during emergencies.
One of the park’s facilities combines solar and wind power to demonstrate how different renewable energy sources can work together.
The electricity generated by the system is used for purposes such as nighttime lighting and emergency power. This also demonstrates how renewable energy can contribute to disaster preparedness and provide electricity when conventional power supplies are unavailable.
Visitors can also see micro-hydropower generation, a technology capable of producing electricity even from relatively small amounts of flowing water, as well as small wind turbines.
These facilities are used to explore the potential applications of environmentally friendly energy, including situations such as remote islands and emergencies. They provide an accessible introduction to technologies that could become increasingly important in the future.
One of the most popular attractions for children is the solar car experience. Visitors can ride a small vehicle equipped with solar panels around a course approximately 120 meters long.
Rather than simply reading about renewable energy, children can experience the concept firsthand while having fun. It is an enjoyable way for families to discover how sunlight can be converted into usable energy.
The EE Park PR Center introduces the mechanisms and importance of new-energy technologies through easy-to-understand exhibits.
Interactive displays, quizzes, and three-dimensional models make the facility approachable even for young children. The exhibits encourage visitors to think about how energy is produced, how it is used, and how future communities might make better use of natural resources.
One of the PR Center’s signature exhibits is Nature Energy Town, a diorama depicting a futuristic city.
The model demonstrates how renewable energy could be incorporated into everyday life in a future community. Moving cardboard artwork and other interactive elements make the exhibit especially engaging and give visitors plenty to look at.
The PR Center also includes a Gobo Gallery featuring information about Gobo City and the surrounding region. Visitors can learn about local attractions and discover more places to explore during their trip.
Research displays and robots developed by National Institute of Technology, Wakayama College are also featured, giving the facility an additional connection to science and technology education.
Next to EE Park is Sio-Tōpu, also known as Hidaka Port Shioya Green Space, a waterfront green area designed as a relaxing recreational space for the local community.
The name “Sio-Tōpu” combines “shio,” meaning salt, from Shioya, the name of the nearby district, with “biotope,” referring to a habitat where living things can thrive.
At the center of the park is a pond supplied with seawater. Around 60 species and approximately 1,000 fish are said to live in the pond, including colorful koi carp.
With walking paths and benches, the park is a pleasant place for families to relax while enjoying the coastal scenery. Children in particular can have fun observing the fish and exploring the waterfront environment.
One of Sio-Tōpu’s most unusual attractions is a collection of statues inspired by the famous manga series GeGeGe no Kitaro by manga artist Shigeru Mizuki.
A total of 10 yokai, or supernatural creatures from Japanese folklore, can be found around the waterfront pond. The statues make the park an entertaining destination for families and a popular place for photography.
Among the statues are familiar characters such as Kitaro, Neko Musume, and Nezumi Otoko. These characters are widely recognized in Japan and introduce visitors to a playful side of Japanese folklore and popular culture.
Kitaro is known as a character who seeks peaceful coexistence between humans and yokai, while Neko Musume combines a cute appearance with the mysterious qualities traditionally associated with supernatural beings.
The collection also features supernatural creatures associated with local traditions, including Nurarihyon, Taka-Onna, Mokuri-Kokuri, and Tatami-Tataki.
Nurarihyon, sometimes described as the leader of the yokai, is one of the best-known figures in Japanese folklore. Other creatures provide a glimpse into the distinctive folk traditions that developed in Wakayama.
The collection includes Kashabo, a creature associated with the belief that a kappa may transform when it enters the mountains during winter, as well as Ushi-Oni, a fearsome creature traditionally associated with the sea and rivers.
Searching for the different yokai while walking around the park can turn a simple stroll into a fun cultural adventure for visitors of all ages.
Sio-Tōpu hosts seasonal events that bring additional energy to the waterfront. One popular event is the Sio-Tōpu Koi Festival, generally held around May.
During the event, numerous koinobori, traditional carp-shaped streamers associated with Children’s Day in Japan, are displayed above the pond. In the evening, heart-shaped illuminations create an especially charming atmosphere.
The nearby Shioya district of Hidaka Port also becomes lively when cruise ships call at the port. Welcome events organized by local residents may be held for passengers, creating opportunities for visitors to experience the warm hospitality of the local community.
Large Japanese cruise ships such as Nippon Maru and Pacific Venus have visited the port, bringing many travelers to the area.
The surrounding Shioya district has a history closely connected with salt production. As its name suggests, Shioya has been associated with salt making since ancient times.
Historical records indicate that salt from Shioya was used by the imperial court during the Asuka and Nara periods. Archaeological discoveries also suggest that salt production was already taking place along the coast during the Yayoi period.
The traditional salt-making culture continues today through Shioya no Amashio, a natural sea salt produced using traditional methods.
Seawater from the Kii Channel is slowly heated in large cauldrons using firewood before the salt is finished through sun-drying. No chemical seasonings or artificial additives are used.
The resulting salt has a mild saltiness and rich umami flavor, making it particularly well suited to simple foods such as onigiri rice balls, grilled fish, and lightly pickled vegetables.
The salt-making process is carried out by Nanohana Workshop, a local employment support facility. Staff and facility users work together to preserve this traditional craft, passing down a salt-making culture that has continued for more than 1,500 years.
For visitors, Shioya’s salt offers another way to discover the history of Gobo. What appears to be a simple seasoning is actually connected to the region’s coastline, ancient trade, local livelihoods, and generations of traditional knowledge.
By car: Approximately 10 minutes from the Gobo Interchange on the Hanwa Expressway and Yuasa-Gobo Road.
From Gobo Station: Approximately 10 minutes by car from JR Gobo Station.
By bus: Approximately a 3-minute walk from the Ojikawa bus stop served by Nankai Bus.
Admission: Free.
EE Park and Sio-Tōpu offer much more than a conventional sightseeing experience. Here, visitors can learn about renewable energy, enjoy a relaxing waterfront environment, discover Japanese yokai folklore, and explore the ancient salt-making culture of Shioya—all in one area.
For families, the solar car and interactive exhibits provide an entertaining introduction to science and technology. For travelers interested in Japanese culture, the yokai statues and traditional salt-making story offer a glimpse into local folklore and history.
With free admission and a combination of education, nature, culture, and entertainment, EE Park and Sio-Tōpu are distinctive attractions for anyone exploring Gobo and the Hidaka region.