Hirakata Park, located in Hirakata City, Osaka Prefecture, is one of the largest amusement parks in the Kansai region. Known affectionately as “Hirapa”, it is one of Japan’s oldest amusement parks and has more than 100 years of history. With approximately 1.3 million visitors annually, it remains one of the region’s major leisure destinations.
The park features 43 attractions set across naturally undulating terrain. Along with thrilling rides and entertainment, visitors can enjoy a beautiful rose garden and areas where they can interact with animals. With attractions suitable for everyone from young children to adults, the park offers plenty to enjoy throughout an entire day.
Hirakata Park features numerous exciting attractions for visitors who enjoy high-speed rides and thrills.
The Wooden Coaster ELF stretches approximately 695.6 meters and reaches a maximum speed of 58.1 km/h. Its characteristic wooden structure creates a distinctive combination of shaking movement and a relatively gentle ride, producing a unique experience that blends excitement with a surprisingly comfortable sensation.
The Red Falcon is approximately 1,300 meters long and reaches a maximum speed of 70 km/h. This substantial roller coaster delivers a powerful sense of speed as you race through the air.
Giant Drop Meteor is an extreme free-fall attraction that plunges downward at tremendous speed. Its near-vertical drop provides an intense sensation of weightlessness and height.
In addition to its thrill rides, Hirakata Park offers numerous attractions that families can enjoy together.
Fantasy Cruise is a gentle boat ride that is particularly suitable for enjoying with young children.
Anpanman Happy Sky is an attraction themed around Anpanman, one of Japan’s best-known children’s characters, and is especially popular with younger visitors.
Sky Walker is a large observation Ferris wheel offering panoramic views toward Osaka City and Kyoto City on clear days.
The park’s Rose Garden features approximately 600 varieties and 4,000 rose plants. Visitors can enjoy a wide range of roses, including original varieties, old roses, and modern roses.
In spring, approximately 300 Somei Yoshino cherry trees bloom throughout the park, making Hirakata Park a popular destination for cherry blossom viewing.
Seasonal flowers are also planted around the entrance, creating different landscapes throughout the year and giving visitors something new to enjoy during each season.
Hirakata Park also has several areas where visitors can encounter animals. The Animal Hug-Hug Town is home to around 40 species, including raccoons, red pandas, Asian small-clawed otters, and capybaras.
Wonder Garden is home to animals such as raccoons, red pandas, and Asian small-clawed otters.
Piccolo Garden features animals including squirrel monkeys, prairie dogs, and guinea pigs.
Animal Hug-Hug Town provides opportunities to see and interact with more than 40 species, including tortoises, capybaras, alpacas, penguins, owls, and parakeets.
Hirakata Park offers special attractions and events throughout the year. During summer, visitors can enjoy a large swimming pool, while winter brings skating and snow-play facilities.
The Boon is a large seasonal pool area that opens during the summer months.
Winter Carnival offers a seasonal ice-skating rink as well as facilities for playing in the snow.
The park has several shopping areas where visitors can purchase souvenirs and take home a reminder of their day at Hirakata Park.
Nome Shop sells original Hirakata Park merchandise and souvenirs.
Wizard Village offers a variety of fantasy-themed merchandise.
Frodo’s Forest features toys, picture books, and other items for children.
The history of Hirakata Park is closely associated with its famous Kikuningyo, or chrysanthemum doll exhibitions. Held every autumn since the park’s early years, these elaborate displays traditionally featured themes inspired largely by NHK’s historical television dramas.
Although the large-scale chrysanthemum doll exhibitions have now ended, their long history remains an important part of Hirakata Park’s identity and heritage.
The history of Hirakata Park can be traced back to Kori Amusement Park, which opened in 1910. The present Hirakata Park opened in 1912, and it has remained one of Japan’s oldest amusement parks for more than a century.
The park’s predecessor, Kori Amusement Park, opened in 1910 in what is now Neyagawa City, Osaka Prefecture. It was modeled after Korakuen in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, and opened in conjunction with the development of the Keihan Railway.
The amusement park was later relocated to its present site in Hirakata, where its history as Hirakata Park began in 1912.
During the Pacific War, the site was converted for military material production and agricultural use, temporarily ending its operation as an amusement park.
In 1949, the facility was revived in cooperation with Hirakata City. Events such as the chrysanthemum doll exhibition once again became part of the park’s attractions.
In 1996, a major renovation costing approximately 8 billion yen was carried out. Hirakata Park reopened with new attractions and facilities, giving the park a refreshed identity.
Following this renovation, the nickname “Hirapa” came to be used more widely as an official nickname, further increasing the park’s recognition throughout the Kansai region.
Hirakata Park reached one of its busiest periods in fiscal 1974, when annual attendance exceeded 1.6 million visitors. Competition in the region intensified following the opening of Universal Studios Japan (USJ) in 2001.
Even amid these changes in the regional leisure industry, Hirakata Park has continued operating while maintaining its distinctive combination of amusement rides, nature, animals, seasonal events, and family-friendly attractions.
Hirakata Park brings together amusement rides, animals, gardens, seasonal activities, entertainment, and shopping in a single destination. From young children to adults, visitors can choose from a wide range of activities and spend an entire day enjoying the park.
With more than a century of history and attractions for different ages and interests, Hirakata Park offers a distinctive amusement park experience in the Kansai region of Japan.
Weekdays 10:00-17:00
Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays and holidays: 10:00-18:00
Admission + Free Pass (unlimited play of attractions)
Adults (junior high school students and older) 4,800 yen
Elementary school students 4,000 yen
2,800 yen for children from 2 years old to preschool age
Admission
Adult (junior high school student and older) 1,800 yen
Elementary school students to preschoolers: 1,000 yen
3 minutes walk from Hirakata Koen Station on Keihan Line