Latest news with #TokyoDisneyland
Straits Times
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Theme parks in Japan take measures to keep visitors cool amid intense heat
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Tokyo Disneyland, Universal Studios Japan and Yomiuriland have taken measures to help visitors feel cooler amid warm temperatures. With the arrival of July and the onset of intense heat, leisure facilities in Japan have begun holding events and implementing measures to help visitors feel cooler. Each facility's operators are racking their brains for ideas to counteract the severe heat that might keep guests away. More splash on Splash Mountain Starting in July 2025 , Tokyo Disneyland, in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture, will increase the water flow on its popular 'Splash Mountain' ride, causing more spray than usual when the ride plunges into an area resembling the basin of a waterfall. This summer-only initiative reportedly features the 'largest flow volume ever', which will cause water to splash like a shower not only on passengers but also on spectators nearby. On July 1 , the park held a summer parade, with mist spraying in time to the music, and visitors cheered when water was sprayed toward them along the way. 'I got more water than I expected, and it cooled me down quite a bit,' said a 46-year-old part-time worker from Kobe who came with her family. Extended evening hours Universal Studios Japan (USJ), in Osaka, began giving away salt candy to visitors for the first time on July 1 . Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore No train service across entire Bukit Panjang LRT line due to power fault Singapore Pedestrian-only path rules to be enforced reasonably; focus on errant cyclists: Baey Yam Keng Singapore $500 in Child LifeSG Credits, Edusave, Post-Sec Education Account top-ups to be disbursed in July Singapore 17-year-old youth charged with trespassing on MRT tracks; to be remanded at IMH Business Microsoft cutting 9,000 jobs companywide in second major wave of layoffs this year Asia Malaysian nurses following the money abroad for more opportunities World Trump tax Bill stalled by Republican rebellion in Congress Opinion How Apple gave 'the gift of fire' to Chinese electronics firms The park has also extended its opening hours into the evening to encourage visitors to come after the heat has subsided. 'People have begun to avoid going out in summer. We need to take serious measures to prevent people from getting heatstroke,' a USJ spokesman said. At Yomiuriland, an amusement park on the border of Inagi, Tokyo, and Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, all 42 gondolas of the observation wheel 'Sky-Go-LAND,' which opened in October 2024 , are equipped with air conditioning, allowing visitors to enjoy the view comfortably even in summer. Its predecessor did not have air conditioning. All three free rest areas in the park have also been equipped with air conditioning. Impact of heatwave The number of visitors to Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea from April to September 2024 was 12.2 million, 300,000 fewer than the same period the previous year. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the average temperature in Tokyo from July to September 2024 was 28.1 deg C, 2.8 degrees higher than the average for that period. That heatwave is believed to have been one of the reasons for the decline in visitor numbers. According to the agency, this summer is also expected to be hotter than average nationwide. 'In recent years, extreme heat has had a negative impact on visitor numbers at many outdoor leisure facilities. 'How to keep visitors comfortable during the summer has become an important question for management,' said Mr Chiaki Kato of Mitsubishi UFJ Research and Consulting Co. THE JAPAN NEWS/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Yomiuri Shimbun
02-07-2025
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Theme Parks Take Measures to Keep Visitors Cool; Park Operators Hope to Fight Lower Visitor Numbers Due to Brutal Heat
With the arrival of July and the onset of intense heat, domestic leisure facilities have begun holding events and implementing measures to help visitors feel cooler. Each facility's operators are racking their brains for ideas to counteract the severe heat that might keep guests away. More splash on Splash Mountain Starting this month, Tokyo Disneyland, in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture, will increase the water flow on its popular 'Splash Mountain' ride, causing more spray than usual when the ride plunges into an area resembling the basin of a waterfall. This summer-only initiative reportedly features the 'largest flow volume ever,' which will cause water to splash like a shower not only on passengers but also on spectators nearby. On Tuesday the park held a summer parade, with mist spraying in time to the music, and visitors cheered when water was sprayed toward them along the way. 'I got more water than I expected, and it cooled me down quite a bit,' said a 46-year-old part-time worker from Kobe who came with her family. Extended evening hours Universal Studios Japan, in Osaka, began giving away salt candy to visitors for the first time on Tuesday. The park has also extended its opening hours into the evening to encourage visitors to come after the heat has subsided. 'People have begun to avoid going out in summer. We need to take serious measures to prevent people from getting heatstroke,' a USJ spokesman said. At Yomiuriland, an amusement park on the border of Inagi, Tokyo, and Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, all 42 gondolas of the observation wheel 'Sky-Go-LAND,' which opened in October, are equipped with air conditioning, allowing visitors to enjoy the view comfortably even in summer. Its predecessor did not have air conditioning. All three free rest areas in the park have also been equipped with air conditioning. Impact of heatwave The number of visitors to Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea from April to September last year was 12.2 million, 300,000 fewer than the same period the previous year. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the average temperature in Tokyo from July to September last year was 28.1 C, 2.8 degrees higher than the average for that period. That heatwave is believed to have been one of the reasons for the decline in visitor numbers. According to the agency, this summer is also expected to be hotter than average nationwide. 'In recent years, extreme heat has had a negative impact on visitor numbers at many outdoor leisure facilities. How to keep visitors comfortable during the summer has become an important question for management,' said Chiaki Kato of Mitsubishi UFJ Research and Consulting Co.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
dataplor Launches Global Mobility Product, Expanding Foot Traffic Insights to Major Markets Worldwide
To mark the product launch, dataplor has released a new report revealing consumer patterns at top tourist attractions, underscoring the growing demand for reliable location intelligence beyond North America. MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif., May 20, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--dataplor, a leading provider of global location intelligence, has announced the launch of its global mobility product, delivering high-quality, privacy-compliant foot traffic data across international markets. Designed to meet growing demand from multinational businesses, the product offers monthly refreshed insights into consumer movement patterns across cities, regions, and points of interest (POIs), especially in previously under-mapped markets. It's one of the only global solutions built to deliver this depth of mobility data while maintaining General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) compliance and end-user privacy. To showcase the power of its new global dataset, dataplor is releasing the Global Foot Traffic Trends: What the World's Most Visited Places Reveal About Tourism's Return report, which analyzes foot traffic at the world's most visited tourist attractions. The report highlights how mobility data reveals meaningful insights about international travel patterns and regional consumer behavior from Tokyo Disneyland to the Great Pyramid at Giza. "Global companies need the same level of location intelligence abroad that they've come to expect in the U.S.," said Geoff Michener, CEO of dataplor. "With our international mobility product, businesses can now access comprehensive, GDPR-compliant foot traffic data across both developed and emerging markets, helping them make smarter decisions about where to invest, expand, and serve customers." New Applications Across Regions and Industries With access to reliable mobility data across international markets, dataplor's global offering empowers organizations to: Uncover new revenue opportunities by identifying untapped sales channels, benchmarking competitor foot traffic, and forecasting demand to inform international expansion and investment decisions. Enhance tourism and hospitality strategies by understanding how international visitors move through major cities, landmarks, and cultural destinations. Support smart city and infrastructure development through real-world mobility data that enables governments and urban planners to optimize transit systems, pedestrian flows, and city design. As with its North American offering, dataplor ensures international mobility data is collected via anonymized signals mapped against its proprietary POI database. The result is a precision-focused, GDPR-compliant, ethically sourced dataset that respects user privacy while meeting the demands of modern global businesses. For more information about the report and the global mobility product, read dataplor's latest blog or visit About dataplor dataplor is a leading provider of point-of-interest (POI) and mobility data that helps global enterprises grow abroad by mapping tough-to-reach markets with a privacy-first approach. As the majority of international location data is often inaccurate and quickly outdated, dataplor goes several steps beyond the industry standard, helping the world's largest companies across technology, mapping, search, third-party logistics, consumer packaged goods (CPG), telecom, investing, real estate, and finance understand location intelligence about any commercial or physical location in real-time, fueling their expansion abroad. View source version on Contacts media@ Sign in to access your portfolio
Scottish Sun
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Inside haunting theme park left abandoned for 18 years with empty stadium and decaying Ferris wheel
ABANDONED theme parks left to rot for years contain an entire empty stadium and rusting Ferris wheel. Despite almost two decades having passed, an empty landscape reminiscent of 1800s America still remains. 12 Western Village theme park has been abandoned for 18 years Credit: SWNS 12 The former attraction is located in Japan Credit: SWNS 12 The park featured a Mount Rushmore-esque replica Credit: SWNS Urban explorer Lukka Bradburn, 28, had been investigating ghost towns left behind following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster. The dad-of-two from Manchester discovered an entire derelict colonial American town area with hotels, churches and restaurants. Western Village theme park near Nikkō, Tochigi, in Japan, shut its doors in 2007. It originally opened in 1973 and was inspired by classic American and Italian Western movies, Read more Travel stories TILL YOU DROP Inside world's biggest shopping centre in VERY surprising location Ultimately, the park later closed as a result of competition from Tokyo Disneyland. Lukka found an intact replica of Mount Rushmore, as well as a stadium where crowds once watched jousting and other sports. 12 Kejonuma Leisure Land had a decaying ferris wheel Credit: SWNS 12 Kejonuma Leisure Land also has a derelict carousel ride Credit: SWNS 12 Western Village's arcade has the original machines Credit: SWNS The site also features mannequins depicting life in 'Wild West' America, while the gift shop was boarded-up and heavily damaged. Lukka found a prop gun on the floor and also an arcade with all the original machines. He also explored the remains of fellow attraction Kejonuma Leisure Land. This had once attracted 200,000 visitors in the remote Tohoku region, until shutting in 2001. Lukka found a decaying ferris wheel, children's train rides and carousels. It closed following falling demand and the struggling Japanese economy. I visited eerie abandoned theme park once filled with laughter but now left frozen in time…it's like the apocalypse hit Lukka had been visiting Japan with some exploring friends when he found the parks after researching on Google Maps. Revealing both sites were easily accessed, he said: "The Western one had a bit of a fence but you could pretty much just walk in. "There was no security or anyone watching over it; it was just left to rot." Lukka added: "As we got to one park it was heavily snowing and we were having to get through all these bushes. It was quite overgrown." 12 Western Village features mannequins reminiscent of its Wild West theme Credit: SWNS 12 The park shut its doors back in 2007 Credit: SWNS 12 Western Village contained buildings included churches and restaurants Credit: SWNS He and his friends came across another urban explorer - a Japanese man who revealed he used to visit the park as a child. The man spoke limited English, but told the group how he'd returned to take photos of the park. Lukka is planning a return to Japan next year to explore more red zones - as well as abandoned island. Use these tips on your next theme park trip Next time you visit a theme park, you may want to use our top tips to make the most of your adrenaline-inducing day out. Go to the back of the theme park first. Rides at the front will have the longest queues as soon as it opens. Go on water rides in the middle of the day in the summer - this will cool you off when the sun is at its hottest. Download the park's app to track which rides have the shortest queues. Visit on your birthday, as some parks give out "birthday badges" that can get you freebies. If it rains, contact the park. Depending on how much it rained, you may get a free ticket to return. It comes as an abandoned UK theme park is set to reopen as an adventure attraction. Adventure Wonderland opened in Bournemouth in 1992, with rides and rollercoasters based on Alice in Wonderland. The park was forced to close all of its outdoor rides back in 2023 due to "rising costs". New plans that have been submitted will see the theme park become a smaller adventure attraction. 12 Lukka found the sites while researching on Google Maps Credit: SWNS 12 Kenjonuma Leisure Land closed back in 2001 Credit: SWNS
The Irish Sun
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Inside haunting theme park left abandoned for 18 years with empty stadium and decaying Ferris wheel
ABANDONED theme parks left to rot for years contain an entire empty stadium and rusting Ferris wheel. Despite almost two decades having passed, an empty landscape reminiscent of 1800s America still remains. Advertisement 12 Western Village theme park has been abandoned for 18 years Credit: SWNS 12 The former attraction is located in Japan Credit: SWNS 12 The park featured a Mount Rushmore-esque replica Credit: SWNS Urban explorer Lukka Bradburn, 28, had been investigating ghost towns left behind following the 2011 The dad-of-two from Manchester discovered an entire derelict colonial American town area with hotels, churches and restaurants. It originally opened in 1973 and was inspired by classic American and Italian Western movies, Advertisement Read more Travel stories Ultimately, the park later closed as a result of competition from Tokyo Disneyland. Lukka found an intact replica of Mount Rushmore, as well as a stadium where crowds once watched jousting and other sports. 12 Kejonuma Leisure Land had a decaying ferris wheel Credit: SWNS 12 Kejonuma Leisure Land also has a derelict carousel ride Credit: SWNS Advertisement 12 Western Village's arcade has the original machines Credit: SWNS The site also features mannequins depicting life in 'Wild West' America, while the gift shop was boarded-up and heavily damaged. Lukka found a prop gun on the floor and also an arcade with all the original machines. Most read in News Travel He also explored the remains of fellow attraction Kejonuma Leisure Land. Advertisement This had once attracted 200,000 visitors in the remote Tohoku region, until shutting in 2001. Lukka found a decaying ferris wheel, children's train rides and carousels. It closed following falling demand and the struggling Japanese economy. I visited eerie abandoned theme park once filled with laughter but now left frozen in time…it's like the apocalypse hit Lukka had been visiting Japan with some exploring friends when he found the parks after researching on Google Maps. Advertisement Revealing both sites were easily accessed, he said: "The Western one had a bit of a fence but you could pretty much just walk in. "There was no security or anyone watching over it; it was just left to rot." Lukka added: "As we got to one park it was heavily snowing and we were having to get through all these bushes. It was quite overgrown." 12 Western Village features mannequins reminiscent of its Wild West theme Credit: SWNS Advertisement 12 The park shut its doors back in 2007 Credit: SWNS 12 Western Village contained buildings included churches and restaurants Credit: SWNS He and his friends came across another urban explorer - a Japanese man who revealed he used to visit the park as a child. Advertisement The man spoke limited English, but told the group how he'd returned to take photos of the park. Lukka is planning a return to Japan next year to explore more red zones - as well as abandoned island. Use these tips on your next theme park trip Next time you visit a theme park, you may want to use our top tips to make the most of your adrenaline-inducing day out. Go to the back of the theme park first. Rides at the front will have the longest queues as soon as it opens. Go on water rides in the middle of the day in the summer - this will cool you off when the sun is at its hottest. Download the park's app to track which rides have the shortest queues. Visit on your birthday, as some parks give out "birthday badges" that can get you freebies. If it rains, contact the park. Depending on how much it rained, you may get a free ticket to return. It comes as an abandoned UK theme park Adventure Wonderland opened in Bournemouth in 1992, with rides and rollercoasters based on Alice in Wonderland. Advertisement The park was forced to close all of its outdoor rides back in 2023 due to "rising costs". New plans that have been submitted will see the theme park become a smaller adventure . 12 Lukka found the sites while researching on Google Maps Credit: SWNS 12 Kenjonuma Leisure Land closed back in 2001 Credit: SWNS Advertisement 12 It closed after falling demand and the struggling Japanese economy Credit: SWNS
