Nijigen no Mori immerses you in the world of some of the most iconic manga that characterizes Japanese pop culture. It also doubles as a fun and interactive adventure inside Awajishima Prefectural Park on the island of Awaji Island, southwest of Osaka.
Nijigen no Mori (the park’s name literally translates to the “two-dimensional forest”) offers daytime and nighttime attractions off the coast of the main island of Japan in the northern hills of the Hyogo Prefecture island. Awaji Island is actually connected via bridge to Kobe— the city with Japan’s most famous beef. Basically, it’s a day trip to a less crowded, anime-infused park where you can even camp overnight.
The park is designed for visitors to feel as if they were stepping into the fantasy world of their favorite characters. Some attractions are more geared towards families and children, but it’s fun for all ages.
Anime highlights of Nijigen no Mori
One of the newest features of the park is great news for all you Naruto fans out there. In the Naruto and Boruto Shinobi-Zato attraction, you can experience the world of the popular anime Narutoand Boruto: Naruto Next Generations.
New in 2019 is the Naruto and Boruto theme park area (Naruto & Boruto – Sjinobi-Zato), which will officially open April 20, 2019. The new attraction features life-sized statues and models, recreating the world of Naruto and will offer a number of activities for all visitors. Choose to lose yourself in a maze or train like your favorite ninjas. Beat trials and challenges to collect all the missing seals (the very ones used for the Sealing Jutsu), or maybe just chill in one of the restaurants, including the iconic ramen shop favored by Naruto: Ramen Ichiraku(ラーメン一楽).
If you’re familiar with the beloved manga character Crayon Shin-chan, you’ll love strolling through the forest and trying to spot figures peeking over a bush in some of its most famous and outrageous poses at its own attraction, Crayon Shin-chan Adventure Park. In this area, also check out the two ziplines (130-meters and 210-meters long) that you can glide along and even partake in water gun fights along the way. Next, challenge yourself in the Bravo! Great Adventure Across The Warring States!, an obstacle and ropes course for families and kids.
Nighttime and accommodation
After sundown, the face of the park changes completely. At night, immerse yourself in the world of the legendary manga Hinotori(The Firebird) by Tezuka Osamu, who also created Astro Boy. This 1.2-kilometer projection mapping tour through the forest is magical with actors playing local villagers introducing you to this manga-inspired world.
Aside from the anime-themed attractions, Nijigen no Mori is a beautiful park with a variety of trees and flowers, as well as several restaurants, including barbecue, Italian and Japanese restaurants.
Visitors can also stay overnight at the Grand Chariot, a “glamping” (glamorous camping) facility with cottages within the park itself.
