Green Land

Greenland is one of the largest amusement parks in Kyushu, located in Midorigaoka, Arao City, in northern Kumamoto Prefecture. Close to the border with Fukuoka Prefecture, it attracts many visitors not only from Kumamoto but also from Fukuoka and throughout Kyushu. The vast park features thrill rides, a Ferris wheel, family-friendly attractions, horror facilities, game-based attractions, and more. It is popular with a wide range of visitors, from families with children and young people to roller-coaster enthusiasts.

Greenland opened on July 23, 1966, and celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2026. Over its long history, the park has continued to develop by introducing new attractions and events, and has become one of Kyushu’s most beloved amusement parks. Greenland amusement park is the central facility of Greenland Resort, a complex that also includes hotels, natural hot springs, a golf course, bowling alleys, and amusement facilities.

The park’s greatest feature is its exceptionally wide variety of attractions. In the past, travel guides described it as having more than 70 or even more than 80 attractions, but the number changes as attractions are introduced, retired, or temporarily suspended. On August 15, 2026, the park was certified by the Japan Record Certification Association as the amusement park with the largest number of attractions in Japan, with 66 attractions. Its appeal lies not only in the number of attractions, but also in their diversity, including thrill rides, family attractions, horror attractions, water attractions, and game-based facilities.

One of the park’s symbols is the Great Ferris Wheel Rainbow. It has a diameter of approximately 100 meters and stands about 105 meters high, with one complete rotation taking approximately 15 minutes. As the gondolas slowly rise, the entire amusement park spreads out below. On clear days, visitors may be able to see the Ariake Sea, Mount Unzen-Fugendake, and even the distant outer rim of Mount Aso.

Some of the gondolas are 360-degree, fully transparent see-through cabins, offering a sense of openness and excitement unlike that of ordinary gondolas. On days when the park operates at night, the Great Ferris Wheel is illuminated with full-color LEDs, creating a fantastical appearance different from its daytime view. Because visitors can enjoy the nighttime scenery of the park from high above, the wheel is popular with families, friends, and couples alike.

However, the Great Ferris Wheel may stop operating due to weather conditions such as strong winds or lightning, or if the temperature inside the gondolas exceeds 38°C. Since one ride takes approximately 15 minutes, ticket sales may also end before the park’s closing time. Visitors should check the operating status on the day of their visit.

One of Greenland’s signature roller coasters is the dinosaur coaster GAO. With a total track length of 1,497 meters, it is the longest coaster in the park. Reaching a top speed of 98 kilometers per hour, it races through the spacious grounds while repeatedly making large upward, downward, and side-to-side movements.

The track is designed to resemble the back of a dinosaur, and a large stegosaurus sculpture serves as a landmark. Despite its substantial scale, the coaster has no inversions, and the official website describes it as ideal for making a full-scale roller-coaster debut. There are age, height, and other requirements for riding, so visitors should check the conditions in advance.

NIO is popular with visitors seeking even more intense thrills. It is a suspended looping coaster in which the seats hang beneath the track, allowing riders’ feet to remain suspended in the air. The coaster is approximately 700 meters long, reaches a height of about 35 meters, and has a top speed of approximately 80 kilometers per hour.

During the ride, passengers experience two inversions and three screw rotations, with forces of up to approximately 4.69 G. The intense spinning without a floor beneath the riders’ feet makes NIO one of Greenland’s most thrilling attractions. Riders must be 64 or younger and between 130 and 200 centimeters tall.

Grampus Jet is a distinctive type of roller coaster in which the cars are suspended beneath the track. Its movements are designed to evoke an orca swimming through the sky, and it is a relatively gentle coaster without inversions. There is no age restriction, and guests between 110 and 200 centimeters tall may ride. It is suitable for people who are not comfortable with intense thrill rides and for families who want to enjoy a roller coaster together.

In addition to these attractions, the park offers a wide variety of facilities, including the Wave Swinger GURUGURU, in which suspended swings rise while rotating; rides that provide views from high above; water attractions that create dramatic splashes; shooting games; haunted houses; and more. There are also rides that young children can enjoy with a parent or guardian, animal-themed playground equipment, carousels, and other facilities, allowing visitors to plan their day according to their age and interests.

Each attraction has its own requirements regarding age, height, weight, health condition, and whether a parent or guardian must accompany the rider. Even attractions aimed at families may have different requirements, so visitors with small children should check the official website or park map in advance. Some attractions can be used in rainy weather, but others may close because of strong winds, lightning, inspections, or other reasons.

Because the park is extremely large, it is important to check in advance which attractions you want to visit and where they are located. The park also offers rides that can be used for transportation within the grounds, including a road train, a lift, and the Sky Ship. The road train travels between stops around the park, while the Sky Ship connects the northern area with the water park. The lift is convenient for traveling between the area near the dinosaur coaster GAO and the northern area.

If you want to ride popular attractions repeatedly, a free pass is convenient. If you plan to enjoy only a few rides, you can instead purchase a book of ride tickets. The admission fee and ride-charge system, as well as the types and availability of tickets, may change, so visitors are advised to check the details before their visit.

During the summer, the Water Park operates within the amusement park. In 2026, the park advertised “seven pools where you can play in the water,” including a wave pool, a lazy river, and pools equipped with features for children. The facility offers everything from areas where small children can play to exciting attractions such as water slides, making it a popular summer destination.

The operating period, hours, prices, and available facilities at the Water Park vary from year to year. Operating details may also change because of weather conditions or inspections. In 2026, there are plans allowing visitors to use some amusement-park attractions while wearing their swimsuits, but they must wear a rash guard or T-shirt over their swimsuits and footwear such as sandals or shoes. Some attractions cannot be used while wearing only a swimsuit.

On designated days when the park remains open at night, an illumination event called “Wonder Illumination” is held. More than 100 illumination spots throughout the park are enveloped in colorful lights. Combined with the lighting on the attractions and the illuminated Great Ferris Wheel, they create a fantastical world unlike the daytime park.

Visitors can enjoy different displays in different areas, including sections where lights are reflected on the water, tunnels of light, and illuminations that sparkle in time with music. However, the event is not necessarily held on every night the park is open late, and the dates and lighting hours vary depending on the season and year. Those visiting specifically for the illumination event should check the official website for the scheduled dates.

The park also hosts character shows, live music performances, seasonal events, fireworks displays, and more. Special limited-time events may be planned during major holiday periods, summer vacation, and Halloween. On days when fireworks illuminate the night sky while the amusement park’s illuminations shine below, the park becomes especially crowded. Since event details change from year to year, visitors are advised to check the schedule on the official website before visiting.

Restaurants, snack stands, takeout shops, and stores are available throughout the park, allowing visitors to eat and take breaks between activities. A wide range of food is offered, including Kumamoto-style pork-bone ramen, curry, snacks, sweets, and ice cream. The park is also equipped with a service center, nursing rooms, rest areas, coin lockers, and services related to strollers and wheelchairs, making it convenient for families.

Greenland has two official hotels: Hotel Verde, located next to the amusement park, and Hotel Blanca, located within the park itself. Hotel Verde is approximately a two-minute walk from the amusement park and features large communal baths and open-air baths supplied by natural hot springs, as well as restaurants.

Hotel Blanca is located inside Greenland amusement park, and guests can access the park by walking down the stairs in the courtyard. The hotel has a large communal bath supplied by natural hot springs, and some rooms may offer views of the amusement park. Depending on the accommodation plan, admission tickets or free passes may be included, making the hotel convenient for visitors who want to enjoy the amusement park at a leisurely pace.

Greenland Resort also includes golf courses, bowling alleys, amusement facilities, and more. Visitors can stay at a hotel after enjoying the amusement park, relax in the natural hot springs, and play golf or enjoy other activities the following day. One of Greenland’s greatest features is that it is not merely a day-trip amusement park, but a comprehensive resort where visitors can stay and enjoy themselves over several days.

Greenland offers different ways to enjoy the park depending on each visitor’s interests, whether they want to take on thrilling rides, enjoy attractions with their children, or visit for the pool and illuminations. The park is home to distinctive attractions such as the 105-meter-tall Great Ferris Wheel, the 1,497-meter-long dinosaur coaster GAO, and NIO, known for its intense rotations.

With an amusement park, swimming pools, events, hotels, natural hot springs, golf, and more, Greenland offers such a wide variety of activities that it cannot be fully explored in a single day. It is one of Kyushu’s leading leisure destinations. Since opening hours, prices, events, the Water Park’s operating period, illumination dates, and attraction closures vary from day to day, visitors are advised to check the latest information on the official website before visiting.