Kijima Kogen Park

Kijima Kogen Park is a nature-rich, highland-style amusement park located in the Kijima Kogen area of Beppu City, Oita Prefecture. It lies near the border between Beppu and Yufu, along the road connecting Beppu Onsen and Yufuin Onsen. Spread across a plateau approximately 700 meters above sea level and surrounded by mountains, the park’s greatest appeal is the opportunity to enjoy a wide variety of attractions while feeling the refreshing highland breeze in its open surroundings.

Kijima Kogen is a comprehensive resort featuring Kijima Kogen Park, Kijima Kogen Hotel, and Kijima Kogen Golf Club. The entire resort, including these facilities, covers an area of approximately one million tsubo, or about 3.3 million square meters. Visitors can enjoy not only the amusement park but also a stay combining hot springs, accommodation, dining, and golf. The resort is popular with a wide range of visitors, including families with children, groups of friends, couples, and multigenerational families.

The signature attraction at Kijima Kogen Park is Jupiter, a wooden roller coaster. Opened in 1992, it was Japan’s first wooden roller coaster and was constructed using approximately 60,000 Douglas fir timbers. Its intricately intersecting wooden framework has the beauty of a massive architectural structure, and even those who do not ride it can be overwhelmed by its imposing appearance. In addition to its powerful daytime presence, the coaster’s striking silhouette can be enjoyed at dusk and against the night sky when the park offers nighttime operation.

On Jupiter, riders race along a course filled with ups and downs while experiencing the creaking sounds and vibrations unique to a wooden roller coaster. Its distinctive ride differs from that of a metal coaster, and the exhilaration of speeding between the wooden supports is a major attraction. The ride lasts approximately three minutes and is one of Kijima Kogen Park’s most popular thrill rides.

Jupiter has restrictions regarding height and age. People under 120 centimeters tall and those aged 65 or older are not permitted to ride. Operations may also be suspended because of rain, strong winds, maintenance inspections, or other reasons. Visitors planning their trip around Jupiter are advised to check the operating status on the official website before visiting or on the day of their visit.

In addition to Jupiter, the park offers many attractions for thrill seekers. Newton rises to a height of approximately 40 meters above the ground before plunging straight down. Its top speed during the descent is said to be about 70 kilometers per hour, delivering an intense sensation of speed and weightlessness immediately after riders have taken in the view from the highland.

Poseidon 30 is a large water coaster that makes a steep descent toward the water from a height of approximately 30 meters. Its top speed is said to be about 86 kilometers per hour, and a huge splash rises when the ride hits the water. Watching the spectacular splash from outside the attraction is also one of the ways to enjoy it.

The Super L&S Coaster features one loop and two twists. Other distinctive thrill rides include Gold Rush, inspired by mine carts racing through a mine, and Birdman, which gives riders the sensation of launching into the highland sky like a bird.

Kijima Kogen Park is also known for its extensive selection of attractions suitable for the whole family. The classic Merry-Go-Round is an authentic carousel that evokes the atmosphere of Europe. Its colorful arrangement of horses and gondolas makes it ideal for photographs, and it can be enjoyed by everyone from small children to adults.

Other rides offer a more relaxing way to enjoy the scenery, including Teacups, which is themed around storks; the Kogen Train Canyon, which moves slowly around a pond on the plateau; and the Daikanransha Sky Palette, a Ferris wheel that offers views of the park and the surrounding mountains.

The Ferris wheel includes two special gondolas with exposed seats called the “Ashi-Bura” Ferris Wheel. Riders sit with their legs dangling freely in the air, providing a sense of openness and thrill unlike that of a conventional enclosed gondola. From a height of approximately 50 meters, visitors can look out over the highland scenery. However, the ride may be suspended depending on weather and inspection conditions.

For children trying a roller coaster for the first time, smaller coasters such as the Dragon Coaster are popular. The Roller Skate Coaster is also available when in operation, although it may be suspended for an extended period because of maintenance or other reasons. It is important to check the usage requirements for each attraction in advance, including whether a guardian must accompany the child and whether a specific height requirement applies.

The park also has attractions that allow visitors to play while using their physical strength, including Gangan Tower, which rises as riders pull a rope themselves; Gungun Trocco, in which riders move a mine cart under their own power; and Go-Go Fire Engine, which is themed around a fire truck. Some rides can be enjoyed by relatively young children as long as they meet the requirements concerning age, height, and guardian accompaniment.

One of the unique children’s facilities at Kijima Kogen Park is the Kids Driving School. Designed to resemble a driving school for children, the facility teaches participants about traffic signals, road signs, and traffic rules before they drive small cars equipped with various functions. First-time users take part in a lesson and driving experience, and upon completion they receive a special driver’s license.

From their second visit onward, children who meet the requirements and bring their license can enjoy free driving without taking the lesson again. The initial lesson and driving experience are available to children from three years old through sixth grade, while free driving on subsequent visits is available from age three until the child’s thirteenth birthday. The experience is not included in the Ride Pass, but it is popular as an opportunity to learn traffic rules while having fun.

The park also offers indoor attractions incorporating digital technology. At the Shooting Theater XD Dark Ride, seats move in sync with impressive 3D graphics, and visitors use vibrating light guns to aim at targets on the screen. The combination of images, vibrations, and shooting provides an immersive experience.

TOMISHIRO NGA ZONE is an indoor facility where visitors move their bodies while taking on games that use digital technology. Other attractions include the VR Ride Theater, which combines VR goggles with moving seats. However, the content and experiences available at these facilities may change depending on the season, and some attractions may occasionally be suspended.

The park has approximately 40 types of attractions, but some may be temporarily closed or available only during certain seasons, so not all of them necessarily operate on the same day. Each attraction has its own requirements regarding height, age, health condition, and guardian accompaniment. Families with children are advised to check the usage requirements and operating status on the official website in advance, which will make it easier to plan their day.

In addition to admission tickets, the park generally offers a Ride Pass, which allows unlimited use of eligible attractions throughout the day. It is convenient for visitors who want to enjoy their favorite rides repeatedly. However, some facilities, including the Kids Driving School, Birdman, and ice skating, are not included in the pass. Certain experiences may also limit the number of times they can be used. If visitors plan to use only a few attractions, they may instead purchase individual ride tickets as needed from the ticket machines inside the park.

During summer, the Water Beach “Chapucha” operates for a limited period. The water is approximately 20 centimeters deep, making it possible to enjoy water play casually without changing into a swimsuit. Families with small children particularly enjoy cooling off in the refreshing highland air.

Chapucha may have scheduled holidays even during its operating period, and an additional fee is required apart from the park admission fee. Restrictions may apply concerning height, age, and guardian supervision, so visitors should check the requirements in advance. Clothes and shoes may get wet, so bringing a change of clothes and a towel is recommended.

In winter, a large outdoor ice-skating rink operates for a limited period in many years. Measuring approximately 30 meters from north to south and 60 meters from east to west, it is one of the largest outdoor ice-skating rinks in Kyushu. One of its attractions is the opportunity to skate while taking in the highland scenery spreading at the foot of Mount Yufu and Mount Tsurumi. Rental skates are available, allowing beginners without their own equipment to give it a try.

Whether the ice-skating rink will open and the length of its operating period vary from year to year. Safety rules, such as the requirement to wear gloves, may also be in place. Visitors are advised to check the user information for the year of their visit and prepare sufficient protection against the cold.

In spring, visitors may be able to enjoy seasonal highland scenery, including cherry blossoms and fresh greenery, both inside the park and in the surrounding area. Each season offers a different experience: water play in summer, crisp air and natural scenery in autumn, and ice skating when the rink operates in winter. Because of its high elevation, temperatures and weather conditions may differ from those in central Beppu and central Yufuin. Even in summer, mornings and evenings may feel cool, while winter brings cold temperatures and the possibility of snow and icy roads.

The park has restaurants, snack stands, and shops where visitors can eat and take breaks between attractions. At the souvenir shop, guests can purchase original Kijima Kogen sweets and merchandise, souvenirs from Oita Prefecture, and hot-spring-related products. The stores in operation and their menus may vary from day to day, so visitors should check the operating status when they arrive.

The neighboring Kijima Kogen Hotel is an accommodation facility where guests can enjoy a relaxing stay at the highland resort. It offers Japanese-style rooms, Western-style rooms, and Japanese-Western-style rooms, catering to a variety of purposes, including family trips and journeys for married couples or partners. The hotel’s hot spring baths provide a place to relax after enjoying the amusement park. Staying at the hotel is recommended for visitors who want to minimize travel time and enjoy the park at a comfortable pace from opening until closing.

At Kijima Kogen Golf Club, guests can play on a course that takes advantage of the highland terrain and natural surroundings. Because the amusement park, hotel, hot springs, and golf course are located together, visitors can enjoy a stay tailored to their individual purposes and ages.

In terms of transportation, the resort is located midway between Beppu and Yufuin, making it easy to include in a trip visiting both areas. By public transportation, the journey takes approximately 40 minutes by local bus from the west exit of Beppu Station and about 20 minutes from the Yufuin Station Bus Center. When taking the bus, visitors should get off at the “Kijima Kogen Park” stop rather than the similarly named “Kijima Kogen” stop. Travel times may vary depending on road conditions and the season. Those arriving by car should take particular care during winter because of snow and icy roads.

Kijima Kogen Park is an amusement park offering a wide range of experiences, from thrill rides such as Japan’s first wooden roller coaster, Jupiter, to attractions for parents and children, hands-on facilities for kids, and digital content. Its seasonal facilities, including summer water play and the outdoor ice-skating rink that generally operates in winter, are also appealing. By combining the park with the hotel’s hot springs, the golf course, and the magnificent highland scenery, visitors can enjoy the resort on either a day trip or an overnight stay. It is one of Oita Prefecture’s leading highland resorts and a worthwhile place to visit when traveling to Beppu or Yufuin.