Hirakata Park
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An afternoon at a wonderful Japanese theme park.
Visiting Hirakata Park, Osaka: (Jump To)
About Hirakata Park, Osaka
Hirakata Park is one of the best things to do in Osaka for families.
Hirakata Park, a family amusement park in Osaka's suburbs, features a fun mix of smaller rides and a few gentle rollercoasters. The park isn’t for extreme thrill-seekers but would be a pleasant day outing for families with children. It offers a nice alternative to the all-day adventures and frantic pace of the nearby Universal Studios Japan.
Nestled on a hillside, the park is well-landscaped and clean. It’s easy to access by public transport; it’s a 3-minute walk from the Hirakata-koen station of the Keihan Railway.
Hirakata Park Attractions
Hirakata Park’s Roller Coasters are worth the visit.
A giant Ferris wheel, over 250 feet tall, anchors the upper hill of the park and is without a doubt one of the park's iconic attractions.
Three major coasters also weave their way throughout the Osaka amusement park - a small wooden coaster called Elf, a gentle steel coaster called Red Falcon, and a crazy mouse-style coaster. As is custom with most Japanese theme parks, loading the rides takes quite some time - bring your patience. There are a couple of other coasters for younger children, including our favorite, the aptly named Rowdy coaster - which is just a pink alligator that’s allegedly quite rowdy.
Other notable Hirakata Park rides include a free-fall drop tower, a fun shooting dark ride, and a scenic and lengthy log flume. There’s also an odd interactive dark ride experience called Dowsing Mountain where park visitors must unlock symbols inside a mountain structure and prevent a volcanic eruption by throwing foam balls into the mouth of the volcano. We had no idea what was happening and the instructions were in Japanese, but it’s always fun to pretend to know what you’re doing.
The park's main areas, while primarily unthemed, are nicely landscaped. There are plenty of family and children’s attractions scattered throughout the grounds including an adorable tiny log flume that featured miniature dolphins for ride vehicles.
The park has some food stands and plenty of snacks throughout. The food inside the park is expensive, so you may be better off eating in the small neighborhood that surrounds the park.
You should also note that most of the restaurants inside the park were cash only. You could pay for your park tickets with a credit card.
Hirakata Park Ticket Price
Hirakata Park ticket deals are sometimes available on Klook, but the price at the gate is quite reasonable.
The pricing for the tickets is found at https://www.hirakatapark.co.jp/en/. You can buy them off Klook https://www.klook.com/es/ or buy the tickets at the gate. At the time we visited, our entrance was about $30 USD each and it was a good value for what the park offers. The park also has a small collection of animal exhibits, including our favorite, the endangered and extremely adorable Red Panda.
Plan to spend 4-5 hours at the park depending on the crowd levels. This attraction, while not necessarily on the “must-do” list for Osaka visitors, is a solid afternoon diversion.
Hirakata Park Hours of Operation
When to visit Hirakata Park depends on the season of your visit.
The park operates on a seasonal schedule, adjusting its opening and closing hours based on the time of year. During weekdays, Hirakata Park opens its doors at 10:00 AM. On weekends and holidays, the park opens, at 9:30 AM.
During most of the year, the park closes at 5:00 PM on weekdays. However, during peak seasons, such as Golden Week or the summer break, the park extends its operating hours until 6:00 PM.
It's important to note that the park's hours vary due to weather conditions, maintenance schedules, or special events. It's always a good idea to double-check the park's official website or contact their customer service for the most up-to-date information.
While we were probably the only Westerners inside the entire park, the staff were friendly and welcoming. (Note that none of the staff members we encountered spoke English.)
