Naruto Theme Park in Japan (Shinobizato) Review — Worth It?
Last Updated on October 22, 2024 by Kay
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If you’re a fan of the popular JUMP anime and manga Naruto, then you might be interested in visiting the largest Naruto theme park in the world, NARUTO x BORUTO Shinobizato.
This Naruto theme park is located in Japan, unsurprisingly, but it can be a journey to get there, even once you’re in the country. So is it worth your time and money?
In this article, I’ll share my honest thoughts in this in-depth review of what it was like to visit the world’s largest Naruto theme park. The park was recently renewed in early 2024, so this review contains the latest information and helpful tips on how to complete the attraction challenges.
Hopefully, by the end of the article, you’ll have a good idea about whether this is a place you should visit.
Table of Contents
Where Is the NARUTO x BORUTO Shinobizato Theme Park and How to Get There?
NARUTO x BORUTO Shinobizato is on Awaji Island in Hyogo Prefecture, which is a short distance from Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe.
This theme park is inside Nijigen no Mori, a large park with several small theme parks featuring popular Japanese anime and games:
- Dragon Quest Island (read my review of Dragon Quest Island)
- Godzilla
- Naruto and Boruto
- Crayon Shin-chan
- Monster Hunter
- SPY x FAMILY
Nijigen no Mori is also running a special BLEACH collaboration until February 2025.
You can get to the Naruto theme park by either car or public transportation.
By car, it takes about 30 minutes from Kobe or 1 hour from Osaka.
If coming by public transportation, it’s best to refer to the Nijigen no Mori website. They have very detailed information on how to reach the park from Tokyo, Osaka, and Kobe.
You can also book a package deal that includes a direct bus from either Osaka or Kobe to the Naruto theme park.
Renting a car to get to the Naruto theme park is the pricier but easier option, in my humble opinion. This way you can explore the rest of the island and stay for the Night Illusion show as well, which I’ll talk about later.
If you’re considering renting a car in Japan, I recommend reading this article, which is filled with helpful tips.
Opening Hours and Tickets
NARUTO x BORUTO Shinobizato Theme Park is open daily from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
The price for the Naruto theme park varies depending on the type of ticket you get. There are four kinds of tickets.
Basic admission (Light Ticket) is from 3300 to 4100 yen for adults (ages 12 and up) and 1800 to 2200 yen for kids ages five to eleven. Weekends and holidays are more expensive, so I recommend visiting on a weekday to beat the crowds and save some yen.
The Light Ticket includes admission to the Shinobi Village, two attractions (Heavenly Scroll and Earth Scroll Experience), and the Night Illusion projection mapping show.
The Golden Ticket gives you an additional special mission on top of what you get with the Light Ticket.
A Premium Ticket includes the special mission and a Hermit mode bag, while the VIP Journey Path has specialty novelty items.
You can purchase tickets for the NARUTO x BORUTO Shinobizato Theme Park from the official website or Klook. If you get your tickets from Klook, you can use my discount code TINYTOTINTOKYO to get up to $10 off if your total is at least $50.
You don’t need to purchase tickets in advance, but there is always a chance that tickets will be sold out. We visited on a weekend but had no trouble getting tickets directly at the theme park.
What to Expect at the Naruto Theme Park
I grew up reading Naruto, as did my Japanese husband, so we were both really excited to visit, especially since our five-year-old daughter is currently into Naruto’s sequel, Boruto.
If you’ve ever wanted to experience a taste of what the Hidden Leaf Village (Konoha) is like in real life, this park does a good job of replicating a part of it.
I loved all the lanterns and cut-out displays of Naruto characters at the entrance wearing kimono, which I had never seen before. It can be tempting to take pictures right away but I suggest lining up to get your ticket. You’ll receive two scrolls, the Heavenly Scroll (天の巻, Tennomaki), which is blue, and the Earth Scroll (地の巻), which is green, as well as a black bag to carry them, and a character sticker.
We bought three tickets since we were a party of three so we got three stickers — Boruto, Sakura, and Sasuke.
Since we visited during Naruto’s birthday month, we also got some special Naruto stickers! I believe that you can receive birthday stickers of different characters depending on when you visit.
If you visit when it’s raining, you’ll also get special “rain” stickers.
Once past the entrance and ticket booth, there will be a set of stairs to your right. Even before you descend, you’ll be greeted by the impressive Hokage Rock, which is massive!
It can be hard to decide what to do first, and really, it’s completely up to you! You can take photos with different characters throughout the park, check out the souvenir shop, or go straight into the scroll attractions.
If you want a ninja headband (sometimes called a forehead protector) before you start, check out the souvenir shop, which is near the top of the stairs. They carry Hidden Leaf headbands in navy and red, as well as Akatsuki headbands.
Try not to purchase too many souvenirs right away because it might be annoying to have to carry everything for the rest of the day.
Heavenly Scroll (Tennomaki) Attraction Review
We gravitated to the Heavenly Scroll (Tennomaki) attraction/mission, which is located on the left side of the park right behind Hokage Rock since it was closest to us and people were lined up there. However, looking back, I think we should have first done the Earth Scroll attraction (to the right) because there was no one there!
So my advice is to see where a lot of people are lined up and leave that attraction for later.
We waited about ten minutes at the entrance of the Heavenly Scroll attraction before we were let in (our timing was bad, I think a tour bus arrived before we did). Honestly, I was quite surprised at the popularity of Naruto because there was hardly anyone in comparison when we visited Dragon Quest Island!
Before we entered, we were given an explanation about how the attraction (and mission) works. There are explanations in both English and Japanese.
Note that pregnant women and children under age two cannot participate in this attraction, and for good reason! It requires that you go through a three-floor wooden maze while trying to get stamps that illustrate hand seals to allow you to activate certain ninjutsu. The hand seals are stamped onto the blue scroll, which you’ll need to refer to throughout the maze. If you find all the stamps and successfully open all the doors using ninjutsu, you can save Naruto.
It sounds easy enough but the maze is serious business! There are parts where you have to climb down narrow passages, scale slanted walls, hop over gates, and more. I was surprised by the amount of physical activity we had to do for this attraction. Don’t get me wrong, it was really fun and my kid had a great time, but my Millennial body felt sore the next day.
For this attraction’s mission, there are twelve stamps you have to get, each associated with a hand seal belonging to a character in Naruto and Boruto. Some of these are easy to get, whereas others require that you do a challenge.
Although you get instructions on how to do this challenge before you enter the maze, I think it’s easy to forget and kind of vague. It can also be especially hard for people from abroad who don’t know Japanese because there’s no English guidance once you need to do the challenge! So let me explain.
Some rooms in the maze have a light curtain. Only one group can enter the room at a time.
In this room, you’ll see a mirror and a door. An element, such as water, will be projected onto the door. Below is an image of what the water element looks like.
You’ll need to make hand seals in the mirror to create ninjutsu that is strong against the projected element. Usually, these hand seals are the same as the stamps you received prior. For instance, the first two stamps (and hand seals) you get will create a fire ninjutsu (火遁, katon) when done in succession (Sasuke’s hand seal first, and then Kakashi’s — top to bottom).
There’s also a chart on the right side of the scroll that shows which element is weaker or stronger than another (depicted in the image above) as well as a blue chart in the room, as shown in the image below on the upper left.
Do the first hand seal and if it’s done correctly, an image of the hand seal will show up on the door. Then move on to the second hand seal. When both are done properly, that element will show up on the door alongside the kanji for that ninjutsu and the door will open, allowing you to continue in your quest to get more stamps and save Naruto.
Below you can see what the door looks like when the Earth ninjutsu (土遁, doton) is successfully done.
You only need one person to make hand seals to unlock the door.
You may need to wait a while to get into the first room depending on how busy the park is because if someone didn’t do their homework, they might not know how to unlock the door using the seals. We waited for a whopping 30 minutes!
But since you’ve read this article, I think it will be easy for you to unlock the door and everyone else waiting for their turn will be grateful. I suggest also referring to the stamps on the Heavenly Scroll and practicing if you’re waiting in line. My husband and I took turns because sometimes he couldn’t quite get the seal right but I could, and vice versa.
Naruto is located on the third floor of the maze and once you’ve successfully rescued him, you take a slide down to the bottom. The ride down was really fun!
Once at the bottom, you’ll receive a special card for your hard work that features a character from Naruto. I got Naruto while my daughter got Sasuke and my husband got Pain.
If you find the maze too difficult, you can quit at any time. I don’t know if you will receive the card, though. You also cannot redo the maze, whether you quit or not. It’s one time only.
While completing the mission, make sure to also keep your eyes out for some of Jiraiya’s (in)famous books!
Earth Scroll (Chinomaki) Attraction Review
The Earth Scroll attraction was significantly easier than the Heavenly Scroll one and can be done regardless of age and physical condition.
In this attraction, you need to visit 12 small “shrines”. Some shrines require that you battle Akatsuki on a screen using ninjutsu in order to open a small cupboard (the shrine gate) containing a stamp.
Similar to the Heavenly Scroll attraction, the stamps are associated with hand seals that form a ninjutsu. You need to make these seals in order and if you do the first successfully, it will show up on the right side of the screen in a pinkish red color. Unlike the prior attraction, the shrines are numbered so you must get the stamps in order.
I loved all the photo spots in this area, especially Akatsuki and Orochimaru’s white snake, which you can walk inside. (Make sure to check out the man himself!)
Kurama is also really cool and you can climb it! I took a stab at it but I think it’s just the right size for kids.
Sai’s artistic-ninjutsu is also a great touch to the area.
Make sure you try out the AR effects too. You’ll need to download an app for this but the effects are fun. Note that some of them don’t work at times (my husband was very disappointed that he couldn’t try Kakashi’s Chidori). Also, note that the English translation says “scarecrow’s instructions” but it should be “Kakashi’s instructions”.
At the very end, you’ll face off against a boss in a room (the legendary cave) with other visitors, depending on how busy the park is. This is in the form of a video that’s about 5 minutes long, so you may need to wait if there’s another party inside.
Like the Heavenly Scroll attraction, you’ll receive a special card once you’re done.
Shinobi Zato Projection Mapping Show
The Naruto theme park has two projection mapping shows at night — the Ninjutsu Festival and the Night Illusion. These shows are about 5-10 minutes long and run every hour.
The time the shows start depends on the season. We went in October and the first show started at 6:30 PM.
If you visit the Naruto theme park in the morning or afternoon but still want to see the shows at night, you can explore the rest of Nijigen no Mori (maybe have dinner at Luida’s Bar Dragon Quest Island, which doesn’t require you to purchase an entrance ticket).
When you leave the Naruto theme park, don’t forget to visit Jiraiya’s statue and Gamabunta, which are right by the Wooden Playground (and if you have young kids, they will love playing here).
After going to the playground, we decided to visit a nearby onsen (since we came by car) before heading back to see the night show.
My husband and I didn’t have high expectations but we were both very impressed. It was absolutely worth the wait! It was really cool to see the effects displayed on the Hokage Rock and all the different ninjutsu, as well as characters from Naruto.
There weren’t that many people there compared to earlier so we took a walk around the Earth Scroll attraction again and took some photos. It looks like another place at night and is great for a photo session! However, our daughter was scared so we didn’t linger.
I loved that the lanterns were lit up as well, which gave Japanese festival vibes.
Where to Eat at NARUTO x BORUTO Shinobizato
When visiting this Naruto theme park, you need to eat at Ramen Ichiraku, Naruto’s favorite ramen joint. They did a great job at recreating it!
Now, usually, anime collab meals in Japan aren’t the best but the ramen here is quite good. Is it top-tier ramen in Japan? Absolutely not, but it hits the spot and my family was satisfied with our meals. I would eat here again.
The menu is expansive but if you can’t decide, go for a set menu (if available). We got one that came with a bowl of Ichiraku ramen, onigiri, and a lemon soda drink inside a Naruto water bottle. It also came with an original coaster.
I got Akatsuki ramen, which had a hint of spiciness. It could have been spicier but I wasn’t mad. Check out the Hokage Rock illustration on the nori!
You also get a shuriken-shaped coaster featuring a chibi character from Naruto or Boruto with every order.
They don’t just have ramen, there are hamburgers and desserts here as well.
Note that seating is outdoors so it might be cold or really hot depending on the weather.
NARUTO x BORUTO Shinobizato Souvenirs
There’s a souvenir shop right next to Ramen Ichiraku. They have so many exclusive and limited items that you can only get at the Naruto theme park!
If you spend more than 3000 yen, you’ll receive some stickers and if you do a survey, you can get prizes or a 100 yen off coupon.
The bag the souvenirs come in is also awesome, I loved seeing the Naruto characters wearing formal kimono. For me, the bag alone was worth buying souvenirs from the shop.
FAQ
How much time should I expect to spend at the NARUTO x BORUTO theme park?
When including the Shinobi Zato Projection Mapping Show, we spent about four hours at NARUTO x BORUTO Shinobizato.
When is the best time to visit NARUTO x BORUTO Shinobizato?
You’ll be spending most of your time outside, so I recommend visiting in autumn or spring. Winter is fine as well as long as you bundle up.
Summer (June to September) is very hot and humid in Japan so try not to visit then.
What should I bring to NARUTO x BORUTO Shinobizato?
Wear comfortable shoes and clothes since you’ll be walking a lot and also climbing through the wooden maze in the Heavenly Scroll attraction. High heels, sandals, or flip-flops are also not recommended.
Note that some areas can be quite wet if it’s raining or had rained the day before, so this is another reason not to wear sandals.
I don’t recommend wearing a skirt or dress unless you have shorts underneath.
Bring a water bottle as well since you might get thirty from all the physical activity you’ll do!
Is the Naruto theme park kid-friendly?
The Naruto theme park is great for kids and some areas, like Kurama, are made with kids in mind.
As mentioned earlier, I went with my five-year-old daughter and she had a wonderful time. She was able to do both attractions as well (with our help, of course). I saw lots of young kids around her age, too.
However, the maze in the Heavenly Scroll attraction might be too difficult for younger kids. There was one part, pictured below, that my daughter couldn’t do.
There’s a door to the right-hand side that you can go through instead or your child can walk along the edge like my daughter did.
I also can’t see how a two or three-year-old could do some of the other parts without at least two parents helping significantly.
I don’t recommend going only at night if you have young children because they might get scared. They will probably LOVE the projection mapping show, like my daughter did, so visit before then when it is light out and then come back for the show.
Where is the closest hotel to NARUTO x BORUTO Shinobizato?
The Grand Chariot Hokutoshichisei 135° is the closest hotel to the Naruto theme park, which is about a 15-minute walk away.
This is the official hotel of Nijigen no Mori and has cabin-like rooms that allow you to stargaze when the weather is good. Best of all, their rooms are themed according to the attractions at Nijigen no Mori, meaning that they have a Naruto room!
I highly recommend staying here if you want to see the projection mapping show at night but don’t want to travel all the way back to Osaka, Kyoto, or Kobe.
For a more budget-friendly option, consider the GRAND NIKKO Awaji, which is an 11-minute drive from Dragon Quest Island.
Wrap-up: NARUTO x BORUTO Shinobizato — Is It Worth It?
Overall, we had a great time at the Naruto theme park in western Japan, and we would gladly go back if there’s a special event going on (which seems to be often!). Especially since we live nearby.
My daughter is already asking to go again!
However, if you have to go out of your way to get to this park, I would only visit if you’re a die-hard Naruto fan, have kids, or want to experience other theme parks at Nijigen no Mori such as Dragon Quest.