LEGOLAND Japan with Kids: Our Family’s Experience and Advice
Last Updated on August 5, 2026 by Kay
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If you’re thinking of visiting LEGOLAND Japan and are looking for advice from a Japan-based parent who has been there and done that, you’ve come to the right place.
My daughter (age six) has been really into NINJAGO lately, so when my husband and I suggested going to LEGOLAND Japan in Nagoya, the largest LEGOLAND theme park in Japan, she flipped out (in a good way).
A while back, my Japanese friend had mentioned taking her daughter there when she was five years old, and she loved it, so I was quite curious about what it would be like. I also felt like my daughter would enjoy it since she always has a blast at the Osaka LEGOLAND (which is much smaller).
Let me tell you — LEGOLAND Japan exceeded my expectations. It was perfect for my 6-year-old child because it had the perfect balance of rides and attractions, was not crowded at all, and had reasonable operating hours. (It is so hard to get my kid to go home when a theme park is open until 8 PM or later, which wasn’t the case here!) No wonder LEGOLAND Japan was named one of the best attractions in Japan!
In this article, I’ll share my family’s experience visiting LEGOLAND Japan, what my daughter thought, as well as information I think would be helpful for parents to know before you go. Hopefully by the end of the article you’ll have a better idea about whether your kid would enjoy it and what to expect so you’re prepared.
Our Family’s First Impressions of LEGOLAND Japan in Nagoya
We went on a weekday (Tuesday) in mid-June and arrived just after opening at around 10:05. Before visiting, we made sure to purchase our tickets the day before and download the official LEGOLAND Japan app. The app was a lifeline in the park!
There was hardly anyone waiting to get into LEGOLAND Japan on the day we visited, so it took less than a minute for our tickets to be scanned and for us to be inside the park. I found this really surprising because theme parks like Universal Studios and Tokyo Disney are usually so crowded in Japan!
Right next to the entrance, there is a souvenir shop called BIG SHOP. We initially passed this without going inside because my daughter wanted to go straight to the Ninjago area.
But I recommend stopping in here after you get into the park and taking a brief look because there are some fun accessories kids can wear to make their LEGOLAND Japan trip extra special.
For example, about halfway through the day, my daughter saw a boy wearing the following Ninjago sword (they have one for each character), and she wanted one, so we headed back there to get it.
Alright, so now that’s all out of the way, let me share what it was like for our family to visit LEGOLAND Japan.
What My Child Thought of Each LEGOLAND Area and Attraction
LEGOLAND Japan has over 40 rides, shows, and attractions spread across eight themed areas. The closest areas to the entrance are LEGOLAND Factory and Bricktopia. From there, you can head left to Adventure or go right to Pirate Shores, or go straight to Miniland. The areas furthest from the entrance are Knight’s Kingdom, LEGO City, and LEGO Ninjago World.
Since my daughter is obsessed with Ninjago, we thought we would go there first. Throughout the day, we would be surprised to find that the rides had pretty much zero wait time, except for one, which I’ll share when I cover the areas below.
Here is what my daughter thought of each area and their attractions. This is not the order we experienced the park, I’m just going through the areas counterclockwise. I suggest going to the area that your child will like the most first (we did NINJAGO), because you never know if wait times will increase throughout the day, especially since annual pass holders tend to come later in the day.
Many of the rides have areas where kids can play with LEGO while they wait in line, although the queues moved so fast that my kid didn’t really get the chance to play with them!
Each area also has fantastic LEGO sculptures, which show the number of blocks used to create it and the number of hours it took. For instance, the sphinx below was made using 87,412 LEGO blocks!
Also, note that we were at LEGOLAND Japan from opening until close, and we still didn’t get to experience everything. We went on all the rides my daughter wanted to do but we didn’t have time for the LEGO building workshops, etc.
Factory
This area is the closest to the entrance. It has only one attraction, as well as two restaurants and the BIG SHOP.
LEGO Factory Tour
This tour typically has about a 5-10 minute wait time since they allow in around twenty people at once for each tour.
You first watch a video about how LEGO is made, and my daughter liked that they had little chairs for kids. After that, you get taken inside the factory, which my daughter enjoyed enough. She liked watching the LEGO come out of the machine and enjoyed a little lever she could pump to turn lights on at the top of a pole. At the end, each of us got a piece of LEGO featuring a character on it, which made my daughter happy.
The entire experience took about ten minutes. It was a little smaller than I expected, but I thought the experience of seeing how a block of LEGO is formed, decorated, and then packaged was good for my daughter.
There is no minimum height or age requirement, although children who are under 100 cm tall need to be accompanied by an adult.
My Kid’s Score: 4/5
The Parents’ Score: 4/5
Bricktopia
This is a larger, central area with several attractions. Many of the attractions here are suitable for younger children, and several indoor or covered areas are perfect for when it is raining or hot outside.
Observation Tower
This is a great attraction for seeing all the different areas of the park. I actually recommend doing this first so that you have a better idea of where everything is.
We went on this near the end of the day. Our daughter was really excited to point out everywhere she went, so in a sense, it was good to go later, too. However, when I asked her about the tower a few days later, she said she didn’t remember it. Which is a shame because look at the view of Pirate Shores!
What I especially liked about this tower is that you get to sit down while the seat moves, so you get to have a 360-degree view of the park while seated.
There is no minimum height requirement, although children under 100 cm need to be accompanied by an adult.
My Kid’s Score: 4/5
The Parents’ Score: 4/5
Brick Party
Brick Party is a cute and colourful LEGO-themed carousel with different animals and vehicles that move up and down as the ride spins. There are also box seats that babies and very young children can sit in.
The attraction is covered, which is perfect when it is raining or you need a break from the sun.
There is no minimum height requirement, although children under 110 cm need to be accompanied by an adult.
My daughter didn’t experience this attraction because she said it was too childish (!).
DUPLO Express
DUPLO Express is a small train ride designed mainly for younger children. The colourful train travels around a little countryside area with farms and campsites.
This is a gentle ride and it is also covered, so children can ride even when it is raining or particularly sunny outside.
There is no minimum height requirement, although children under 100 cm need to be accompanied by an adult.
My daughter didn’t want to go on this attraction because she said it was “for babies”.
DUPLO Play
DUPLO Play is a covered play area aimed mainly at children ages three to six, although I feel like two-year-olds would have a great time in here as well (with adult supervision, of course). It has a toy house, slides, and other play equipment where younger children can climb and explore.
During summer, kids can enjoy some water play here as well.
There is no minimum height requirement.
Although my daughter was six years old when we visited, she wasn’t interested in going in this area. (Despite that she loves playing with Duplo at home!)
Imagination Celebration
Imagination Celebration is a spinning ride where a family sits inside a cup-like pod and then can make it spin by turning a wheel in the middle, similar to teacup rides at other amusement parks.
Naturally, how dizzy you become depends on how much you and your child turn the wheel. Also note that during summer, they place a cover over the wheel because the metal can become quite hot. On a very sunny day, make sure your child only touches the cover and not the exposed metal, as it could hurt their hands.
When we went on this ride, we were the only people on it! As my daughter put it, it was a “kashikiri party”, which means “private party”, as it felt like we had rented it out. The wheel was easy to spin, so we got pretty dizzy (my husband said he felt pretty nauseous just looking at us on the ride, haha).
Children need to be at least 90 cm tall to ride. Children between 90 and 100 cm need to be accompanied by an adult.
My Kid’s Score: 5/5 (mainly because no one else was there)
The Parents’ Score: 5/5
LEGO Creative Workshop
LEGO Creative Workshop offers free indoor building and introductory programming classes for children. There are several workshops for different ages and ability levels, ranging from beginner classes to more advanced activities.
You need to make a reservation, which you can do through the official LEGOLAND Japan app. Reservations open at 8:00 AM on the day of your visit and may fill up quickly, so I recommend booking ASAP if this is something your child wants to do. Note that the reservation page and the workshop are in Japanese only.
My daughter didn’t experience this attraction, although I think the next time we visit we will make time for this.
Robotic Play Center
Robotic Play Center is a free 45-minute indoor workshop where elementary-school-aged children build and program their own LEGO robot using a tablet.
The Robotics for Young Beginners workshop is for children from first to third grade, while Robot Box is for fourth-grade to sixth-grade kids.
Note that you need to make a reservation in advance through the LEGOLAND Japan official app, which you can do from 8 AM on the day of your visit. The reservation page, as well as the workshop, are in the Japanese language only.
My daughter didn’t do this activity either.
Rebuild the World Center
This is an indoor area where children can use LEGO to make their own creations. The themes and activities sometimes change depending on the season. Unlike some of the other workshops at LEGOLAND Japan, you do not need to make a reservation.
Rebuild the World Center is an indoor LEGO-building area beside First Aid. When we visited, it had been temporarily transformed into a Bluey-themed area where children could build a house for Bluey and friends, but this will end in August 2026.
My daughter didn’t experience this attraction.
Also note that there is a First Aid station right next to the Rebuild the World Center, which is useful if your little one scrapes their knee.
LEGO Ninjago Live
Why this is located on the opposite end of the Ninjago area is beyond me, but anyway, LEGO Ninjago Live was a must for our daughter.
There are two live shows a day featuring the Ninjago characters, so make sure to download and then check the LEGOLAND app so you can plan accordingly.
There is plenty of space inside the theatre, so we didn’t have to worry about getting there early, although we arrived 15 minutes before the show because our daughter loves Ninjago and wanted front-row seats.
However, you don’t need to sit in the front row, especially if you have very young children, because it will be hard for them to see since the stage is quite high. I recommend sitting further back if possible.
You’re also not allowed to take photos or videos during the show, and it’s entirely in the Japanese language with no subtitles.
My daughter enjoyed this show, although she liked the 4D Ninjago show more (located in Palace Cinema in the LEGO City area).
I thought the life-sized NINJAGO LEGO characters were cute, but I found the show a little long and boring.
My Kid’s Score: 4/5
The Parents’ Score: 3/5
Cat Cloud Busters
There was absolutely no one waiting for this ride, and we soon realized why.
You need to wear gloves for this ride (provided) and then sit in a seat that you then pull up using a rope above you, like you’re a cat scaling a tower. When you let go, you fall down and then have to pull yourself up again.
I made the mistake of riding with my daughter while my husband rode by himself (only two people can sit in one seat), so I had to pull both my daughter and myself up. And let me tell you, I did not have the upper body strength for that. My daughter was wearing child-sized gloves, but she obviously didn’t have the strength to help out (no biggie of course, she’s only six!).
My daughter enjoyed this ride since she got the “whee!” enjoyment of being pulled up (thanks to Mama) and then zooming down. My husband said it was easy for him since he was the only person in his seat, but he wouldn’t go on it again. And I was not a fan at all.
My Kid’s Score: 4/5
The Parents’ Score: 1/5
Adventure
Adventure is ancient Egypt and underwater themed. It has some great family rides at LEGOLAND Japan, such as Submarine Adventure and Lost Kingdom Adventure, as well as several smaller rides, building areas, and games.
Submarine Adventure
When we were heading for the NINJAGO area after entering the park, we passed by this ride and decided we couldn’t pass up riding it because there was no one in line! And I’m so glad we did because my whole family loved this!
You ride a submarine and travel through a large aquarium filled with real fish, sharks, and LEGO models of underwater ruins. Our family rode in one submarine and we had plenty of space, although you’re supposed to stay seated at all times.
This was such a unique attraction at LEGOLAND Japan because it felt like a ride and an aquarium experience in one. My daughter loved pointing out all the different sea creatures she found, as well as the LEGO figures.
There is no minimum height requirement, although children under 130 cm need to be accompanied by an adult.
Make sure not to miss the small aquarium before the exit after you get off the submarine!
My Kid’s Score: 6/5 (she really liked it!)
The Parents’ Score: 5/5
Lost Kingdom Adventure
Lost Kingdom Adventure is an indoor ride where you travel through ancient Egyptian ruins and use a laser gun to shoot targets along the way.
Each rider has a score displayed inside the vehicle, so you can compete with your family to see who gets the most points. Much of the ride is dark, and there are LEGO mummies, skeletons, spiders, and other surprises throughout the ride, so very young or easily frightened children may find parts of it a little scary.
We were able to ride as a family of three (the ride fits up to three people). However, there are only two guns, meaning if you ride as a family of three, only two people can shoot and get points.
Despite how dark it was, my daughter enjoyed shooting at the targets (my husband liked it too). I think since all the scary things like spiders were LEGO, she wasn’t scared at all.
A photo is also taken during the ride, which you can view near the exit afterwards. (I wish I could show you what my daughter looked like in the photo above, she was so serious! Basically making the exact same face as the emoji, a real Lara Croft.)
The photo also displays the number of points everyone acquired.
At the exit, there’s an area called Secret Chamber of Amset-ra where kids can play with LEGO and then display their creations. You don’t have to go on the Lost Kingdom Adventure ride to access this area.
There is no minimum height requirement, although children under 130 cm need to be accompanied by an adult.
My Kid’s Score: 4/5
The Parents’ Score: 4/5
S.Q.U.I.D. Surfer
S.Q.U.I.D. Surfer is a spinning water ride where you sit inside a small jet boat attached to a circular platform.
You use the handle inside your boat to move from side to side while trying to avoid jets of water. However, people standing outside the ride can press a button on top of a small pole to set off what is basically a “water bomb,” so there is a good chance you will get wet.
This ride was so much fun! My daughter rode with her father and loved the speed, while I rode alone. Thankfully, although someone pressed one of the buttons and sent a water bomb our way, we did not get very wet. My shoes ended up a little soaked, though, so you have been warned!
After the ride, my daughter immediately ran over to the buttons and tried to attack as many riders as she could. However, the water sometimes splashed back toward her, so she ended up getting a little wet.
There is a small dryer outside the ride where you can pay 300 yen to dry yourself off if you get wet on the ride.
Children need to be at least 100 cm tall to ride. Those between 100 and 120 cm need to be accompanied by an adult.
My Kid’s Score: 5/5
The Parents’ Score: 5/5
Cargo Ace
Cargo Ace is a small and fairly gentle spinning plane ride where children can pretend to be pilots. The planes travel around a circular course and tilt slightly as they go around the curves, giving riders a brief floating feeling.
My daughter rode this with her father (she was in the front and he was in the back), while I rode alone. She liked it, but I thought it was a little boring as it didn’t go high or very fast, and didn’t last long, especially compared to rides like S.Q.U.I.D. Surfer.
I think it’s a perfect ride for younger kids, though, especially preschoolers and toddlers if they’re at least 90 cm tall.
Children need to be at least 90 cm tall. Those between 90 and 105 cm need to be accompanied by an adult. Guests ages 16 and older may be seated separately.
My Kid’s Score: 5/5
The Parents’ Score: 3/5
Beetle Bounce
Beetle Bounce is a small drop ride where children are lifted approximately five metres into the air and then bounced up and down several times.
It’s not that high at all compared to other drop rides at larger theme parks, but it may still feel thrilling for younger children.
My daughter has gone on this type of ride at different theme parks in Japan, and she’s a fan. The problem is that there are only two seats for adults, which means the wait time can be very long if you want to ride with your child. We waited about twenty minutes for this ride, the longest in the park!
But if your child rides alone, they are pretty much guaranteed to get on the ride right away. (The staff will ask in Japanese if any kids are riding alone. If you’re not sure, just go to the staff, point to your kid(s) and hold up your index finger, or more fingers if you have more kiddos, so they know the kid(s) will be riding without the parent.)
If you’re with your spouse, I recommend only one of you goes on the ride with your child so that the ride moves faster for everyone.
Children need to be at least 90 cm tall. Guests ages 16 and older can only use the centre seat, with a maximum of one adult per ride.
My Kid’s Score: 3.5/5
The Parents’ Score: 3/5 (one point taken off for how long it takes to get on the ride if your kid wants to ride with you)
Pharaoh’s Revenge
Pharaoh’s Revenge is a covered, two-storey play area where children can climb around a fort and send soft foam balls into the air using air-powered cannons.
My daughter absolutely loved this area, although she didn’t really remember it when I asked her about it later on. What I remember is sitting outside with my husband for a while while my daughter went from one area in here to another. She didn’t even want to leave!
There is no minimum height requirement, although the play area is recommended for children ages six to twelve.
My Kid’s Score: 4/5 (I feel like it should be a 5, though, considering she didn’t want to leave)
The Parents’ Score: N/A, no parents allowed!
Miniland
This is an area with only one attraction, that being Miniland itself.
Miniland is just as the name implies — it’s an area that has mini replicas of famous landmarks in Japan that have been made using LEGO. I love that it takes you through various prefectures, and the LEGO models of the landmarks are interactive as parts move when you press a button (pictured above), which was fun for my daughter.
She especially loved spotting landmarks she had been to before, like Osaka’s Umeda Sky Building (pictured below).
I think the models could have been a little more interactive, but they were still impressive.
My Kid’s Score: 5/5
The Parents’ Score: 3/5
LEGO City
LEGO City is one of the largest areas at LEGOLAND Japan and has a good mix of rides, building activities, play areas, and attractions where children can pretend to do grown-up jobs. Kids can drive cars, steer boats, fly planes, and even help put out a fire.
Our family also loved all the photo spots here, and there were LEGO characters walking throughout the area!
There is a Baby Care Room here as well that has an indoor play area with larger LEGO pieces, breastfeeding rooms, changing tables, a vending machine with formula, baby snacks and baby food (although I recommend still bringing your own just in case they’re out), as well as a microwave, hot water dispenser, and family toilets.
Okay, now let’s move on to the attractions!
Rainbow Design Studio
This is an indoor LEGO workshop where children can build something based on themes such as LEGO Friends. Reservations are required, and the workshop content may change throughout the year.
Note that Rainbow Design Studio is a changing room for the summer water attractions from the end of May to the end of September, so the regular workshops are unavailable during this period.
Since we visited in June, my daughter couldn’t experience this workshop. But she wasn’t interested anyway because she stopped liking LEGO Friends when she turned five. (I tried to get her to take a photo on the adorable LEGO Friends bench but she refused.)
Palace Cinema
Palace Cinema is a large indoor theatre that shows several short LEGO 4D movies throughout the day, including LEGO NINJAGO, LEGO City, LEGO Friends, and LEGO DREAMZzz. You can feel effects such as wind and “rain”.
Since it’s 4D, you also need to wear 3D glasses. The glasses are one-size-fits-all.
We watched the LEGO NINJAGO show. I was worried the rain would be a lot, but it wasn’t as bad as I thought, only a little sprinkle.
The show was quite enjoyable, and although 4D shows can be overwhelming for my daughter, she absolutely loved this one. The seats don’t move, and nothing is too intense or scary for kids.
Definitely make time to watch a show here! (You can find showtimes on the LEGOLAND Japan app.)
My Kid’s Score: 5/5
The Parents’ Score: 4/5
Rescue Academy
This is a family team attraction where you power a fire truck along a track, use water cannons to put out a pretend fire, and then race back to the starting point.
This took more effort than we were expecting, and all three of us were kept busy as we moved from the start point to the “fire”, put out the fire, and then hauled the fire truck back by moving levers up and down. It is harder than it looks!
Each family gets to ride on one truck, and there are about five or six trucks in total. There was only one other family on the ride, but I imagine during busy periods it would take a while for the ride to finish since you need to wait for everyone to complete the task.
It’s exciting, but more effort than we expected so I wouldn’t go on this again, and my daughter didn’t like it that much. She said the seat was too hot (it was a really sunny day when we went) and it was boring. I think she was too old for the ride, to be honest. She would have loved it from age three to five, maybe even when she was 2.5 years old!
Children between 90 and 110 cm tall need to be accompanied by an adult.
My Kid’s Score: 3/5
The Parents’ Score: 3/5
Driving School
Children first watch a short video about road safety before driving their own small electric car around a realistic course. They steer and control the car by themselves and receive a LEGOLAND driver’s licence at the end.
This attraction is only for children ages 6 to 13, so parents cannot ride with them. My daughter didn’t want to ride this alone, so she didn’t experience it.
Jr. Driving School
Located right next to Driving School, this is a simpler version for younger children (ages 3 to 5). Kids drive a small one-pedal electric car around an oval course without a parent riding beside them.
My daughter was too old to go on this ride.
Coast Guard HQ
At Coast Guard HQ, families ride in an electric boat that they steer themselves around a water course. The controls are fairly simple, but you need to avoid obstacles along the way, which can be easier said than done.
I rode with my daughter while my husband rode a boat by himself. My daughter got to steer the boat, which she enjoyed, but looking back, she said it was difficult and boring.
Children under 125 cm tall need to be accompanied by an adult.
My Kid’s Score: 3/5
The Parents’ Score: 3/5
City Airport
This is a gentle spinning ride where children sit inside a colourful DUPLO-style plane. Riders can control whether their plane moves higher or lower as it circles around.
Children between 80 and 100 cm need to be accompanied by an adult.
My daughter didn’t want to go on this ride.
Build a Boat
Children can build their own boat using LEGO pieces. Once they are finished, they can place their custom boat in a water channel and race it against boats made by others.
My daughter liked making her boat, although it was quite crowded, making it hard to build the boat. The boat also broke apart when she put it in the water, so she said she didn’t like this activity.
My Kid’s Score: 2/5
The Wharf
The Wharf is a large outdoor play area designed to look like a Coast Guard boat. Children can explore the boat, climb to the upper deck, go down slides, and use the fireman’s pole while watching the Coast Guard HQ boats nearby.
The play area has separate sections for younger and older children, and the entrance is accessible with a stroller
It is recommended for children ages 3 to 12.
My daughter didn’t go on this attraction.
Police Building Experience
This is a covered indoor play and building area where children can use LEGO bricks and make their way through an obstacle-filled maze while helping the LEGO police search for robbers.
My daughter didn’t experience this attraction.
Knight’s Kingdom
Knight’s Kingdom is the medieval castle-themed area of LEGOLAND Japan. It has the only two roller coasters in the park, as well as several spinning rides and paid games.
The Dragon
The Dragon is LEGOLAND Japan’s main roller coaster.
You get to travel through a castle on a dragon-shaped roller coaster, which then has you emerge outside, where you go up, up, up, and then have an exciting adventure going down.
My daughter and I loved this ride so much that we went on it at least four times. I lost count, to be honest. It has enough thrill that it was exciting for my six-year-old but not too scary. She also loved noticing all the little details in the castle every time we went through.
This was her favorite ride at LEGOLAND Japan.
Children between 105 and 120 cm need to be accompanied by an adult. The maximum height is 195 cm.
My Kid’s Score: 7/5
The Parents’ Score: 7/5
Merlin’s Flying Machines
This spinning ride requires you to pedal in order to make your vehicle rise higher. If you stop pedalling, your vehicle gradually lowers again, so it can end up being a bit of a workout.
We went on this at LEGOLAND Osaka, so my daughter had no interest in going on it here (although it is a fun ride, if you haven’t been on it, I highly recommend it!).
Minimum height: 90 cm. Children between 90 and 120 cm need to be accompanied by an adult.
Merlin’s Challenge
This is a covered spinning ride where you sit inside a LEGO-style wooden train. The entire ride rotates while the train cars move up and down in a wave-like motion. It’s quite similar to rides you see at carnivals.
Children between 100 and 120 cm need to be accompanied by an adult.
My daughter and I liked this ride enough, but we preferred The Dragon rollercoaster and went back to it after we got off this ride!
My Kid’s Score: 4/5
The Parents’ Score: 4/5
Dragon’s Apprentice
Dragon’s Apprentice is a small dragon-shaped roller coaster designed for younger children who may not be ready for The Dragon. It travels around a compact track beside the castle and completes the circuit twice.
My daughter found it was fun enough, but it only went around once, so it was a little disappointing that it ended so quickly! But compared to The Dragon, it didn’t have nearly enough thrill (which is a no-brainer).
Children between 90 and 105 cm need to be accompanied by an adult.
My Kid’s Score: 3/5
The Parents’ Score: 2/5
LEGO NINJAGO World
LEGO NINJAGO World is themed around the characters and ninja training from the NINJAGO series. It has one of the most thrilling rides in the park, along with several smaller activities where children can practise climbing, reflexes, and target shooting.
My daughter wanted to go to this area even before we entered the park!
Flying NINJAGO
Flying NINJAGO is the most intense ride at LEGOLAND Japan.
Riders sit in a seat and are then raised above the ground and then “fly” at speeds of up to 50 kilometres per hour.
I went on this ride alone because my daughter was too short to go on it (and she was too scared to go anyway).
You can move the handles to make the wings move so that you can try to rotate completely upside down (so a 360), but I wasn’t able to figure this out.
This ride is quite fun, and I would have gone on it again had I not been alone! But if you’re scared of heights, I wouldn’t recommend this.
Riders must be at least 125 cm. There is also a maximum weight of 120 kg.
The Parents’ Score: 5/5
Lloyd’s Spinjitzu Spinners
This spinning ride lets you control how much your seat rotates by pressing buttons to move forwards, stop, or spin backwards. Riders can make the vehicle complete a full 360-degree rotation, although it is also possible to have a gentler ride.
Children between 105 and 110 cm need to be accompanied by an adult, and riders must be older than four.
This attraction is currently temporarily closed, so we were unable to go on it.
Kai’s Sky Masters
On this spinning family ride, you sit in a flying vehicle and shoot at targets to earn points. Each vehicle holds up to four people, so families can work together to try to get the highest score.
We went on this ride together as a family of three, which was nice, but it was surprisingly difficult to shoot the targets. Since it was sunny, it was hard to see the lights. Despite this, my daughter liked the ride (although it might be because it was NINJAGO?).
Children between 90 and 125 cm need to be accompanied by an adult.
My Kid’s Score: 5/5
The Parents’ Score: 3/5
Cole’s Rock Climbing Wall
This is a small covered climbing wall near the entrance where children can test their strength as part of their ninja training. It is designed so that even younger children can give rock climbing a try.
My daughter did this a few times, especially since there’s no line.
My Kid’s Score: 4/5
Jay’s Lightning Drill
This is another attraction near the entrance that doesn’t require you to line up.
Children have 30 seconds to hit buttons as they light up. The aim is to react quickly and score as many points as possible before the time runs out.
You can do this drill as a family, which is exactly what we did. My daughter said it was “so-so”.
My Kid’s Score: 4/5
The Parents’ Score: 5/5
Pirate Shores
Pirate Shores is a small pirate-themed area with a water ride, a spinning ride, paid games, and a large adventure playground.
You’re likely to get wet in this area if you’re not careful, so be prepared! If you don’t want to get wet under any circumstances, avoid this area!
Splash Battle
On Splash Battle, you ride in a pirate ship and use water cannons to spray other boats and hit targets along the course.
This boat also goes through a little waterfall, so you will absolutely get wet if you go on this ride. It’s a perfect ride if you want to use the splash areas in the park and you’re in your swimsuit. (With a cover-up — people in Japan wear rash guards.)
People standing near the ride can also use water cannons to spray the riders, which is exactly what my daughter did. It was quite hilarious because she sprayed a middle-aged man who was on the ride, and he made sure to spray her back! My husband couldn’t stop laughing.
Children under 120 cm need to be accompanied by an adult.
Anchors Away!
This boat is like a Viking ride but rotates. You might also get wet a little while you’re on it. (I’m not entirely sure where the water comes from, maybe the Splash Battle ride?)
We liked the ride itself but weren’t fans of getting wet, so although we could have ridden again since there was no line, we declined.
Children between 90 and 105 cm need to be accompanied by an adult.
My Kid’s Score: 3/5
The Parents’ Score: 3/5
Castaway Camp
Castaway Camp is a large pirate-themed adventure playground built around a shipwreck. It has rope walkways, climbing nets, and slides, as well as a soft floor underneath the play equipment.
This play area is recommended for children ages 6 to 12.
My child didn’t play here because there was a high chance she would get wet.
My Daughter’s Favorite LEGOLAND Rides and Attractions
Now that I’ve covered all the rides and attractions at LEGOLAND Japan, which were my daughter’s favorites?
Here is what she loved:
- The Dragon (Knight’s Kingdom)
- Submarine Adventure (Adventure)
- S.Q.U.I.D. Surfer (Adventure)
- LEGO NINJAGO 4D Movie (LEGO City)
- Imagination Celebration (Bricktopia) (note that this isn’t a particularly special ride; she just liked that we were the only ones on it)
And honestly, even though she didn’t like everything, there was nothing that scared her or she absolutely hated, just rides she wouldn’t go on again. And honestly, as a parent, I consider that a win. She was so, so happy at the end of the day.
Best LEGOLAND Japan Rides and Attractions by Age
Best Rides for Babies
If you’re coming with a baby, they might enjoy the Bricktopia area, such as the Brick Party carousel and the Observation Tower, but in general, there isn’t much for them.
Best Rides for Toddlers
For toddlers, I think all the rides and attractions in LEGO City and Bricktopia are perfect, as well as Miniland.
I also believe that they will enjoy Submarine Adventure in the Adventure area and the Dragon’s Apprentice roller coaster (the small one) in Knight’s Kingdom.
What Is the Best Age for LEGOLAND Japan?
This completely depends on your child, but if your kid is even two years old and likes LEGO (like Duplo), bring them to LEGOLAND!
However, I feel like children ages three and up, especially lower elementary-school-aged kids, will enjoy LEGOLAND Japan the most since they can enjoy most of the rides and attractions. My daughter at age six had a blast!
As there is only one super thrilling ride (Flying Ninjago), so perhaps older kids (upper elementary) might not find it very fun.
Teenagers will likely be bored.
Water Attractions at LEGOLAND Japan
There are several water attractions at LEGOLAND that will have you soaked.
In summer, there is a splash pad open from May 30th to September 26th. This is for children of all ages.
There is also a water maze (Water Maze II) that’s open on weekends from June 13th to July 5th, and then every day from July 10th to August 31st. You need a bathing suit for the Splash Pad and the Water Maze. The Maze is for kids ages three and up.
The Splash Pad and Water Maze are included with LEGOLAND Japan park admission, but you can’t just walk in whenever you want. Both require a same-day reservation. Reservations open online from 8:00 AM on the day of your visit, and if the free slots are full, you might be able to get a limited guaranteed admission ticket for ¥500 per person with the purchase of an eligible item from one of the souvenir shops at the entrance.
Notably, if you’re staying at the LEGOLAND hotel, you’ll get a voucher that lets you use either Water Maze II or Splash Pad without making a reservation. It’s one voucher per room per night, and you can only use it the day after your stay. (You’ll receive this ticket when you check in.)
Lastly, there’s an area at LEGOLAND Japan called Pirate Shores that has an attraction called Splash Battle. This attraction will also get you soaked because the boat you ride on passes right through a little waterfall. So I recommend going on this while wearing a swimsuit.
Tips for Visiting LEGOLAND Japan with Kids
Before you go, here’s what I think all parents should know straight off the bat.
Firstly, LEGOLAND Japan is located in Nagoya. It’s not the one in Tokyo, nor the one in Osaka. Those are both considerably smaller and indoors. LEGOLAND Japan is mostly outdoors, so make sure you go on a day that has nice weather
You don’t need to purchase tickets in advance, but I recommend doing so because it’s cheaper than buying them on the day from the ticket kiosk. We purchased ours a few days before our trip, and everything was super smooth and fast when it came to getting inside.
There is a combo ticket for LEGOLAND Japan and the Sea Life Aquarium, which is a one-minute walk from the park. I’ll share more about the aquarium later on so you can decide whether it’s worth it for your family.
LEGOLAND Japan has a hotel, which I highly recommend staying at since it’s literally a one-minute walk from the park. It might be good to stay there the day before you visit the park so kids get hyped for their LEGOLAND Japan visit (and you get priority entry into the splashpad area), but we stayed there the day of our visit. This actually worked out quite well because we were exhausted after our day at LEGOLAND, so it was nice that the hotel was so close.
Note that there is no official early entry to the park for LEGOLAND hotel guests, although you might be able to get in about 5ish minutes early.
Make sure to download the official LEGOLAND Japan app before you go, as it’s very useful for finding areas and knowing show times, as well as making reservations for the workshops (which opens at 8 AM).
LEGOLAND Japan’s opening hours vary by date, but the park often opens around 10:00 AM and closes between 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM. When we visited, I made sure to check the official calendar before going, since hours can be longer on weekends, holidays, and busier summer dates.
You might want to bring a bathing suit and towel if you want to experience the water attractions in summer.
As mentioned earlier, make sure you check out the shop to your left after you enter the park, as there are LEGOLAND Japan goods that kids might want to make their visit more special and immersive (my kid got the NINJAGO backpack sword).
Also, check out the popcorn bucket shop, which is located between the Duplo area and the Observation Tower.
So, is it Worth Visiting LEGOLAND Japan with Kids?
My daughter had an amazing time at LEGOLAND Japan. I honestly wish I had also visited when she was two years old and loved LEGO Friends, because I think she would have loved seeing the LEGO Friends decorations and area, and there are certainly areas there she would have enjoyed even at that age!
Needless to say, we will definitely be visiting LEGOLAND Japan again in the near future, especially since my daughter didn’t have the chance to experience any workshops.