Is Nagashima Spa Land Worth Visiting? Guide + Honest Review
Last Updated on January 26, 2026 by Kay
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Located in Mie Prefecture, Nagashima Spa Land can be a bit of a trek to get to, so is it worth your time, money, and energy to visit?
Nagashima Spa Land is one of the most famous amusement parks in Japan for several reasons, which is why Japanese residents don’t mind traveling to get there. In fact, I know some people who do day trips from Osaka just to visit the park! But is it worth it?
I’ve been living in Japan for almost two decades now and I’ve been to my fair share of amusement parks, so I thought I would share my experience and honest thoughts about going to Nagashima Spa Land and what you should know before you go.
Table of Contents
Why is Nagashima Spa Land So Famous?
Based on the name, your first question might be whether Nagashima Spa Land is known for having spas or onsen. Well, yes, except Nagashima Spa Land itself only has onsen in the summer.
Nagashima Spa Land is part of Nagashima Resort, which consists of:
- an amusement park (Nagashima Spa Land) that has a waterpark in the summer with onsen (Nagashima Jumbo Seawater Pool, one of the largest waterparks in Japan)
- a hotel with a stunning onsen (Hotel Nagashima)
- as well as an outlet mall, a flower park, and an Anpanman Museum (a character theme park for babies and toddlers)
Nagashima Spa Land is open throughout the year and has a whopping 58 different rides and attractions. In particular, it’s famous for its extreme roller coasters. It has the first hybrid roller coaster in Asia (HAKUGEI), a Guinness World Record-breaking roller coaster (Steel Dragon), Japan’s first 4D spin coaster (ARASHI), and the largest flying coaster in the world (Acrobat).
You don’t have to be a thrill seeker to enjoy Nagashima Spa Land, though. Personally, I don’t like extreme roller coasters as much as I did when I was younger, especially ones that have you hanging upside-down, but I still loved my time at Nagashima Spa Land. There are also tons of kid-friendly rides, so there’s something for everyone.
How to Get to Nagashima Spa Land and Tickets
Nagashima Spa Land is located in Mie Prefecture.
It takes about three hours to reach there from Osaka Station by public transport, less than two hours from Kyoto Station, and about an hour from Nagoya Station.
Opening Hours
Nagashima Spa Land’s hours of operation change depending on the season, but typically it’s open from 9:30 AM to 4 or 5 PM. There are periods when the park is closed, so make sure to check the official website before you visit.
If you stay at Hotel Nagashima, you can enter the park 15 minutes early.
Ticket Price
You don’t need to pay to enter Nagashima Spa Land, so if you want to just go on a few rides, you can easily pay per ride. However, ride tickets for the roller coasters can be quite expensive, ranging from 1500 yen to 2000 yen per ride!
This is why I think it’s best to purchase an all-day pass, which will give you unlimited rides. You can easily buy them at the gate.
The all-day pass for Nagashima Spa Land costs 5200 yen for adults (junior high school age and up), 3900 yen for elementary school students, 2500 yen for children ages two to six, and 2500 yen for those ages 65 and up.
If you arrive after 3 PM, you can get 15% off the all-day pass.
Nagashima Spa Land Rides & Attractions
As mentioned earlier, Nagashima Spa Land has almost 60 different rides. About half of the rides are for young kids, which I talk about in my article on Nagashima Spa Land with kids.
If you have older kids (upper elementary and up) or you’re a ride enthusiast, you’ll find plenty of thrilling rides that’ll get your adrenaline pumping, as well as some that are perfectly in-between.
And best of all, I only had to wait about five to 10 minutes for each ride! (I may have been lucky, though, because some people report having to wait around an hour for the popular roller coasters, which I’ll share below.)
Rides I Tried
Here are the rides that I tried at Nagashima Spa Land and my impressions.
HAKUGEI (White Whale)
HAKUGEI means “white whale” or “Moby Dick” in Japanese, perhaps because it’s like you’re riding on a white whale that’s swimming lightning fast.
This ride is totally crazy, in a good way, where you start laughing because your body doesn’t know what else to do. I can see why this roller coaster is one of the most famous at Nagashima Spa Land.
I wasn’t planning on going on HAKUGEI because although I used to love extreme roller coasters when I was younger, I get a little too dizzy on them now. But when I passed by, I saw there was absolutely no one in line. This isn’t because it’s a bad ride (quite the contrary), but I was the first to arrive there thanks to staying at Hotel Nagashima and getting early entry.
So, in a moment of insanity, I went inside and placed my things in the locker (no coins needed) and headed to the front of the line. Very soon after, others started lining up behind me.
There was no turning back.
I was supposed to be seated at the front of the ride, but I asked to sit in the middle because there was no way I was going to have a front view by myself. Surprisingly, though, a father and his kid (probably in elementary school) were more than happy to have the front seats!
After being seated, the staff asked us to cross our arms over the lap safety bar and not to move them for the entire ride (there is no over-the-shoulder restraint). That made me super nervous at first, and I wondered whether I would fly out to my doom, but it ended up being fine (and honestly, probably saved my shoulders from getting knocked around since I’m short).
The first climb was almost deceptive. As we were going up, I looked to the right and took in the beautiful ocean view and thought, “Okay, I can handle this.”
Then the big drop hit, and it was full chaos (in a thrilling and enjoyable way). I genuinely don’t think I’ve screamed that much in my life. I even screamed, “Get me off this thing!” at one point… while still having fun?
When the ride finished, everyone clapped while laughing nervously because we weren’t sure exactly what had happened. The ride had been so exhilarating, surprisingly extremely smooth, and now I know why it is so popular. HAKUGEI is a must if you visit Nagashima Spa Land.
Would I ride this again? Yes, if I’m feeling brave and someone else rides with me. I think my daughter would love it when she’s older (and taller). I also want to drag my roller-coaster-hating husband on this.
If you’re someone who panics easily, perhaps start with something smaller, like Shuttle Loop, and work up to this.
Guests must be at least 130 cm tall to ride.
Shuttle Loop
This Schwarzkopf roller coaster was my favorite ride at Nagashima Spa Land.
If you want something that’s intense but not too long, Shuttle Loop is perfect. It’s over pretty quickly, but with this roller coaster, you get speed right from the beginning following a 10-second countdown, a 360-degree loop, and you get to do it all again while going backwards.
I rode it three times and happily screamed the entire time. It’s basically the “best of” coaster experience in a short ride. There were also lots of elementary school students on this ride who rode it repeatedly.
Guests must be at least 120 cm tall to ride.
Jet Coaster
Jet Coaster is a gentler, open-air roller coaster through a forest with no steep drops or wild speed.
I rode this with my daughter (age six) nine times, and despite the wait time being 20 minutes sometimes, we kept coming back for more. Even my ride-hating husband enjoyed this roller coaster. The back seat is best if you want it to feel a little more thrilling.
Guests must be at least age six to ride. Children ages two to six can ride with an adult.
D. Wild Mouse
This was the worst ride in the park for me. (And my friend, who visited separately, agreed.)
D. Wild Mouse made me feel like I was getting thrown side-to-side nonstop and would possibly fall out. It also brakes a lot, and every time it did, it put uncomfortable pressure on the safety bar against my waist.
Not a single part was enjoyable, and I would not recommend it based on my experience.
Guests must be at least 120 cm tall, as well as at least 9 years old, to ride.
Cork Screw
The Cork Screw roller coaster, which has you twisting and turning through an almost 400 metre-long course, was just… not it for me, perhaps because of my height.
I’m five feet tall, and my head kept smacking against the restraints, so it wasn’t enjoyable at all, just uncomfortable. If you’re taller, you might be totally fine, but for me, this was a one-and-done.
Guests must be at least 110 cm tall to ride.
Looping Star
I enjoyed this roller coaster more than the Cork Screw, but I would only ride it again if the line was short because it’s a very quick ride that’s over in an instant.
When the staff were giving explanations at the beginning, I genuinely considered getting off because they said the ride shakes violently, so you have to keep your head still and face straight at all times.
But once it actually ran, it was… fine. It’s not as smooth as I would have hoped, and the safety bar position can be a little uncomfortable, but it’s a decent, quick thrill.
I recommend this for people who aren’t quite ready for the more intense coasters at the park.
Guests must be at least 130 cm tall to ride.
Paratrouper
This is not a roller coaster and is considered one of Nagashima Spa Land’s “thrill” rides, but I found it more enjoyable than scary.
The ride moves at an angle in the air and goes somewhat fast, so it had just the right amount of thrill for me, although it did get a little boring after a while.
Guests must be between 120 and 190 cm tall to ride.
Aurora Ferris Wheel
This is another must if you’re at Nagashima Spa Land because the view of the park and sea is just stunning. It’s 83 metres high, so I felt a little scared on it and knew I would have trouble going on the Steel Dragon 2000 roller coaster since that’s even taller.
But even though I’m scared of heights, this Ferris wheel was still peaceful and enjoyable to ride with my family.
It takes about 10 minutes, so make sure you have the time to spare when you go on it.
Roller Coasters I Didn’t Ride (Because I Chickened Out)
I know, I know.
How dare I go to Nagashima Spa Land and not try all their world-famous roller coasters?
Well, I would have about a decade ago, but my Millennial body just can’t handle thrill coasters the way it used to. I just don’t feel exhilarated from feeling like I’m going to die, and I can’t handle heights anymore.
But if you’re a thrill-seeker, you will want to ride the following roller coasters at Nagashima Spa Land.
Steel Dragon 2000
With a 318-foot drop (higher than the top of the Aurora Ferris Wheel), Steel Dragon 2000 is one of only nine gigacoasters on Earth.
I would have ridden it had I been with someone, but alas, my daughter was too short and too young, and my husband obviously couldn’t leave her unsupervised. I’m scared of heights, so there was no way I would ride this alone. Just looking at it from the Ferris wheel made me anxious!
Steel Dragon 2000 is more than just its incredibly high 68-degree angle drop, though. Its course runs 2479 meters, the longest in Japan and second longest worldwide, and it travels up to 153 km/h. Needless to say, it’s a must for roller coaster enthusiasts and I’ve only heard good things about it.
Guests must be at least 10 years old and between 140 to 185 cm tall to ride. Yes, that’s right, you sadly cannot ride Steel Dragon 2000 if you’re taller than 185 cm…
ARASHI (嵐)
Japan’s first spin coaster, ARASHI (which means storm in Japanese) has you turning 360-degrees in your seat while you go along a 360-degree course.
This is another one that I just couldn’t do alone because it felt too intense. I’ve also heard that it hurts your head and neck, and I’m too old for that kind of pain.
Guests must be at least 120 cm tall to ride.
Acrobat
Boasting a 1021 metre course, Acrobat is one of the world’s biggest flying roller coasters. You go through the course Superman-style at a speed of up to 90 km/h. There are loops, corkscrews, and drops, making this an exhilarating ride. At one point, you glide facing down over the small pond below.
It’s similar to the Flying Dinosaur ride at Universal Studios Japan, but smoother.
I don’t want to sound like a broken record, ya’ll know I didn’t go on this because I was alone and a scaredy cat.
Guests must be between 135 and 198 cm tall to ride.
Ultra Twister
This was unfortunately closed when I visited, although I’m not sure whether I would have gone on it because it has quite a steep drop. There’s also a corkscrew, and it sends you back along the path you came from.
Here is a video of what it’s like to go on the Ultra Twister ride.
Guests must be at least 120 cm tall to ride.
Shoot the Chute
This roller coaster has a 40-degree drop into water from a height of 30 metres.
I wanted to ride this, but you have to pay for a poncho, and I didn’t have any cash on me to purchase it from the vending machine. You need a poncho for this roller coaster because you will get absolutely soaked.
Guests must be at least 120 cm tall to ride.
Other Thrill Attractions at Nagashima Spa Land
Don’t worry, there’s more to Nagashima Spa Land than just roller coasters. Here are other rides that will appeal to adrenaline fans.
Star Flyer
This is like those swing rides at amusement parks, but extreme. It stands at almost 64 metres tall, making it the largest of its kind in Japan.
One nice thing is that it’s a two-seater ride, so I hope to go on it with my daughter when she’s older. (She did meet the height requirement when we went, but I didn’t feel like she was ready for this kind of ride… because honestly, I would need the support given the height!)
Guests must be at least 130 cm tall to ride, although those 110 cm to 130 cm may ride when accompanied by an adult.
Giant Frisbee
This is totally a ride I would have been obsessed with when I was a teenager. You sit in a circle that rotates while it swings back and forth, almost like an extreme Viking ride that goes up 43 meters.
It was fascinating to watch, but I didn’t want to ride it because there was just too much going on for me. I also heard it’s not great for those who don’t like heights, and it can make you feel nauseous.
Guests must be between 140 cm and 195 cm tall to ride.
Space Shot
This ride launches you 75 metres into the air and is the highest of its kind in Japan. It was closed when we visited Nagashima Spa Land.
It’s over pretty quickly, which is both good and bad, depending on what kind of thrill-seeker you are.
Guests must be at least 130 cm tall to ride.
Flying Carpet
This was yet another ride that was closed when we visited.
You’re strapped into a seat that hangs from a “magic carpet” that moves back and forth, while going up and down. It looks like a lot of fun, so I hope it’s open next time I visit.
You can see how the ride operates in the video below.
Guests must be at least 130 cm and 190 cm tall to ride.
Jumbo Viking
I can take mini-Viking rides, but Jumbo Vikings are a little too intense for me. (Because, again, heights.)
My daughter seems to like the smaller ones, though, so I imagine I’ll go on this with her when she’s older.
Guests must be at least 120 cm tall to ride.
Free Fall
This ride has you fall 45 metres at 90 km/h. I had been considering going on it with my daughter, but it was not operating when we visited.
Guests must be at least 110 cm tall to ride.
So, Is Nagashima Spa Land Worth It? My Honest Thoughts
I absolutely loved visiting Nagashima Spa Land, and I really want to visit again. As someone who adores amusement parks, it was well worth the trip, especially since it was fairly empty when I went. The longest wait time was twenty minutes!
Of course, if you visit during high season (such as school vacations and public holidays in Japan), I imagine it will be much busier. But honestly, many rides are record-breaking in Japan, so the wait might be worth it.
Tips for Visiting Nagashima Spa Land
Expect Japanese-only instructions, so watch the staff when they give explanations and watch what others are doing. Do not feel afraid to ask for clarification in case you don’t understand anything, especially since you can get injured if you don’t follow their instructions.
I also suggest using Google Translate’s camera mode to translate signs at rides.
You’re not allowed to bring phones or any other belongings on rides. Please do not ignore this rule because if something falls, it can seriously injure another person. (Or even you!)
Bring bug spray, because there are lots of mosquitoes at the park.
If the park is busy and there are long lines for popular roller coasters like Steel Dragon 2000, you can buy a priority pass for around 1000 yen per ride.