Hiruzen Kōgen Center

Hiruzen Kōgen Center (ヒルゼン高原センター) is a leisure facility and amusement park located in Hiruzen Kamifukuda, Maniwa City, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. It sits in the Hiruzen Plateau resort area, roughly three minutes by car from the Hiruzen Interchange on the Yonago Expressway, and is operated under the combined name Hiruzen Kōgen Center / Joyful Park (ヒルゼン高原センター・ジョイフルパーク). The site is divided into two main components: the Hiruzen Kōgen Center itself, which houses a shopping center and restaurant, and Joyful Park, the amusement park section. The shopping center sells Hiruzen specialty products and souvenirs, including the Hiruzen Kōgen manjū, dairy products, pickles, handmade muffins, and keychains. Dining options include the restaurant Farmy, Montigo, and a café. Joyful Park is described as a spacious amusement park set in a natural resort area, with attractions ranging from the Hiruzen Tower, a two-story merry-go-round, a Ferris-wheel-like Sky Balloon, a Mystery Zone, Water Shot, Dolphin Paradise, Sky Jet, Toy Box Town, Round Pirates, Warp Theater 360°, Dino Jet, and a rapids ride, to height-restricted rides such as the Kite Flyer, Sky Cycle, go-karts, Hiruzen Coaster, Rock 'n' Roll, a Viking ship, and Falcon. Other facilities include a carnival corner, putter golf, Go Go Thomas, a batting center, a mini SL and mini cars, a Purikura house, a game center, a fairy-tale path featuring Momotarō and Kachi-Kachi Yama, a bouncy area, a balloon stage, Game Castle, a monkey garden, a bird garden, a Japanese giant salamander pond, and the Hiruzen Flower Forest. The center has historically positioned itself as a family-oriented destination. It once had free admission and was described as a serious amusement park that did not charge an entrance fee. As of the current published pricing, admission is 600 yen for junior high school students and older, 400 yen for elementary school students and those aged 65 and over, with a free pass including admission at 3,000 yen for adults and 2,500 yen for children (prices effective from March 26, 2014). Opening hours are 8:30–17:30 for the shopping and restaurant center (9:00–16:30 in winter), while Joyful Park operates 10:00–17:00 on weekends and holidays (11:00–15:00 in winter) and may close depending on weather. In winter, Joyful Park operates on irregular holidays. The facility is accessible by public transport: from Chūgoku-Katsuyama Station, take the Maniwa City community bus "Maniwa-kun" on the Hiruzen/Kuse route and get off at Hiruzen Kōgen Center-mae (about 75 minutes); this route connects with the Chūtetsu Hokubu Bus "Katsuyama–Okayama Line." From Kurayoshi Station, take the Nihon Kōtsū Bus bound for Sekigane, transfer at Sekigane Onsen to the Maniwa-kun Naka-So/Sekigane route, and get off at Hiruzen Kōgen Center-mae (about 40 minutes). By car it is about three minutes from the Hiruzen Interchange on the Yonago Expressway. The official website provides information in Japanese, English, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and French, and includes attraction information, event information, a business calendar, experience classes, dining and gourmet information, souvenirs, pricing, and a park map.

Hiruzen Kōgen Center is a leisure facility and amusement park in Hiruzen Kamifukuda, Maniwa City, Okayama Prefecture, in the Hiruzen Plateau resort area. The combined facility is known as Hiruzen Kōgen Center / Joyful Park. The Hiruzen Kōgen Center portion comprises a shopping center and restaurant, while Joyful Park is the amusement park section. The shopping center offers Hiruzen specialties and souvenirs such as Hiruzen Kōgen manjū, dairy products, pickles, handmade muffins, and keychains. Dining includes the restaurant Farmy, Montigo, and a café. Joyful Park is described as a spacious amusement park in a natural resort setting. Its attractions include the Hiruzen Tower, a two-story merry-go-round, Sky Balloon, Mystery Zone, Water Shot, Dolphin Paradise, Sky Jet, Toy Box Town, Round Pirates, Warp Theater 360°, Dino Jet, and a rapids ride. Height-restricted rides include the Kite Flyer, Sky Cycle, go-karts, Hiruzen Coaster, Rock 'n' Roll, a Viking ship, and Falcon. Other facilities include a carnival corner, putter golf, Go Go Thomas, a batting center, a mini SL and mini cars, a Purikura house, a game center, a fairy-tale path with Momotarō and Kachi-Kachi Yama, a bouncy area, a balloon stage, Game Castle, a monkey garden, a bird garden, a Japanese giant salamander pond, and the Hiruzen Flower Forest. Historically, the park once had free admission and was described as a serious amusement park that did not charge an entrance fee. Current admission prices are 600 yen for junior high school students and older, 400 yen for elementary school students and those aged 65 and over, with a free pass including admission at 3,000 yen for adults and 2,500 yen for children, effective from March 26, 2014. Opening hours are 8:30–17:30 for the shopping and restaurant center (9:00–16:30 in winter), while Joyful Park operates 10:00–17:00 on weekends and holidays (11:00–15:00 in winter) and may close depending on weather. In winter, Joyful Park operates on irregular holidays. Access is available by public transport and car. From Chūgoku-Katsuyama Station, take the Maniwa City community bus "Maniwa-kun" on the Hiruzen/Kuse route and get off at Hiruzen Kōgen Center-mae (about 75 minutes); this route connects with the Chūtetsu Hokubu Bus "Katsuyama–Okayama Line." From Kurayoshi Station, take the Nihon Kōtsū Bus bound for Sekigane, transfer at Sekigane Onsen to the Maniwa-kun Naka-So/Sekigane route, and get off at Hiruzen Kōgen Center-mae (about 40 minutes). By car it is about three minutes from the Hiruzen Interchange on the Yonago Expressway. The official website provides information in Japanese, English, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and French, and includes attraction information, event information, a business calendar, experience classes, dining and gourmet information, souvenirs, pricing, and a park map.

• Current admission and free pass prices take effect (adult free pass 3,000 yen, child 2,500 yen).

• Part-time staff recruitment announced, welcoming students and inexperienced workers.

• Announcement of Joyful Park Harvest Festival (September 5 – November 23) and one-day Jingisukan festival (October 4).

• Announcement of Warp Theater 360 'Shinkalion 360° The Movie' screening (September 5 – November 23).

• Business information for September 28 posted on the official website.

A family-oriented leisure complex and amusement park in a natural resort setting on the Hiruzen Plateau, combining local specialty shopping and dining with amusement rides and seasonal events.

• Hiruzen Kōgen manjū

  A local specialty sweet sold at the shopping center.

• Dairy products

  Local dairy products sold as souvenirs.

• Pickles

  Local pickles sold at the shopping center.

• Handmade muffins

  Handmade muffins available at the shopping center.

• Keychains

  Souvenir keychains sold at the shopping center.

• Joyful Park free pass

  A pass including admission, priced at 3,000 yen for adults and 2,500 yen for children (from March 26, 2014).

1. 1蒜山高原センター・ジョイフルパークhkcenter.co.jp
2. 2ヒルゼン高原センター - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org
3. 3Hiruzen Kōgen Center - Wikidatawikidata.org