A new "wild kingdom" has opened in Okinawa, Japan. A theme park named Jungliana Okinawa (hereafter Jungliana) has opened. Against the backdrop of Okinawa's pristine, native nature, Jungliana touts a "nature-immersion adventure" concept that blends into nature away from the bustle of the city. It leaves a strong impression with an atmosphere entirely different from the fantastical fairy-tale world of Tokyo Disneyland or the Hollywood style of Universal Studios Japan (USJ) in Osaka. On Jul. 30, 5 days after opening, I drove 1 hour and 30 minutes from Naha Airport in Okinawa to arrive at Jungliana.
Jungliana is a vast space of about 600,000 square meters (about 181,500 pyeong) located in Kunigami-son (国頭村) in northern Okinawa, adjacent to Yanbaru National Park, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site. It makes full use of Okinawa's unique subtropical forest and is designed with a distinctive ratio of 90% nature and 10% facilities. There are about 35,000 trees in the park, 90% of which are native Okinawa species. It also set aside a 200,000-square-meter (about 60,500 pyeong) green belt to protect the wild, which is unusual. However, because it was the early days after opening, it was hard to expect a densely packed, lush forest.
Passing through the entrance made of a giant tree leads to the observation deck "Infinity Terrace," which offers a view of Jungliana as a whole. The Infinity Terrace is the top of the three-story Jungliana main tower; below it sits the main restaurant, "Panorama Dining," and on the ground floor is the stop for the "Tam-Tam Tram," which takes you around the park.
From the observation deck, several Jungliana attractions come into view, and the attractions on the left and right differ in nature. The left side features ride-based attractions, while the right side is dominated by physical experiences such as zip lines and skywalks.
The "Horizon Balloon" visible in front of the observation deck is striking. You ride a giant hot-air balloon up over the park, and they say the overwhelming sight of the Yanbaru forest and the distant blue sea of Okinawa fills your eyes. Because it is an attraction highly affected by the weather, it was not operating due to strong winds on the day of the visit, which was disappointing.
Okinawa's weather is so changeable that on the day I visited Jungliana, sudden downpours alternated with strong sunshine. To ease visitor inconvenience, free parasols for rain or sun are placed throughout the park. Still, I wondered if there could have been a few more places to shelter from rain or sun. Also, in midsummer Okinawa, the daytime high nears 40 degrees, making it hot. So the park's various shops and stalls provide salt candy to help prevent health issues among visitors due to the heat.
Among Jungliana's attractions, the most popular are "Buggy Car Voltage," which races over off-road terrain, and "Dinosaur Safari," which features a chase with dinosaurs. "Buggy Car Voltage" has rather strict boarding conditions: drivers must hold an international driver's license. Children under 6 cannot ride, and riders must be at least 120 centimeters tall.
"Dinosaur Safari" is an attraction reminiscent of the movie "Jurassic World," dealing with an emergency in which dinosaurs escape from the breeding facilities of an ancient-creatures regeneration research lab. Visitors proceed through the attraction according to a set scenario, from a briefing on the operation to being chased by a Tyrannosaurus, making it quite dynamic. Most of the experience takes place in military-style vehicles, delivering the thrill of speeding over steep slopes and off-road tracks. There is some content in the middle that is a bit intense, and a small child burst into tears.
"Finding Dinosaur," about looking for a lost dinosaur, and "Yanbaru Friend," which unfolds stories of animals native to the Yanbaru forest, are story-based experiences, but there is a lot of explanation, so foreign tourists who do not speak Japanese may find little that stands out.
At the main restaurant, "Panorama Dining," various foods that reflect Jungliana's theme are sold. The bird's-nest-shaped seats are unique, and you can dine while taking in views of Jungliana. Eighty percent of the ingredients used by the restaurant are from Okinawa. Among the many menu items, the volcano-shaped meat pie is said to be popular with children because when you crack the top of the volcano with a hammer, white steam comes out.
In addition to the main restaurant, Jungliana has several food and beverage stalls. You can enjoy hamburgers, chicken, kebabs, and skewers during your park experience. There are quite a number of tables and the like, making it easy to take breaks along the way. Personally, the cloud-shaped jelly juice was striking. Because the drink is jelly-like, it did not provide any refreshment on a hot day despite its looks, but it was pretty to see.
Jungliana, which also operates a spa, sells several types of tickets, including day passes and tickets that let you enjoy both the park and the spa. There is also a premium pass that offers priority boarding for popular attractions. For day passes, adults 12 and older pay 8,800 yen, and children (ages 4–11) pay 5,940 yen. A park ticket that includes the spa is 11,880 yen for adults. The premium pass ranges from 990 to 2,970 yen.
Ticket prices differ for Japanese residents and overseas users. For residents, prices are about 1,000–2,000 yen cheaper than for foreigners. Because of this, some overseas tourists say the tickets are somewhat expensive. Korean tourists are advised to book in advance through travel platforms such as Klook, Triple, and NOL. Parking at the Jungliana main lot also requires reservations, and you must purchase a reservation ticket separately (2,000 yen) through a travel platform.
Jungliana aims to inject new vitality into the economy of northern Okinawa. The operator, Japan Entertainment, is a company established in Okinawa in Jun. 2023. Local companies hold 70% of the equity. It aligns with the Okinawa prefectural government's region-led development policy. Major shareholders include Orion Beer, known for its local Okinawa beer, and the local distribution company Ryubo Holdings. The remaining 30% of equity is external investment, which supports infrastructure improvements and attracting tourists.
In its first month of opening (Jul. 25–Aug. 25), Jungliana drew about 100,000 visitors, and as of Sep. 25, its cumulative total stands at 120,000. It aims to attract 1.5 million visitors annually. That is about 15% of Okinawa's 10 million annual tourists.