Kevin

Edo Wonderland or Nikko Edomura Park is one of Japan's largest thematic parks, and one of the most interesting places I had the opportunity to travel. In this article we will share all the tips, information, curiosities about this Edo period theme park. Have your questions answered and prepare your trip now!

The article is quite extensive and is separated by subtitles, such as we will address various subjects, if not in your interest, just browse the rest of the topics.

What is Nikko Edomura?

Nikko Edomura [日光江戸村] is a large cultural theme park from the Edo Period, located in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture. The park brings to life and showcases the life and culture of the Edo Period (1603 to 1868) in 17th century Tokyo. It covers an area of 495,000M² (49 hectares) and is based on the golden era of the Edo Period known as Genroku.

Edo Wonderland houses a wide variety of stupid stages such as the architecture of urban and rural accommodations, government homes and buildings, castles and temples. In this great city you find, ninjas, samurai, geisha and others.

You can rent period costumes yourself or simply take photos with the costumed actors. There are 7 theaters, the famous teatro Kabuki, ninja and samurai demonstrations, shadow shows, and many others.

Edo Wonderland has a mascot known as Nyanmage, which is a samurai cat. Its name is derived from "Nyan" (Japanese onomatopoeia of myiad) and "Mago", the name of the Samurai hairstyle.

Edo Wonderland was established on April 23, 1986, in Fujiwara-cho, Shioya-gun, Tochigi, which is now known as the Nikko Kinugawa Ward. Three more parks were built in Hokkaido, Kanazawa and Mie, but these parks were sold in the 2000s.

Attractions of Nikko Edomura Park

Let's now explore some of the hundreds of attractions present in this Edo period village:

Ninja experience

This attraction is a fascinating journey in the secret world of ninjas. You will have a chance to practice Ninjutsu skills such as shuriken launch (ninja stars), hiding and silent running techniques.

This experience is designed to be interactive and educational, showing not only the physical skills of ninjas, but also their role and importance in Japanese history.

Samurai experience

In this activity, you enter the world of samurai. The experience is divided into several sessions, where you will learn about Kenjutsu (the art of the sword), combat techniques and defensive postures.

The instructor will guide you through the fundamentals of the Bushido, the samurai code of conduct, providing a deeper understanding of this Japanese iconic figure.

Okappiki police experience

Here, visitors have the opportunity to take the role of an Edo police officer. Wearing a traditional costume, you patrol the park streets and solve complex puzzles. This experience is unique because it combines action, strategy and a glimpse of everyday life in feudal Japan.

House of the Fire Chief Sen-gumi

This exhibition is dedicated to a hero from the Edo period, the Fire Chief Sen-gumi. The reconstructed house is an interactive museum that showcases the life and times of the fire chief, along with artifacts and information about firefighting techniques of the time.

Ninja Karakuri Labyrinth

This is a complex maze where you are challenged to find your way through a maze of mobile walls, secret doors and ninja puzzles. Each section of the maze is designed to test your intelligence, patience and problem solving skills.

Kai Kai Ninja House

Known as the "Casa Pie", this attraction disorients visitors with their inclined environments and structures that challenge gravity. Ideal for those who like optical illusions and a good mental challenge, Casa Ninja Kai Kai is a fun and intriguing experience.

Jigoku Temple

This experience is for those who like a little emotion. The Jigoku Temple is a stylized haunted house that takes visitors to a world of scary ghosts and sounds based on Japanese legends and folklore.

Kodenma Prison

This attraction is a realistic representation of a prison of the Edo period. The exhibition includes three -dimensional representations of prisoners' punishments and living conditions, offering a dark but educational view of justice in feudal Japan.

Kanuchi blacksmith's exhibition

Here you will learn about the art of forging Katanas, the famous samurai swords. The exhibition details each step of the manufacturing process, from ore selection to the final forge of the blade, highlighting the skill and art involved in the creation of these legendary weapons.

Theatrical performances

Nikko Edomura offers a variety of theatrical performances, including ninja shows with special effects, historical dramatizations at the Magistrate's Office of Minami Machi, water shows at Mizugei-za, and reenactments of love stories from the Edo red-light district at Wakamatsu-ya. Additionally, there is a cinema that screens cultural films about famous characters from the Edo period and parades of Oiran courtesans, showcasing the beauty and elegance of these historical figures.

Each of these attractions offers a unique and immersive experience, allowing visitors to interact directly with Japan's history and culture of the Edo period in educational and fun ways.

Don't miss out on street performances, parades, seasonal parties and special events. Edo Wonderland also has a number of unique experiences for adults and children alike, including Ninja workshops, traditional Japanese archery and you can even play shuriken.

If you want to learn more about the history of Japan, we recommend the dorama Nobunaga Concerto.