Tokyo Disneyland’s daytime parade
Japan’s two largest theme parks, Universal Studios Japan and Tokyo Disneyland, have reported sharply differing visitor figures over the summer months with one seeing a sharp rise in visitorship while the other has seen numbers dwindle.
Universal Studios Japan, in Osaka, saw more than seven million visitors in the April-September period, up 500,000 from the same period last year and setting a new record for the second consecutive year.
Visitor numbers were boosted by a number of events to mark the theme park’s 15th anniversary, as well as the opening in March of the Flying Dinosaur, a new rollercoaster.
In contrast, visitors to Disneyland and DisneySea in Tokyo fell a combined 43,000 over a six-month period, according to owners Oriental Land Co.
The figure was the fourth-highest in the park’s history, but it was also the third consecutive first-half decline. And even a number of special events, including DisneySea’s 15th anniversary celebrations, were not enough of a lure.
Data suggests that the decline have been among domestic travellers.
“While these special event and shows were well received, the high number of rainy days and extreme weather conditions during this period were factors that resulted in the total combined attendance,” Oriental Land said in a statement.
In April, the company raised the admission fees for the parks, with an adult’s one-day ticket hiked from Y6,900 (US$66.50) to Y7,400.
“We do not believe the rate revision of tickets has had any influence on attendance,” a company spokesman told TTG Asia.
Oriental Land says it plans to introduce new attractions in the coming months to win back customers, including the Woodchuck Greeting Trail in November and Frozen Forever starting January 13.
