Spirited Theme Park, Japan

Spirited Theme Park is a small abandoned theme park in Japan. The theme park was built in the 1970s, featuring simple yet timeless amusement attractions. This simple theme park was once filled with the laughter of children and families, with tens of thousands visiting every year. Now, it lays abandoned and neglected. I visited this location in the spring of 2019, as I travelled across Japan exploring beautiful ruins.

The theme park is relatively small and features classic attractions. During my visit many rides remained on the site; namely a Ferris Wheel, teacup ride, carousel and miniature train ride. Near the Ferris Wheel stands a wooden playground and obstacle course. A single Go-Kart car was seen nearby the carousel. All are heavily overgrown with long grass, bright green during my springtime visit.

Closure of the Spirited Theme Park

The Spirited Theme Park closed in the early 2000s, after struggling for many years. There are many reasons cited that contributed to the closure. At this time Japan was still recovering from the economic bubble burst of the 1990s. Birth rates were declining, and the new generation of children was beginning to prefer more shiny and modern forms of entertainment. The highly anticipated opening of Universal Studios Japan, and continued growth of Tokyo Disneyland, certainly were more appealing. The simple outdated rides at the Spirited Theme Park could not compete with these big franchise theme parks.

What lurks beneath the lake – A theme Park Doomed by an ancient curse?

I am always fascinated by the folklore and macabre tales that surround abandoned places. During my research into this abandoned theme park I uncovered such a tale. I think it is important to present folklore alongside my photographs. These tales, to me, are just a part of the story as any other information or history about a location. Therefore, I present the folklore legend below.

The lake next to the theme park is the centrepiece in some dark folklore. Sometime in the distant past, a beautiful young woman lived nearby. The lake was well-known for being home to many snakes. Legend says that once day, she gave birth. This in itself is not unusual. However, the tales say that the infant was not human. The young maiden has somehow birthed, a snake. As soon as it was born, the snake slithered away and disappeared into the lake.

Every night the snake would cry, its shrill calls coming from the lake, but the snake baby could never be found. The woman was driven mad, perhaps by giving birth to a snake or perhaps by the nightly screams of her serpent child. Her pain was so great, she committed suicide by jumping into the lake.

It is said that there is a curse on the lake and the surrounding land, and this is why the theme park failed. One part that is not clear; the timing of the curse. The curse related to the spirit of the serpent mother, or was her unfortunate tale a result of an older curse. Perhaps the answer is lost to time.

Sunset And Stars Camping In An Abandoned Theme Park

Made it this far, and still want more? I arrived at the theme park just as the sun began to set; just enough time to pitch up the tent in the last of the daylight. Before retiring for the evening, I decided it might be fun to take some sunset and star shots around the Ferris Wheel.