If you’re traveling to Tokyo during the summer months, you might need to have a place in mind where you’ll be able to cool down. Tokyo summer heats with their oppressive humidity are very intense for those who come from areas with milder summer temps and humidity levels.
In this article, we’ll cover Tokyo’s (and the surrounding area’s) most well-known waterparks and open pools you can visit both with friends and family, from more affordable to upscale options.
1. Tokyo Summerland
Probably the most popular and one of the largest among Tokyo waterparks and pools, Tokyo Summerland has everything to occupy a person wishing to escape the scorching summer heat.
It has both indoor and outdoor pools, with the indoor pool offering water rafts, slides, and even a jacuzzi. The outer amenities house the longest lazy river in Japan you can cruise down either solo or with a group of friends and family.
Summerland also houses an Amusement park, offering a variety of rides fit for both more relaxing activities to thrilling breathtaking adventures.
Tokyo Summerland Official Website
When to visit: The park is open from 10 AM to 5 PM (though the pool closes a bit earlier at 4:30 PM). In the summer season, which for Tokyo Summerland starts on June 30 and continues until the end of September, the park is open every day of the week.
In the winter season (from October until July), the park is only open on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday – and some national holidays (check the official sources prior to visiting).
How to get there: The closest train station is Hachioji, just 30-min bus ride away from the park. You can also take a bus from Shinjuku station, but the ride is over an hour long.
How much it costs: To enter the Park, you’ll need to buy a pass in advance, for a pre-set date (the passes are available up to 7 days in advance and amounts are limited per day). The prices differ between the pass types and age groups.
Passes for children aged 2-6 are between ¥2000-2700; for children aged 7-12 – ¥2700-3700; for children 13-15 – ¥3700-4500; and for adults 16+ – ¥3900-5200.
2. Rainbow Pool and Water Playland
Rainbow Pool and Water Playland are located on Showa Kinen Park territory. All in all the territory is more than 1.4 the size of Tokyo Dome, to put things in perspective.
Rainbow Pool alone consists of nine different pools and covers around 15 acres. If you’re a solo traveler or traveling with friends, then this is the area you should visit, as that’s where the active entertainment is happening. There are multiple water slides and wave pools.
If you’re traveling with small kids then Water Playland is more likely to catch your fancy. It’s generally geared towards families, has a toddler’s pool, and is somewhat calmer than the Rainbow Poolside of the park.
Fun fact: you can totally hang out in your swimsuit in other parts of Showa Kinen Park as well.
When to visit: Rainbow Pool and Water Playland are open all days of the week, from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM between November 1 and March 1, until 5 PM from March 1 to October 31, and until 6 PM during the summer season on weekends and holidays.
How to get there: Showa Kinen Park is within a 5-10-minute walk from Nishi Tachikawa Station. Another option is to walk from JR Tachikawa Station – it’ll take a little longer, but not by much, only around 20 minutes. Once there, you should head to Zone C, which houses Rainbow Pool and Water Playland.
Admission costs: You’ll need to buy tickets before entering into the park, and then show your ticket stub again at the Rainbow Pool. Once again, the pricing system varies between the age groups.
Tickets for children aged under 6 are around ¥500; for elementary and middle schoolers – around ¥1,400; and ¥2,500 for adults. You might be able to get a discount if you go to the park after 2 PM since it’s when the rush apparently starts to die down. If you want to rent a float, that’ll be an additional ¥500 per hour.
3. Yomiuriland Water Amusement Island
Yomiuriland WAI, as it’s often referred to by the locals, is just one section of the large Amusement Park.
It houses five pools and three slides, the largest of which – Giant Sky River – is 386m/1266ft~ long, with a high point of 24.5m/80ft.
Unlike the other parks on this list, Yomiuriland WAI offers late-evening entertainment as well, with their NIght Pools.
Yomiuriland Water Amusement Island Official Website
When to visit: WAI is open from July 1 to September 11, between 9 AM and 5 PM. Night Pools are typically open on weekends and holidays between 5 PM and 8 PM. They might be operating on other days as well at the height of the season, so do check before visiting.
How to get there: Get to Keio Yomiuriland Station and take the “Sky Shuttle” gondola, which will take you straight to the park. The ride is around 10 minutes, round-trip ticket costs ¥500.
How much it costs: There are different prices for day admission and Night Pools. Standard admission for children aged 3-12 and seniors 65+ is ¥2200; for children 13-17 – ¥2,600; and for adults 18-64 – ¥3,300. Tickets need to be purchased in advance.
4. Meguro Citizens Center Gymnasium
This is technically not a waterpark, but an open pool. If you don’t want to commit to a day-long trip to a waterpark, but just want to cool down at noon, in-between other touristy activities, then Meguro Gymnasium pool is a great affordable option.
Unlike the other options on this list, this is a quint place strictly for swimming or otherwise chilling. There are no water slides or inflatable toys, but you can bring your own.
Meguro Citizens Center Gymnasium Via Best Living Japan
When to visit: The Gymnasium pool is open from the beginning of July to the end of September (the exact dates vary by the year) from 10 AM to 6 PM, all days of the week.
How to get there: The Gymnasium is around a 10-minute walk from Meguro Station.
How much it costs: The tickets you purchase are initially valid for only 2 hours. They’re ¥200 per adult and ¥100 per a school-aged child. For each additional 90 minutes, you’ll be charged ¥150,
5. Kawagoe Aquatic Park
Kawagoe Aquatic Park is well-known for its water slides, some of them quite intense, so if you want to escape the scorching Tokyo heat, and have a thrilling experience at the same time, that’s the park you should head to.
The park is also a perfectly suitable destination if you’re traveling as a family, as it offers not just large pools, but also a relaxing shallow pool where you can hang out with smaller kids and toddlers, and you can easily get affordable food nearby.
Kawagoe Aquatic Park Via Tripadvisor
The one downside is that the park can get quite crowded due to its lower admission price, and there’s not much greenery around, so do take care of your own shade and bring along an umbrella.
When to visit: Kawagoe Aquatic Park is only open in the summer season, which starts mid-July and ends at the end of September. The Park opens at 9 AM and closes at 5 PM (closing time is extended to 6 PM at the peak of the season, between July 21st and August 16th). It’s operational all days of the week.
How to get there: Kawagoe Aquatic Park is within a 15-20min walk of Nishi-Kawagoe Station. Getting there takes around an hour via train from Tokyo’s Shinjuku Station.
How much it costs: This is probably the most affordable waterpark in Greater Tokyo Area, with an adult ticket costing only ¥730, school-aged children ¥230, and children under 7 being free. There’s also an option for Family Pack, with a ticket for 2 adults and 2 kids costing ¥1670. Tickets need to be purchased in advance.
Tokyo Waterpark and Open Pool Etiquette
Many of the Tokyo waterparks have the same rules they require you to abide by both for safety and public decency reasons. Keep them in mind before visiting:
- No tattoos of any kind. You can cover them up before visiting, but if the staff notices, they will ask you to leave;
- No jewelry (some parks may allow certain types, but do check in with the administration;
- No glass bottles or cans from the outside on the premises;
- No alcohol;
- No electronics in the pool (again, the rule may vary between parks and types of electronics, check with the administration).
- Some parks also don’t allow children of a certain age/height on certain slides and/or pools.
Some parks also have specific rules that are unique to them. Do make sure to learn about them before going off to have a good time.
