Yoro Land opened in 1973 in Gifu Prefecture, and it’s still going strong. Step through the gate and you’re suddenly back in a childhood dream — rides built more than fifty years ago, kept in shockingly pristine condition, and on a weekday afternoon, I practically had the entire park to myself. Here’s how the day went.
A 13-minute walk uphill to get there
The trip started at Yoro Station in Gifu. Since there’s no bus on weekdays, the only option is walking — about 13 minutes uphill before Yoro Land finally comes into view.
Yoro Land opened in 1973, and several of its original rides from opening day are still fully operational. Hours run 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, closed Tuesdays. After buying a ticket at the counter, I stepped inside a building that, I later learned, used to be a bowling alley. The first thing that catches your eye is an elaborate merry-go-round, its rides reaching almost to the ceiling. Despite visiting for the first time, everything about it felt strangely familiar.
A one-of-a-kind, impossibly cute kids’ ride
Riding requires a separate ride ticket in addition to admission, so I picked up a 1,000-yen ticket book (worth slightly more than face value). Honestly, this ride was the whole reason I came to Yoro Land in the first place — an impossibly cute little ride that exists nowhere else. It captures childhood nostalgia in a way I can’t quite put into words.
I was ready to hop on immediately, but it turned out to be reserved for children only. A little disappointed, I ended up paying extra just to have the staff turn it on so I could watch it run. Out of every ride I’ve ever seen, this might be the cutest — the colors and design felt like stepping straight into a childhood dream. It made me unreasonably happy.
Riding the merry-go-round solo
Next was the merry-go-round, which adults can actually ride. Even though I was the only person on it, the staff still turned it on just for me. Both the music and the ride’s design had a distinctly dreamlike quality.
Into the outdoor area, in the middle of summer
Yoro Land also has plenty of outdoor rides. The Ferris wheel has an especially charming color scheme. The high that day hit 36°C, and between the heat and it being a weekday, almost nobody else was outside. Every single ride looked far too well-maintained for something over fifty years old. Since I basically had the place to myself, I decided to make the most of it.
First up was the classic teacup ride, complete with tiny parasols — an adorable design. It had been a while since I’d ridden one, and the excitement hit immediately. Spinning it myself was faster than expected, and once I got used to it, genuinely fun. Normally you’d spin the wheel with other people, but riding solo made me wish, just a little, that I could go back to those group rides.
Next was something I’d never seen before — a spinning boat ride, cutely named “Penguin” in hiragana. Since this is a park designed for younger kids, thrill rides are limited, but the simple spinning-on-water mechanic was still oddly satisfying.
I also spotted a seal-shaped ride that’s supposed to move up and down as well as spin, though only the spinning function still works.
A window-less Ferris wheel — a rare design nationwide
Next, a colorful, adorable Ferris wheel. There’s no staff stationed there — you call one over with a button. You get to choose your own car color, so I picked red. Yoro Land’s Ferris wheel has no windows and stops briefly during loading, a fairly rare setup nationally.
The inside is compact, but the paint job is immaculate — it barely shows its age. The wheel stands 12 meters tall, and from the top, every other ride looks like a miniature model. The ride only lasts about three minutes, but it was thoroughly satisfying.
A police car you can “drive” for 100 yen
Walking further, I found a lone police car sitting off to the side, “Keishicho” (Metropolitan Police Department) written boldly on the back. For 100 yen you can hop in — there’s nothing to chase, but the siren works. It brought back memories of riding similar things as a kid.
Deeper into the park
The park is fairly sprawling, with stairs leading to even more rides further in. Everything looked frozen exactly as it must have looked decades ago. I found myself saying “I used to ride this all the time!” out loud more than once, genuinely moved by how well-kept everything was. Ride tickets are also available from vending machines outside, so running out isn’t an issue.
An intense centrifugal-force ride: the Tail Tower
One ride, called the “Tail Tower,” caught my eye. It’s a spinning ride powered entirely by centrifugal force, and it packs more of a punch than expected. Even as someone who isn’t great with thrill rides, I could just about handle it. Once I got used to the spin, it became genuinely fun — and the complete absence of a line made it stress-free.
Like being inside a washing machine: the terrifying “Rock ‘n’ Roll”
Next was a ride called “Rock ‘n’ Roll.” I already knew roughly what to expect, so I climbed on with some nervous anticipation. Once it started moving, it genuinely felt like being inside a washing machine — held in only by a single belt and centrifugal force. Terrifying, but weirdly addictive. From the outside, this looked like the type of ride that used to be common at amusement parks everywhere.
A robot that looks like a secret hideout
Further along, I spotted a large robot figure. I assumed it was just a decoration, but it turns out you can actually climb inside. Sitting in it felt like slipping into a secret base. It’s not a thrill ride — it just gently rocks side to side — but that simplicity is exactly what makes it fun.
A lone UFO monorail
The retro atmosphere was so complete it was oddly calming. Right next to the robot, I found a UFO monorail. Every ride here has such charming design that I genuinely thought machines like this no longer existed anywhere — a happy surprise. This is normally a ride meant for kids and their parents, but I ended up riding it alone, in a spot that would usually be filled with children’s voices — a quiet reminder of Japan’s shrinking birth rate. This ride’s floor is also supposed to rotate, apparently.
The fact that all of this is still running after 50 years is genuinely remarkable. I found myself completely absorbed by the wave of nostalgia. I also spotted a rotating car ride for kids only — every corner of this place seemed to hit differently.
A real, full-size helicopter on display
Next, I came across an oddly shaped helicopter — turns out you can climb aboard for free, and it’s an actual retired helicopter, fully intact inside. Seeing the original equipment still in place was a genuine thrill.
A pool, garden, and fishing pond — free from July 18th
I headed toward the outdoor snack stand hoping for a break, but it was locked and apparently closed. Still, there’s more to the park than just rides. The pool area was closed during my visit, but opens for free starting July 18th. What used to be a mini-golf course has since become a small vegetable garden, with blueberries that looked nearly ready to pick.
I also found a well-worn fishing pond stocked with goldfish. Yoro’s water is recognized as one of Japan’s three great natural waters, and there are several ponds scattered throughout the park. Between the rides and everything else, this feels like a place you could spend an entire day.
I found another nostalgic ride — the kind that’s mostly disappeared elsewhere due to safety concerns, but still operating here. It was smaller inside than I expected. There was also a classic see-saw, which brought back memories of how much it used to hurt to sit on.
A Showa-style lunch at the indoor restaurant
As the heat became unbearable, I retreated indoors for a break. Yoro Land has its own restaurant, so I stopped for lunch. The menu was displayed with plastic food samples, and I was nearly the only customer in the spacious dining hall.
While waiting for my food, I tried a roulette-style fortune machine — insert 100 yen under your zodiac sign, spin the wheel, and a fortune slip drops out. I never quite figured out what the roulette itself was for, but my fortune came out as “small luck” — a nice little way to pass the time.
My food arrived shortly after — a fried-food set meal and a Blue Hawaii cream soda. Both the meal and the merry-go-round visible in the background felt thoroughly Showa-era. The fried food was hot and fresh, genuinely delicious, and the Blue Hawaii had a flavor I couldn’t quite identify but enjoyed anyway.
For dessert, I ordered cotton candy from a bear-shaped machine — the candy spins out from the bear’s torso, gradually building up into a fluffy cloud. Wrapping it up myself turned out to be trickier than expected, and the result wasn’t the prettiest, but the fresh cotton candy itself was incredibly good.
A 10-yen bullet train ride and a retro arcade
I also found a kids’ ride you can operate for just 10 yen — adults aren’t allowed to ride, but watching it move was satisfying enough on its own. The change machine that converts 100 yen into 10-yen coins wasn’t working that day, so I used some loose change from my wallet to try both this ride and a small train ride. Watching them move along so earnestly was oddly endearing.
Downstairs, there’s an arcade — completely empty, so I had the whole space to myself. Walking in felt like opening a treasure chest.
Every retro game was in beautiful condition, complete with well-posed Mario and Yoshi artwork on display and games that looked nearly brand new despite their age. Retro flag decorations hanging from the ceiling added to the atmosphere.
A broken photo booth stuck in the Heisei era
I also found an old “Neo Print” photo booth, covered edge to edge with old photo stickers — a machine that captured the Heisei era perfectly. Just looking at the designs brought back a flood of nostalgia.
Unfortunately, the machine is currently broken, though somehow the power was still left on for it — a small, thoughtful touch even though it no longer works.
A smoothly dancing analog Pikachu and a mysterious prize
An old Pokémon game was also still running — “Dance, Pikachu!” I was surprised such a game even existed back then. You press lit-up buttons in time with the rhythm, and if your timing lines up, Pikachu dances. The analog Pikachu’s joint movements were remarkably smooth, giving it an odd but undeniable charm.
Score high enough and you get a card — so I gave it a real effort and managed a decent score. The prize wasn’t a Pokémon card, though; it was a postcard, and somehow a deck of playing cards came out as well. That kind of delightful looseness felt very fitting for a place this retro.
The arcade also had a small rideable train, another ride I definitely spent a lot of time on as a kid. Funny how, as a child, all I wanted was to grow up — and now, moments like this make me miss being little.
A gift shop and a surprising T-shirt perk right before closing
Closing time was approaching, so I made my way to the gift shop for one last stop. It sells kids’ toys and original T-shirts — and buying one comes with a genuinely surprising perk: half-price admission for an entire year. There was really no way I wasn’t buying one. The discount applies as long as you wear the shirt and present a premium admission card. Looks like I’ll be wearing this shirt a lot over the next year.
Final thoughts
Despite visiting for the first time, I found myself unexpectedly moved, almost teary, by how nostalgic the whole day felt. It’s a wonderful place, packed with retro charm from start to finish. I’d genuinely recommend a visit to anyone who loves this kind of place.
Location visited this time
Yoro Land
Address: Yoro District, Yoro Town, Gifu Prefecture
Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Closed: Tuesdays
Access: About a 13-minute walk from Yoro Station (Yoro Railway). No bus service on weekdays, so a car is recommended.
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