On July 25, 2025, JUNGLIA Okinawa opened its doors in the Yanbaru region of northern Okinawa, Japan. This ambitious theme park project, spearheaded by Tsuyoshi Morioka and his marketing company Katana (刀), the team credited with reviving Universal Studios Japan, was hyped as potentially becoming "Okinawa's Disneyland." The anticipation was so immense that even Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba attended the pre-opening press conference.

However, six months after its grand opening, the park's reputation has taken a dramatic turn. What was supposed to be a revolutionary tourist destination has faced massive backlash, declining visitor numbers, and significant financial losses. This article explores what happened to JUNGLIA Okinawa and what the future might hold.

What is JUNGLIA Okinawa?

JUNGLIA Okinawa is a large-scale theme park spanning approximately 60 hectares (about 13 Tokyo Domes) across Nakijin Village and Nago City in Okinawa Prefecture. Built on the site of the former Orion Arashiyama Golf Club, the park positions itself as a "nature-immersive" experience, leveraging the subtropical environment of the Yanbaru forest.

The park features dinosaur-themed attractions, outdoor activities like ziplines and buggy rides, and spa facilities including a Guinness World Record-certified infinity bath.

Key Attractions

The park offers several signature experiences:

  • Dinosaur Safari: An immersive experience of escaping from T-Rex
  • Sky Phoenix: A zipline soaring above the jungle canopy
  • Horizon Balloon: A balloon ride offering 360-degree panoramic views
  • Buggy Voltage: Off-road buggy adventures through nature
  • Spa JUNGLIA: Hot spring facilities with the world's largest infinity bath

Ticket Pricing

Admission costs 6,930 yen for adults (12+) and 4,950 yen for children (4-11). Combined park and spa tickets run 9,570 yen for adults and 6,490 yen for children. Premium passes for priority access to popular attractions cost an additional 990-2,970 yen each.

Why Did Public Perception Collapse?

1. The Gap Between Advertising and Reality

Pre-opening TV commercials featured Hollywood-quality CGI depicting thrilling encounters with realistic dinosaurs. Visitors expecting an experience comparable to Universal Studios were instead met with dinosaur statues scattered throughout a natural setting. Social media exploded with complaints about "misleading advertising" and the stark contrast between promotional materials and the actual experience.

2. Extreme Wait Times and Capacity Issues

During the opening period, wait times for popular attractions reached a staggering 430 minutes (over 7 hours). Many visitors reported only being able to experience one or two attractions during their entire day at the park despite paying premium admission fees.

The fundamental problem lies in structural capacity limitations. Experiential attractions like Sky Phoenix can reportedly accommodate only about 200 guests per day due to the time required for each experience, creating inevitable bottlenecks despite low overall park attendance.

3. The Google Review Deletion Controversy

Within days of opening, over 400 reviews had been posted on Google Maps, with ratings averaging in the low 2s out of 5. However, the review count suddenly dropped to single digits, sparking accusations of review manipulation by the park operators.

While JUNGLIA issued a statement denying involvement and it was later determined that Google's spam detection algorithms were responsible for the deletions, the incident fueled a major public relations crisis.

4. Operational Problems

Numerous operational issues were reported during the initial period:

  • The official app crashed under heavy traffic, preventing guests from obtaining attraction passes
  • Tickets purchased through travel agencies required on-site exchange, forcing visitors to wait in multiple lines
  • Insufficient shade and rest areas left guests suffering in the subtropical heat
  • Weather-dependent outdoor attractions frequently suspended operations

5. Poor Accessibility

Located in the mountainous northern region of Okinawa's main island, JUNGLIA requires approximately 90 minutes by car from Naha Airport. Public transportation options are extremely limited, making rental cars essentially mandatory. Even with a car, visitors must park at partner locations and take shuttle buses, adding significant time and complexity to the journey.

Financial Situation

Japan Entertainment (JE), the operating company, reported a net loss of 5.098 billion yen for the fiscal year ending June 2025. While this reflects pre-opening preparation costs, the company's ongoing financial health remains under scrutiny.

The project has received substantial public funding, including 8 billion yen from the Cool Japan Fund and 36.6 billion yen in syndicated loans led by Shoko Chukin Bank, along with additional financing from the Okinawa Development Finance Corporation. This significant public investment has intensified public interest in the park's success or failure.

Closure of Katana's Other Venture

On December 25, 2025, Katana announced that Immersive Fort Tokyo, its theme park in Odaiba, Tokyo, would close on February 28, 2026, just two years after opening in March 2024.

Morioka attributed the closure to the facility being "oversized" for actual demand. The original business plan anticipated demand for large-scale "light experiences," but guests gravitated toward limited-capacity "deep experiences" instead. This miscalculation raises questions about similar projections made for JUNGLIA Okinawa.

Improvement Efforts

In response to criticism, the management has implemented various improvements:

Key Changes Since November 2025

  • Transition from first-come-first-served to app-based lottery system for attraction passes
  • Introduction of special evening experiences starting at 5 PM
  • Addition of new shows including "Kachashi Party"
  • Launch of discounted afternoon tickets with added benefits
  • Okinawa residents' campaign offering free child admission with paying adult

The park also released its second "Progress Report" in December 2025, documenting improvements made in response to guest feedback. A new attraction called "Yambaru Tornado" opened in April 2026, indicating ongoing investment in content expansion.

Future Outlook

JUNGLIA Okinawa continues to face significant challenges. By the end of January 2026, cumulative attendance stood at roughly 650,000 (about 100,000 of them spa-only visitors), well below initial projections. Parking lots often operate at only 20-30% capacity.

However, from a regional tourism development perspective, JUNGLIA represents an important investment in northern Okinawa. Nearby hotels have reported increases in international visitors, suggesting some positive economic ripple effects are beginning to emerge.

Theme park experts have suggested that "humbly demonstrating the improvement process" is crucial for recovery. While the potential for a turnaround exists, structural issues like attraction capacity limitations and accessibility problems will require considerable time to address. A dramatic short-term recovery seems unlikely.

JUNGLIA Okinawa stands as a cautionary tale about the gap between expectations and reality. The combination of oversized promotional claims, operational challenges, and difficulty differentiating from existing attractions has contributed to its troubled debut.

Japanese consumers have particularly high expectations for theme parks, and the trust placed in Morioka based on his USJ success created even higher standards. However, few new facilities achieve perfect operations in their first year, and there remains significant room for improvement.

What do you expect from theme parks in your country? In Japan, short wait times, experiences matching expectations, and value for money are highly valued. How does this compare to theme park culture in your country? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

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