Porto Europe — Attraction in Wakayama

Porto Europa in Wakayama is a unique theme park that recreates European townscapes from France, Italy, and Spain.

Concept and Atmosphere: The park offers a charming and picturesque environment with full-scale replicas of European streets, buildings, and landmarks. Visitors are supposed to feel transported to Europe, making it a great spot for taking photos and enjoying a different ambiance within Japan. It's described as a romantic and extravagant setting by the sea. Attractions: Porto Europa features around 20 attractions suitable for both children and adults. Thrill-seekers can enjoy rides like the "High-Diving" water splash ride, the "Twin Dragon" gondola, and the "Pinestar" tropical roller coaster. There are also gentler rides like a merry-go-round, a "Honey Hatch" ride for kids, and the "Wave Swinger." Some unique attractions include the "Astro Space Fighter" and interactive experiences like "Water Shot" and "Adventure Kids Land." The park also incorporates newer digital technology such as VR and sensory video games. Things to Do: Beyond the rides, visitors can stroll through the beautifully detailed French, Italian, and Spanish themed areas. The park is considered very photogenic, with numerous "selfie moments" available. Regular events, including summer fireworks ("Starlight Illusion") and street artist performances (juggling, balloon shows), are held on weekends and during holidays. In winter, there are often romantic illuminations ("Festa Luce"). Practical Information: Admission: Entrance to Porto Europa is free. However, individual attractions require separate fees or a free pass can be purchased. Recommended Visit Time: Plan for about 2 hours to explore the park. Location: It's located within Wakayama Marina City, a resort about 40 minutes by car from Kansai International Airport and 70 minutes from Osaka. Access: You can reach it by bus from JR Wakayama Station or Nankai Wakayamashi Station (about 30 minutes) or JR Kainan Station (about 15 minutes). By car, it's about 15 minutes from the Kainan Interchange on the Hanwa Expressway. Nearby: Wakayama Marina City also includes the Kuroshio Market (for fresh seafood and tuna cutting shows), Kishu Kuroshio Onsen (hot springs), and Wakayama Marina City Hotel. Overall: Porto Europa offers a unique and enjoyable experience, blending the charm of European scenery with amusement park thrills. It's a popular destination for families and couples looking for a picturesque and fun outing in the Wakayama area. The fact that admission is free allows visitors to explore the beautiful surroundings even if they don't plan on going on...

Japanese seem to like copies of foreign sightseeing spots like this copy of the old city of Porto in Portugal. It looks and feels real and at the same time out of place. It is though a nice place to stroll around, u have a coffee, ice cream or a meal in one of the cafés or restaurants or take a ride on a carousel. When we visited (October 11), the Christmas decoration was in preparation. Not a bad place for families with smaller children, or couples on a romantic date. A big ferris wheel which used to be here has been removed a year or so ago. Close to Kuroshio maguro market. Paid parking is not cheap but entry to Porto is free. All you can ride tickets are available for the rides/carousel at the main entrance near...

English follows Japanese. 黒潮市場と隣接している小型遊園地。欧風の建物がならべられていて、最初は何だろうと思っていた。 乗り物は10種類以上もあるが半分以上小学生低学年まで向け。(ただし、ものによっては120cm等の身長制限もあった)。 入園は無料だが、乗り物はワンタイムか乗り放題パス券の２種類で、土曜日の午後遅い時間帯で行ったら、ほとんど並ばなくてすぐ乗れたので、パスの場合簡単に元を取れた感じ。 乗り物の一押しはハイダイブ。1回券は800円で園内では最高値(乗り物だけ、宝石探しの特別イベントを除く)だが、パスでは何回も乗れるのでお得。 １台のボートで4、5列くらい、ゆったり目で1回には6、7人程度。登りとくだり共に長めのレイルになるが、欧風お城の建物内に通過して出てくる設計で、中にはちょっぴりお化け屋敷やっていて、最後に、屋外へ出ていて長い下りのレイルに沿って着水になった時、水がおおはねで先頭列にはレインコート着用する人も見かけた。 また、園内に欧風の建物が綺麗で写真スポットにもなる。(ウェディングフォートの撮影も行われていた)。 黒潮市場でバーベキューを堪能してからのお散歩がてらに最適かも。なお、周りには、温泉やホテルもある。 It's a small scale of theme park right next to "Kuroshio Ichiba Market". The buildings are in the southern European theme and they looked beautiful. There are more than 10 types of rides mostly for lower graders. (Some of them do have minimum height limit of 120cm). It's entrance free and there are the one-time ticket or the all you can ride type. We went there on a late afternoon on Saturday, and there's almost no waiting time for the rides. So, get the all you can ride pass and you can soon get covered for the ticket's price. The "High-Diving" should be the most recommendable one. Except for the special events like "Exploring the jewels" or so, it probably is the most expensive ride inside the park. The ride goes with a roller-coaster in a boat type which has 4 to 5 rows for less than 10 paxes each time. It's built with a castle-like building, both have a long track for climbing up and sliding down via a haunted theme journey while going thru indoor of the castle. The last track to slide down has a huge splashing of water, which people may wear a rain coat sitting on the first row. Over all, the atmosphere is nice and it can be a nice place for taking photos. Some people were taking their wedding photos there. It's a recommended place for having a walk after BBQ at the Kuroshio Market next door. Plus there are hotels and a hot spring...