Tokyo Joypolis is just a two-minute walk from Odaiba Kaihin Kouen Station and a five-minute walk from Tokyo Teleport Station. Operating between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m (last entry is 9:15 p.m.), the park is open seven days a week to ages seven through adults.

There are two types of payment systems. The first is an a-la-carte system, in which you purchase an admission ticket priced at 800 yen for adults, 500 yen for children (ages 7-17), and pay separately for ride tickets using the vending machine inside. Attractions costs between 500 and 800 yen. The second is a 4300 yen (3300 yen for children) all-inclusive passport that includes admission and access to all attractions.

Children under six and senior citizens over the age of 60 are admitted for free; however, there is still a charge for any attractions or games played, and certain rides have height restrictions.

There are also discounts for advance tickets, night passports, and late-night passports. In addition, international guests can receive a 300 yen discount by showing their passport or a foreign ID card. Please note that prices and times are subject to change, so be sure to check the official Joypolis website for the latest information.

After paying admission and passing through the entrance gates, we were soon met with a life-size statue of SEGA’s mascot, Sonic the Hedgehog! Even during the weekday, Joypolis had a lively atmosphere with plenty of visitors.

We couldn’t wait to try some of the attractions! However, games and rides are not the only things that can be found; the park also features a purikura (photo booth) corner, souvenir shops, snacks, and a UFO catcher prize corner.

Another exciting feature is the Premiere DigiReal Production on the Main Stage, which offers performances from live and digital artists.

The first floor is a great place for thrill-seekers to start, with attractions that are sure to get your body moving and your heart racing! I started my Joypolis experience with a bang, riding the Gekion Live Coaster.

I’ve ridden a variety of rollercoasters in my lifetime, but none quite like this! This innovative attraction is part coaster, part rhythm game, where riders first play a tapping rhythm game along with the featured pop music and dazzling lights, culminating in an exhilarating, high-speed coaster experience that will make you want to sing, dance, and scream!

At the end of the ride, you can see the results of the rhythm game: the person most who most closely stuck to the beat is declared the winner! There are no official prizes for winning, but many people would say that the bragging rights are priceless.

For the next ride, Halfpipe Tokyo, I convinced fellow LIVE JAPAN staffer Maria to join me, as it is intended to be experienced with a partner. This is another attraction the combines a ride with a competitive game.

It is meant to simulate the feeling of riding a halfpipe, without the inevitable bumps and bruises that come with riding on a skateboard. Each pair is securely fastened in an upright position, while standing on a special board. We began by swinging slowly, back and forth like a pendulum.

As you pass the center, you and your partner have the option of moving your feet on the pedal below, which will cause you to rotate at certain points. As the ride progresses, you will be swung faster and faster, and consequently, the number of spins following each swing is also sure to increase.

At the end of the ride, the pair with the most rotations wins! (However, there is a good chance that they will also be the dizziest.)

After being swung, spun, and turned in Halfpipe Tokyo and the Gekion Live Coaster, I decided to give myself a little rest and let LIVE JAPAN editor Quentin have a go at the next attraction. He boarded Storm G, which combines a high-speed bobsleigh simulation with a futuristic twist–one that turns as far as 360 degrees! I asked Quentin for his thoughts:

“An adrenalin rush is guaranteed as the track is tubular, meaning the cockpit can spin left and right at each turn, but also do 360-degree twists. Up to two people can use the same vehicle, which then increases the difficulty as cooperation and better reflexes are needed...Did I win? Of course, I won!”

Like many other attractions, there is a competitive aspect. If you love racing your friends in arcade games, and want to take it to the next level with even more twists and turns, definitely give Storm G a try!

There are also a few shooting games for aspiring zombie-hunters, as well as some Sonic-based games, many of which are especially geared towards children.

The third floor of Joypolis has even more virtual reality experiences including the Wild Wing virtual glider tour of a fantasy world and attractions that allow you to enter the world of some of your favorite video games! It was here that we all took a break from some of the more action-packed attractions and stepped into the Fortune Forest.

This was a fun and relaxing activity. Upon entering, we were each given a special crystal which we freely placed in various designated spots in the ‘forest,’ prompting different questions, as well as allowing us to touch and choose virtual runestones. As you exit the forest, you will receive a fortune based on the choices you made. This activity is available in both Japanese and English.

The final attraction we experienced was the most terrifying of the day: VR The Room of Living Dolls. This an ultra-creepy, horror-themed virtual reality experience that involves a VR headset device. I won’t give away too much, but let’s just say that this one is not for the faint of heart! Children under 13 are not permitted, with good reason. It can be quite grotesque, which will delight horror fans, but may be too intense even for some adults.

Those were just a few of the Joypolis attractions that you can experience. There are even more rides, games, and virtual reality attractions that you can try, as well as some mini ‘games’ that are located in various areas that use motion capture technology in unique and funny ways (did you ever want to see what you would look like as a manatee?).

While most of the standard attractions are available year after year, repeat visitors can also look forward to new attractions, making each visit a fresh experience. So, whether you’re an amusement park fanatic, or just looking for some fun on a rainy day, a visit to Joypolis Tokyo will not disappoint!