Legoland Resort Nagoya
Theme parks abound in Japan, but their popularity often mean long lines and tiresome days. Especially when traveling with children, choosing less crowded parks and going during off-peak times can mean the difference between a fun day and one full of tantrums.
Legoland Japan is located in the city of Nagoya, a 100 minute shinkansen ride from Tokyo, and is a clear pick for families with somewhat younger children who don't do well in long lines. The park is never so crowded that wait times take forever, and it is a manageable size to be able to do as a single-day trip and not feel like you're missing a lot. Even for kids or adults who aren't big Lego fans, it provides a fun day of rides and shows, and makes a great choice for families wanting a theme park experience without the crowds.
Miho Beach
The Legoland area is located at Maker's Pier, about a 25-minute train ride from Nagoya Station, but from our house up north it is over a 5 hour drive on the expressway! We left in the early morning, and as the drive is long, planned to stop when we got past Tokyo and Mt. Fuji in Shizuoka for lunch and a break to stretch our legs.
Nearby Shizuoka City, just a bit off the expressway, is Miho Beach, which features views of Mt. Fuji and a pine forest called Miho no Matsubara. We found a shop that sells bento boxes along the way, so everyone got to choose one they liked, then we had a good time eating them on the beach.
Unfortunately the day was hazy and we couldn't see Mt. Fuji well, but we had a nice time walking under the pines, and the kids were very excited for the beach. We didn't have enough time to swim, but that didn't stop the kids from getting very wet! We finally dragged them away from the water and back to the car, and after a change of clothing got back to driving to our main destination.
Legoland Hotel
We finally made it to Nagoya and the Legoland area a few hours later, just about in time for check-in. There is a large covered parking garage for guests, and then from there it was about a 5-minute walk through some shops and restaurants to the hotel.
The Legoland Japan Resort hotel is a highly themed experience. There are five different themes to choose from when booking a room, and several options for room size and price within the theme. On our last visit a year ago, we chose a Pirate-themed room. This time, it was Adventure, which has a strong Ancient Egypt vibe. We checked in and checked out our cool room, which gives a small free Lego pack to each child through solving a scavenger hunt-type riddle in the room that leads to a treasure box. Each room also features a bunk bed in a separate area for the kids with duplo blocks to play with and a small TV that always shows one of the Lego movies. It is always very much appreciated when a hotel gives a lot of thought to its younger guests!
We had chosen an add-on package for each child that evening to attend a creative workshop to make a unique Lego build, and in addition to that, signed up for the free Water Play Area through a reservation made that morning. We also had to fit in dinner, which isn't included in the price of the hotel, although breakfast is. So there was a lot going on in the evening!
For dinner, we chose to go ahead and eat at the hotel restaurant rather than going outside the hotel to one of the restaurants in Maker's Pier, although that is certainly an option for hotel guests. After a pretty decent buffet dinner, we did the Lego building experience, and directly after that went to our reserved time for the Water Play area. A note about the water experience, it is very structured, and if you aren't expecting that, it might seem too strict and short of a time. But I think it is honestly the perfect amount of play time considering everything else there is to do.
With all those activities finished, we wanted to get some fresh air, so took a walk to the closest convenience store near the train station for some snacks and drinks, about a 10 minute walk from the hotel. Once we got back the kids' energy pretty depleted from the long day, so we all went to bed early to prepare for our park day the next morning.
Legoland Park
In the morning we woke up leisurely and had the provided breakfast, then got ready for the park opening at 10:00AM. The hotel is directly across from the park, and there isn't much need to line up early, so we were able to relax during the morning. About 5 minutes before park opening we moseyed our way over to the gates and enjoyed the opening dance the characters do, then right on time entered the park.
The forecast was for a hot day, and we had made a reservation that morning for the Splash Pad area in the park, so I had brought swimsuits to change into and towels for that. I stuck all that in a locker a the entrance for later, and meanwhile the kids clamored for a souvenir smoothie cup. It was shaped like the Legoland tower, and you could refill it at the smoothie stands around the park, so I gave in on that one. Despite the high price of the cup, I probably should have gotten them each one to prevent the fighting. But the smoothie flavors were good, and refreshing in the weather.
Then we just started walking around and riding rides. I don't think we ever waited more than about 5 minutes for any ride. Most of the time we could just go stand in line and ride as soon as it opened up. So easy, and it gave the kids a chance to ride their favorite rides a few times. After two hours riding rides and drinking smoothies, we stopped to have lunch.
Lunchtime was at a hamburger restaurant in the middle of the park, then directly after lunch it was our reserved splash pad time. There is a very small changing room next to the pad entrance, but it's recommended to go to the much larger one a bit further away. The water was so refreshing in the heat! We had skipped doing it the previous year, but this year it was a hit and I was glad we'd taken the time to do it. You get about an hour to play. During the summer there is also a water show and a maze, but we were a bit too early in the season for that this time.
After lunch and playing in the water, we continued riding more rides, including my kids' absolute favorite, the Dragon rollercoaster. I think they rode it at least four times one after another, and then the mini version for younger kids twice!
The heat was getting to my husband a bit, so he retreated into one of the air-conditioned restaurants for a break while we rode the dragon over and over. We also managed to catch one of the shows, which was also in an air-conditioned theater, and at one point went on the brick factory tour, also inside. Being able to stop into places to cool off, plus the smoothies, really helped combat the heat.
As the afternoon wore on, the park's closing time started to loom closer. To beat the end-of-day crowds at the main store we went to look at all the cool Lego sets about an hour early. We didn't end up buying any, but both kids made their choices for future birthdays and holidays well known. During the last hour, we rode the rides around the entrance, before it was time to leave. 5:00PM is a bit early for a park to close, although I think that time is a little later during weekends. That being said, it still makes for a long and busy day, and the kids were happy with what we were able to do. We headed back to the hotel to clean up before the evening.
We were too tired to bother with going and finding an open restaurant in the area, so opted again for dinner at the hotel. For those with more energy at the end of the day, there are several restaurants to choose from so you certainly aren't stuck with only eating at the hotel. With dinner and some resting, we did end up taking another walk in the evening around the area, coming back to a pretty sunset and a colorful fountain, which ended the day nicely.
The next morning was the end of our trip. We had our last meal at the hotel before preparing to check out. Next to the hotel there is also a Lego-themed aquarium, and the kids wanted to go, but it doesn't open until 11:00AM, and we through it was best to just get back on the road. Without making a stop this time, we were able to get home at a decent hour.
We had a great time at Legoland, and about 10 seconds after leaving the park my daughter was already planning our next trip. She wants to come back for her birthday at the end of the year and stay in one of the castle-themed rooms. I'm not sure if we're able to make another trip here so soon, especially considering the cost and distance, but I'm glad they had such a good time that they are excited to come again. And honestly, I had such a blast myself, I'd love to come back soon, too!
