NAHA -- Junglia Okinawa, a forest-themed park in the northern part of Okinawa's main island, marked its first anniversary on July 25, reporting some 1 million visitors in its first year.

The operating company of the park in Okinawa Prefecture's Nakijin village announced that sales are projected to surpass 10 billion yen (about $61.15 million). A local think tank estimated the theme park's annual economic impact to be around 49.4 billion yen (around $302.10 million).

Numbers fall short of expectations

Park operator Japan Entertainment, based in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, has not disclosed its targets for visitor numbers or sales, but CEO Takeshi Kato said at a news conference, "Unfortunately, the numbers have not reached the levels we had hoped for." Nevertheless, he added, "I have hope," noting that annual sales are approaching those of the popular Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium in Motobu, Okinawa Prefecture.

Economic impact larger than professional baseball camps?

Referring to complaints over waiting times for attractions that arose shortly after the park opened, Kato stressed, "It got off to a challenging start, but we tackled the issues head-on and made improvements." He said waiting times have been reduced from a maximum of about 300 minutes to about 60 minutes, while the number of attractions visitors experience in a day has increased from two or three to four or five.

Naha-based think tank Ryugin Research Institute Ltd., which also attended the news conference, said Junglia's economic impact far exceeded that of professional baseball training camps, at 22.4 billion yen (around $136.98 million), and cruise ship port calls, at 16.1 billion yen (roughly $98.45 million).

Hopes for park to spark development in north of Okinawa Island

A 44-year-old company employee visiting the park for the first time from Maibara, Shiga Prefecture, with family including his elementary school-age son, commented, "The waiting lines haven't been as long as I had heard, and the kids seem to be having fun. We've come to Okinawa many times, and this will be a new option."

Other leisure facilities in Japan that attract around 1 million visitors annually include Asahiyama Zoo in Asahikawa, Hokkaido; Hirakata Park in Hirakata, Osaka Prefecture; and Marine World Uminonakamichi in the city of Fukuoka.

Junglia opened in July 2025 on the site of a former golf course. It drew attention because development was led by Katana Inc., a marketing company based in Osaka headed by Tsuyoshi Morioka, who is known for leading the turnaround of Universal Studios Japan. Junglia is expected to serve as a spark for the development of the northern part of Okinawa's main island.

(Japanese original by Masanori Hirakawa, Naha Bureau)