Skyland Ikoma (スカイランドいこま)
Skyland Ikoma is a theme park located at the top of Mt. Ikoma in Ikoma City, Nara Prefecture. It is operated by Kintetsu Leisure Service, a subsidiary of Kinki Nippon Railway Company (while it was under the management of Kintetsu Kogyo Kabushiki Gaisha until 2004 when that company was dissolved).
Summary
There used to be admission fees for Skyland Ikoma but it is free at present. There are charges for rides (such as the roller coaster) as in the past. The airplane tower in this park is the oldest of the existing rides in Japan. The airplane tower was used as an air defense surveillance center during the war.
At 642 meter elevation, the beautiful night view overlooking Osaka Bay stretches out from the top of Mt. Ikoma but there are not many places with view in Skyland Ikoma.
To visit Skyland Ikoma by train, get off at Kintetsu Ikoma Station and transfer to a cable car at the connecting Toriimae Station. Cable cars are decorated with paintings of animals and pastries.
Since 2006, strong efforts have been put into flora in the park and there have been more flowers every year.
During the season when the park is open, various shows are organized on the weekends and statutory holidays.
There is the 'Petting Park' (admission extra) in addition to the rides. Dogs and cats are unrestrained and can be touched in the Petting Park.
Subsequent to 2000, the number of visitors decreased sharply with the opening of Universal Studios Japan, forcing the park to close during the winter months since 2003, but a New Year's Eve event has been organized between December 31 and January 1 in some years.
Skyland Ikoma crosses over the border between Osaka and Nara prefectures and, with Kintetsu Ayameike Amusement Park and Nara Dreamland having closed their doors, it is the only theme park remaining in Nara Prefecture at present.
In the park, there are steel towers of Mt. Ikoma TV FM Transmission Station (the parent station) for television stations in Osaka.
In 2007, while the park was closed for the winter, Ultra Twister and Sky Loop were dismantled.
Hours of Operation
Regular Hours
10:00 - 17:00 (closes at 16:00 during the month of November)
Evening Hours
The park closes at 20:00 during Golden Week as well as weekends and statutory holidays in September. The park closes at 21:00 or 22:00 during the summer months.
Park Closing
The park is closed during the winter season (December 1 to mid-March. The park will be closed until March 16 for 2007.)
Thursdays (except during the spring and summer breaks and statutory holidays that fall on Thursday)
Temporary park closing (June 11 and June 13)
The Petting Park is open between March 15 and November 3.
Admission Fee
Free Admission
Parking Fee (per day per vehicle): Bus/Minicoach 1500 yen, Passenger Car 1200 yen
Day Pass: Adult 3000 yen, Child 2700 yen, Discount for middle school students or younger and group admission.
Family Pass: 3000 yen (for 10 rides and admission for two to the Petting Park)
Passes for a return fare for Kintetsu trains and cable cars (including 1200 yen worth of tickets for the rides. Price varies depending on the station where the trip originates.)
'Norinori Coupon': A pass including a return fare for the cable car and 1600 yen worth of ticket for the rides. This special pass is available to encourage users who have driven to the park to ride the cable cars and to visit Hozan-ji Temple.
Ride and Facility Regulations and Admission Fees
Effective March 2008
Petting Park: Adult 800 yen and Child 500 yen
Bicycle-Monorail: Must be three years old or older (No unaccompanied children if 110 cm or shorter) 400 yen
Water Shot: Must be two years old or older (No unaccompanied children if three years old or younger) 300 yen
3D Theater: Must be three years old or older (No unaccompanied children if four years old or younger) 300 yen
Jet Sleighs: Must be 100 cm or taller (No unaccompanied children eight years old or younger) 300 yen
Mini Pirate Ship: Must be three years old or older (No unaccompanied children five years old or younger) 300 yen
Jumping Stars: Must be three years old or older (No unaccompanied children if 100 cm or shorter) 300 yen
Carousel: Must be one year or older (No unaccompanied children three years old or younger) 300 yen
White House: Must be three years old or older (No unaccompanied children three years old or younger) 300 yen
Tea Cups: Must be one year or older (No unaccompanied children three years old or younger) 300 yen
Jet Roller: Must be 120 cm or taller, 400 yen
SL Train: Must be one year or older (No unaccompanied children three years old or younger) 300 yen
Kids Land: Must be two years old or older and up to 145 cm tall (No unaccompanied children two years old) 300 yen/30minutes
Hell's Gate Haunted House: Must be three years old or older, 500 yen
Gold Rush Rapids Shooting: Must be three years old or older (No unaccompanied children five years old or younger) 300 yen
Music Express: Must be 120 cm or taller, 300 yen
Mini Golf: Must be six years old or older, 1000 yen for 18 holes and 700 yen for 9 holes
Go-Kart: Must be 120 cm or taller (No unaccompanied children two years old and those under 120 cm in height) 400 yen for single, 600 yen for double
Outdoor Theater
Directions
Take the Kintetsu Ikoma Cable Line from Kintetsu Ikoma Station to Ikoma Sanjo Station
Take Shigi-Ikoma Skyline (via which Kintetsu Bus used to operate regular bus service to Skyland Ikoma, though it was suspended around 1995).