Tokyo-based Tsuburaya Productions announced on Feb. 14 that it will close the Ultraman Land amusement park in Arao, Kumamoto on Sept. 1. The only theme park in Japan devoted to the red and white superhero, Ultraman Land has seen annual admissions in recent years fall to around 100,000, a quarter of its initial year mark.
Ultraman Land opened in 1996 next door to the Greenland amusement park. Live stage shows are held under a 1,800 m2 dome, and attractions include a walk-through diorama where visitors can defeat monsters. The company said it was moving out of the theme park business to “develop new events using visual interpretations and cutting-edge technology”. The owner of the theme park site, Greenland Resort Co., said it would like to “attract a facility with which it can create a synergistic effect” in light of the nearby hotels and golf courses. Source: Nishinippon Shimbun, Feb. 15
