How wild is it to ride a roller coaster while soaking in a hot spring? Japan’s “Hot Spring Theme Park” to debut in July

Renderings of Beppu Onsen Theme Park completed. (Photo/Credit: Yuenchi Project)

Beppu City in Oita Prefecture, a renowned hot spring destination in Kyushu, Japan, released a conceptual video last year for the “Yuenchi” project, featuring imaginative attractions such as a “hot spring merry-go-round,” “hot spring waterslide,” and “hot spring roller coaster.” The over-the-top promotional video garnered over one million views within just four days of its upload. Earlier this year, the project successfully raised funds online and announced that the park is expected to open during the summer vacation for a limited three-day run. This “hot spring theme park” will let visitors experience just how “wild” a hot spring roller coaster can be.

Beppu is said to have the richest hot spring water output in the world. In November last year, Beppu City in Oita Prefecture uploaded the “Yuenchi” video, which has since attracted 3.3 million views globally—far exceeding the initial expectation of one million views. Beppu Mayor Nagano expressed excitement about realizing the “hot spring theme park” concept. This year, the project reached its crowdfunding goal ahead of schedule, raising nearly 34 million yen—three times more than expected.

The hot spring theme park “Yuenchi” will be developed within the nearly 90-year-old local amusement park “Beppu RAKUTENCHI.” It will feature eight attractions including a “hot spring merry-go-round,” “hot spring roller coaster,” “hot spring waterslide,” “specially mixed hot springs,” “hot spring airship,” and “hot spring suspension bridge,” allowing visitors to enjoy both play and hot spring bathing. According to recent reports from Japanese media outlets NHK and the Oita Economic News, the park is expected to open as early as July 29 to 31 this year, operating for just three days with a daily visitor limit of 3,000 people.