Visiting Japan and feeling like you’re in the Netherlands? Then you must have ended up in the special theme park Huis ten Bosch (ハウステンボス). This amusement park in the province of Kyushu and north of the city of Nagasaki is named after the residential palace of King Willem Alexander in The Hague.
But it was the Japanese Yoshikuni Kamichika who had the miniature Netherlands built near the town of Sasebo. Why did the good man do so? And is a visit to this park worthwhile during your trip to Japan? In this article, you will get the answers to these questions….
In this article about Huis ten Bosch
Useful Websites Huis ten Bosch, Japan
- Accommodation Huis ten Bosch / Sasebo: Agoda, Booking
- Tours & Tickets: GetYourGuide Nagasaki
- Flight Tickets Japan: Jetradar
- Train Tickets: Japan Railway Pass
- Rental Car: Rental Cars
This page about Huis ten Bosch contains affiliate links. This means that if you make a booking through one of the links on this website, Travel4history receives a small compensation. This is at no extra cost to you!
How did the Dutch theme park originate in Japan?
When Yoshikuni Kamichika visited Europe and the Netherlands in 1979 he was looking for creative ideas to put the region of Nagasaki on the map. He was impressed by the Netherlands and its buildings, but also by the Dutch way of dealing with water. The close ties between Japan and the Netherlands also played an important role. For centuries both countries maintained trade relations via the island of Dejima in Nagasaki. In conclusion, what could be more interesting than a great Dutch attraction…?
In 1983 Kamichika had a few houses built near Nagasaki which he called Nagasaki Holland Village. And in 1988 the mega-project began with the final name Huis ten Bosch. 6 kilometers of canals were dug and 400,000 trees and 300,000 flowers were planted. Finally, they rebuilt several Dutch buildings with bricks that actually came from the Netherlands. It doesn’t get any more Dutch than that, does it?
In total, the construction of Huis ten Bosch took 4 years and cost about $3 billion dollars. On March 25, 1992, the theme park opened and since then it has been a cheap and easy way for the Japanese to see something of the world. And for foreign tourists, it is, above all, a special experience…
An impression of Huis ten Bosch
Huis ten Bosch is Holland in miniature. Are you planning to visit Huis ten Bosch in Japan? Below I give you a small impression of what you can expect. What do you recognize from the Netherlands?
A Review of Huis ten Bosch
After seeing all the pictures, are you considering visiting this Dutch theme park in Japan? It is indeed a weird experience to see all those Dutch buildings, but also very special. When I was here in September 2017, there were two types of tickets: one without and one with a visit to the attractions. I mainly liked to have ‘seen’ it and therefore chose the cheaper ticket without the attractions.
Looking at the website now I see that there is only one ticket, with all the attractions. This one costs 7,000 yen, which is about $55. Then again, Japan is an expensive country.
It is also possible to stay overnight in the park. Look here for more information about accommodations. I arrived here in the morning from Nagasaki. At the train station, you can leave your suitcase or backpack in a locker for about 8 dollars. Then, in the afternoon, I continued my trip to Fukuoka.
Practical information for a visit to Huis ten Bosch
How to get to Huis ten Bosch?
From Nagasaki, it takes about 50 minutes by train. From Nagasaki Station take the Sea-Side Liner to Sasebo and get off at the Huis ten Bosch stop. Check the Hyperdia website for more information about departure times and arrivals. From Fukuoka, it takes about 1.5 hours to take the Limited Express from Hakata Station to Sasebo.
Opening Hours?
The park is open daily from 9 am to 9/22 pm. There are a few hotels near Huis ten Bosch where you could stay the night. Another possibility is to leave your suitcase or backpack at the train station.
Maybe also interesting?
- Discover historic Nagasaki | Travel guide full of history, inspiration & tips
- Dejima | Relive the Dutch past in Nagasaki
- Glover Garden, Nagasaki | Discover this beautiful estate in Japan
- The atomic bomb route, Nagasaki | 7 sites which tell the story
- Discover historic Fukuoka | Travel guide full of history, inspiration & tips
Do you have any tips, remarks, or ideas about the fun theme park Huis ten Bosch? Then feel free to leave a message below.
