Tobu Zoo

Yet another park previously visited. Since our last trip this park has added a new rollercoaster called Kawasemi, and this was the reason for revisiting.

More public holidays meant more crowds and the concern was that we'd be queueing quite a bit again. However it turned out not to be the case. The park has the amusement park, the zoo and some large open spaces and it was the latter that the public had come for with large picnics taking place.

This billboard had a rather different poster last time, but now they've had to replace it for one that incorporates the new ride.

Kawasemi was a great ride and because there was no queue we took advantage had a decent number of rides on it. I think "kawasemi" is Japanese for Kingfisher.

There was s decent queue for the ladybird coaster Tentomushi. Note the guy wearing the breath mask, the swine flu paranoia was causing a significant percentage of the population to wear these.

You can ascertain two things from this photo. Firstly it gets hot in this park and secondly this wheel hasn't moved in some time.

More animal rides. Looks like the giraffes were about to square up to each other and had it not been for the white tiger there may have been a fight. My money would have been on the giraffe winning.

Regina, the park's wooden coaster was only ridden once. It's an OK ride but not one I'd want to spend all day on. Having done that last time I was here I wasn't keen on repeating the event.

The park's crazy mouse is just that. There aren't many with a loop and even less with a character profile for each of the cars.

Yet another Thunderbird 1 spin ride.

Put up a display like this in the UK and you know that bear would have a new home in no time!

More face mask action but seems a bit odd that he doesn't mind if his kids get it!

Probably the same shot that everyone took!

The park's cool looking carousel.

A rather subtle paint job on the train don't you think?

Making our way out of the park we got to witness the park's parade. In a totally different league to that at Universal this was a small collection of animals and their handlers. Note that the muscular guy behind the snake handler isn't carrying an animal. You know that he's the hired muscle should the snake decide to put the squeeze on. I also found the tortoise in a fork lift very amusing!

I know Tokyo is one of the most built up cities in the world so open space would be an attraction. Tobu Zoo has plenty.

The biggest attraction in the zoo is the collection of white tigers and very bored they looked too.

Tobu Zoo is a very nice park and perfect for families. Kawasemi is enough of a draw to make the journey out of Tokyo. Just be aware that the drive out will be twice as long during National Holiday week. We took so long getting to it that we ended up having to drop another park that was on the itinerary. C'est la vie!