Hi there, I’m a local Okinawa-based writer.
On July 25th, Okinawa’s very first large-scale theme park, Junglia Okinawa, finally opened its gates.
And the big question:
Did the dinosaurs chase me?
…Nope. Not at all. Instead, they just stood there peacefully chewing leaves. Talk about an anticlimax 😂
🎥 Hype vs. Reality
The pre-opening ads were wild:
Riding off-road jeeps, screaming as dinosaurs came charging after you. “Power Vacation!” sounded epic.
But reality?
- The 19-meter-tall Brachiosaurus was impressive… but frozen like a statue.
- No sunshades → you roast under the Okinawan sun ☀️
- Long waiting times, short ride durations
Basically, it turned into a classic “expectation vs. reality” meme.
😅 What Locals Are Saying
I chatted with a few Okinawan visitors, and opinions split into two camps:
- Disappointed: “The ads hyped it too much. It’s basically just a big park.”
- Positive: “Attractions were unique and fresh, and the souvenir shop had cute Okinawan collaborations.”
So, the rule of thumb seems to be:
The more ads you watched, the more disappointed you felt.
If you went in blind? You probably had fun.
🇹🇼 Impact on Taiwanese Tourists
For Taiwan, Okinawa is super close — just a 90-minute flight from Taipei. Many Taiwanese even say it’s faster than going to southern Taiwan.
But here’s the problem: Taiwanese travelers rely heavily on social media reviews.
Early visitors from Taiwan posted videos like:
- “Dinosaurs don’t even move.”
- “Waited forever, nothing exciting.”
One Taiwanese travel agent bluntly said:
“Honestly, it was terrible. I don’t want to talk about it.”
Ouch. Rough start for inbound tourism.
🌴 Still, a New Face for Okinawa
Despite the rocky debut, I think Junglia did something important:
It gave Okinawa a new image beyond “blue sea + white sand.”
- New tourism identity
“Forest + dinosaurs” instead of just beaches.
This could balance out Okinawa’s heavy summer-season demand. - Ripple effect
Nearby attractions are already adapting:- Neo Park Okinawa opened a new Jungle Zone
- The Dino Park by Okashigoten is trending again
→ A mini “dinosaur economy” is forming.
🪓 Thoughts on the Company Behind It
Junglia was produced by Kata (刀), led by marketing guru Tsuyoshi Morioka.
Yes, the ads oversold it.
But I respect Morioka-san for putting his face out there, saying,
“We want to boost Okinawa’s northern economy.”
He’s taking the heat head-on, and that’s rare in Japan.
So while dinosaurs didn’t chase anyone, Morioka is definitely running.
📝 Final Thoughts: Dinosaurs, Please Run Next Time
First impressions of Junglia: “That’s it?”
But hey, it’s only been a month. There’s plenty of room for improvement.
As a local, here’s my one request:
Dinosaurs, please chase us next time! 🦖💨
Otherwise, tourists will keep joking:
“Okinawa’s dinosaurs are quieter than claw machines at a night market.” 🤣
🌟 Travel Tips
- Sun protection: Bring a hat or umbrella, or you’ll melt.
- Patience: Expect long lines; weekdays are better.
- Mindset: Don’t expect Jurassic Park. Expect “Jurassic Chill.”
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