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Major theme park operated by Hollywood studio planned for Yokohama

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yokohama japan

According to media reports in Japan, a $1.2 billion theme park is planned for Yokohama, near Tokyo. The attraction will be similar in size to Tokyo Disneyland.

Variety reports that planning is underway to build the theme park. The operator of the attraction will be an unnamed Hollywood studio, as cited by Asahi Shimbun.

The attraction will be located on a site of 242 hectares of land that was formerly used as a US military communications facility.

The theme park will occupy 125 hectares of the land. A landowners’ association and the city of Yokohama have agreed to make this section a ‘tourism and activity’ zone.

The land, which was returned to Japanese control in 2014, is mostly used for agriculture and has a mixture of public and private ownership.

Hollywood studio set to operate theme park

Sotetsu Holdings, a transportation and real estate company, is currently in discussions with private landowners.

The group reportedly presented a theme park plan to the landowners’ association in April 2020. It projected annual attendance of 6.5 million to 13 million.

Yokohama is “not directly involved” in plans for the theme park, but the city is supporting the project through land rezoning and more.

The majority of the theme park’s estimated $1.2 billion investment is expected to come from government sources.

Estimated investment of $1.2 billion

There has yet to be an announcement on when construction starts or on the estimated completion date of the theme park.

Japan currently has two theme parks based on Hollywood IP – Tokyo Disney Resort (Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea) and Universal Studios Japan.

Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan was due to open this summer but has since been delayed because of COVID-19.

The expansion will feature state-of-the-art Super Mario Kart and Yoshi’s Adventure rides, as well as Peach’s Castle and Bowser’s Castle.

USJ also previously unveiled the colourful wearable wristbands, known as Power Up Bands, that will feature at Super Nintendo World.

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Bea Mitchell

Bea is a journalist specialising in entertainment, attractions and tech with 10 years' experience. She has written and edited for publications including CNET, BuzzFeed, Digital Spy, Evening Standard and BBC. Bea graduated from King's College London and has an MA in journalism.

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