What Fun Places Are There in Kasukabe, the Hometown of Crayon Shin-chan, Near Tokyo?

In Kasukabe City near Tokyo, you can not only experience the real-life setting of the anime 'Crayon Shin-chan,' but also find an 'underground temple' that is the world's largest drainage system, as well as a comprehensive amusement park that combines a zoo and a playground.

Transportation: From Asakusa Station in Tokyo, take the Tobu Skytree Line directly to Kasukabe Station without any transfers.

When I watched 'Detective Chinatown 3,' I thought the underground temple in the film was a set built for movie effects. I never expected this place to actually exist! This underground temple is the world's largest drainage system near Tokyo, located in Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo, called the 'Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel' (Shutoken Gaikaku Hōsuiro).

Transportation: The nearest station is Minami-Sakurai Station on the Tobu Noda Line, then transfer to a bus and get off at Ryu-Q Kan Station.

'Ryu-Q Kan' is the ground-level entrance and exhibition hall built above the drainage system. There are a total of seven tour routes of varying difficulty. A basic route is to visit the pressure-adjusting water tank of the underground temple. All routes require advance reservation on the GW website.

The drainage system has a main tunnel approximately 6.3 km long, with an inner diameter of about 10.6 meters, located about 50 meters underground. Along the tunnel, there are 5 vertical shafts, each about 70 meters deep with an inner diameter of 30 meters. It took 13 years to build.

At about 22 meters underground, a huge reservoir measuring 177 meters long, 78 meters wide, and 18 meters high was built. This underground temple is supported by 59 massive stone pillars, each 7 meters long, 2 meters wide, 18 meters high, and weighing 500 tons. The entire space is very spectacular.

In fact, besides 'Detective Chinatown 3,' many Japanese films and TV dramas have been filmed at Ryu-Q Kan, including 'Ultraman' and 'Kamen Rider.'

After visiting the underground temple, you can go back to the second floor of Ryu-Q Kan to pick up a stamp booklet for a Kasukabe Crayon Shin-chan anime pilgrimage.

After visiting Ryu-Q Kan, return to Kasukabe Station. On the platform, you can find many Shin-chan elements. If you are on a Kasukabe anime pilgrimage, you can collect stamps at several points indicated in the stamp booklet.

At the east exit of Kasukabe Station, you can also see an exhibition of drawings of Crayon Shin-chan by elementary school students.

At noon, you can have noodles at this shop near the station. I especially recommend the dipping noodles—the noodles are chewy, the soup base is rich, and the aroma is enticing.

In particular, the slice of chashu is braised until tender and flavorful, melting in your mouth as soon as you take a bite!

[Tobu Animal Park]

After lunch, take the train to Tobu Animal Park Station. Tobu Animal Park on the outskirts of Tokyo is a comprehensive amusement park that combines a zoo, a garden, and a playground. Besides these three areas, it also includes a swimming pool, food shops, etc., making it a highly cost-effective theme park. Transportation is also convenient: you can take the Tobu Skytree Line directly from Shibuya, which connects to the Tobu Isesaki Line to Tobu Animal Park Station. After exiting the station, it's about a 10-minute walk to the park.

It is a zoo, but not just a zoo, because Tobu Animal Park has Japan's only 'water wooden roller coaster'!

In addition to the signature rare white tigers, the zoo has over 1,200 animals of 120 species. Popular facilities include the 'Animal Touch Forest' where you can get up close with small animals, and the theater-style 'Firefly Observation Hall' where you can enjoy fireflies all year round.

Last year, two white tiger cubs were born at the zoo. They are so adorable that more and more people have come to see them since their birth.

The 'Simba' family is also amusing, like a giant cat-petting scene~~

The Hokkaido brown bears are also cute; they often come to the window and interact closely with visitors.

Besides the predator area, areas with animals like deer, penguins, and monkeys are also very popular.

Riding the central Ferris wheel in the park, 'Miss Emma's Cheese Windmill,' offers a panoramic view of the entire park.

The amusement park has over 30 rides and attractions, ranging from thrilling ones like the 'Water Wooden Roller Coaster Regina II (Due)' and 'New Glide Water Roller Coaster: Kingfisher' to leisure rides suitable for children. Whether you are an adult or a child, you can have a great time.

For the return trip, take the Tobu Skytree Line from Tobu Animal Park Station back to Tokyo. What a fulfilling day trip near Tokyo!