Named after the Danish fairy-tale author Hans Christian Andersen, this vast green patch of about 40 hectares is one of Japan’s most popular theme parks. There may not be any roller coasters, but the park boasts a wide range of outdoor activities for both kids and adults, spread out over five different areas. Children can explore massive playgrounds, conquer obstacle courses, visit a petting zoo, go on a pony ride, participate in creative workshops or play in the water park in summer.
The two main areas are connected by a bridge crossing a central lake surrounded by lush greenery, and you can take in the tranquil scenery by boarding a rowboat. The large windmill turns into an Instagram cliché in spring, when the whole scene is surrounded by colourful tulips. There are several replica farmhouses, based on the 19th-century buildings of Andersen’s birthplace, Odense in Denmark, which is a sister city of Funabashi.