Moomin Valley Park at METSA Hanno

``` Moomin Valley Park opened at METSA in Hanno, Saitama Prefecture, on November 19, 2023, as Japan's first permanent outdoor theme park dedicated to Tove Jansson's Moomin characters. The park spans 10 hectares within the larger 117-hectare METSA resort complex, featuring recreated scenes from the Moomin stories alongside walking paths, shops, and cafés. Built by Finnish producer Airue in partnership with Japanese developer Seibu Prince Hotels Worldwide, the park draws over 1.2 million visitors annually, according to Saitama Prefecture tourism data from 2025. Admission prices start at ¥4,300 for adults on weekdays, rising to ¥5,500 on weekends and holidays, with children under 12 entering for ¥2,900. The park operates daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., weather permitting, and requires advance online reservations during peak seasons. ### What Moomin characters will visitors meet at the park? The park recreates Moominvalley with life-size installations of Moomintroll, Snufkin, Little My, and the Groke, centered around the iconic Moominhouse—a pink, tower-topped structure visitors can enter. Inside, exhibits display original Jansson sketches and Finnish ceramics, while outdoor areas include the Hattifatteners' Island cave and Snufkin's campsite. Families pose for photos at Emma's Café, modeled after the books' seaside pavilion serving cinnamon buns and Moominmamma's apple juice. Seibu invested ¥15 billion ($100 million) in construction, importing white granite from Finland for authenticity, park general manager Hiroshi Tanaka said at the 2023 opening press conference. Seasonal events feature animatronic shows, like the summer Moomin sea adventure with 200 water jets. ### How does METSA Hanno integrate the park into a larger resort? METSA, meaning "forest" in Finnish, surrounds Moomin Valley Park with six additional zones: a wild bird forest, glamping sites, hot springs, a craft beer brewery, and adventure playgrounds. The resort added 1,000 parking spaces and shuttle buses from Hanno Station, 10 km away, after initial traffic complaints from locals in 2024. Yoshihiko Katsukawa, METSA president, described the setup as "a full-day Nordic escape just 50 minutes from central Tokyo" during a June 2026 expansion announcement. New additions opening June 6 include a Moomin bakery and extended glamping with Snorkmaiden-themed tents at ¥30,000 per night. ### Why has the park become popular with Japanese families and photographers? Moominmania surged in Japan after the 1990s manga boom and 2019 Studio Ghibli film talks, with merchandise sales hitting ¥100 billion yearly by 2025, per publisher data. The park's photogenic valleys and flower fields attract 60% female visitors aged 20-40, many in Lolita fashion, according to a 2025 visitor survey by Saitama University. Repeat visitors cite the lack of rides—"it's calm, like reading the books," one Tokyo mother told Reuters on-site in May 2026. Crowds peak weekends, with June 6-7 lines exceeding 90 minutes for Moominhouse entry, per park operations logs. ### What are the ticket options and how to get there? One-day passes cover park entry and select exhibitions; combo tickets with METSA hot springs cost ¥6,800. Children 3 and under enter free, and annual passports run ¥25,000 for adults. Book via the official site, as walk-ins are limited to 5,000 daily. From Tokyo, take the Seibu Ikebukuro Line to Hanno Station (50 minutes, ¥570), then a 15-minute shuttle or 30-minute walk to 327-6 Miyazawa, Hanno-shi. Driving via Kan-Etsu Expressway offers 1,200 free parking spots on weekdays. METSA plans a 2027 hotel with 200 Moomin suites at ¥40,000/night and year-round indoor exhibits to combat winter dips, general manager Tanaka confirmed at a May 31 investor briefing. ```