Kashii-Kaen

Kashii-Kaen (officially Nishi-Nippon Railroad Kashii-Kaen, commonly written in hiragana as 'Kashiikaen') was a flower-themed amusement park located in Kashimigaoka, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, Japan. It was operated by Nishi-Nippon Railroad (Nishitetsu), one of Kyushu's major private railway and leisure conglomerates. The park billed itself as a 'flower amusement park' (花の遊園地), with gardens that bloomed year-round and a 90-meter rose tunnel that was a signature attraction in early May. Its target audience was primarily families with small children. The site opened in 1938 as 'Kashii Tulip Garden' (香椎チューリップ園), established by Hakata Bay Railway and Steamship, one of the predecessor companies of Nishitetsu. It was closed in 1943 during the Pacific War and converted into a farm to help employees achieve food self-sufficiency. It reopened in 1956 as 'Kashii-Kaen.' In the late 1980s the park was expanded onto the former site of the adjacent Kashii Baseball Stadium. After attendance peaked at about 570,000 in fiscal 1985, visitor numbers declined steadily, falling to about 244,000 in fiscal 2007, with annual operating losses of roughly 100 million yen during the 2000s. In response, the park closed for renovation on December 31, 2008, and reopened on March 7, 2009, as 'Kashii-Kaen Sylvanian Gardens' (かしいかえん シルバニアガーデン), incorporating the world of Epoch Co.'s Sylvanian Families toy line. It was the second Sylvanian Families theme park in Japan and the first in western Japan, following Sylvanian Village at Grinpa in Susono, Shizuoka Prefecture. The park closed again for renovation on November 24, 2016, and reopened on March 16, 2017, with 100,000 pots of 400 flower varieties, three new rides to replace the Ferris wheel, and a park golf course added in autumn. However, amid diversifying leisure options, aging facilities, and reduced visitation during the COVID-19 pandemic, Nishitetsu decided to close the park permanently on December 30, 2021. With its closure, Fukuoka City no longer had an amusement park, leaving Dazaifu Amusement Park in Dazaifu as the only amusement park in the Fukuoka metropolitan area. The goats from the park's Nakayoshi Animal Land were relocated to Dazaifu Amusement Park. From April 15, 2022, until redevelopment began, the site operated as 'Kashii no Hama Village' (かしいのはまビレッジ), a limited-time facility with camping, a dog run, workation sites, and athletic areas, run by Nishitetsu Agency, until December 31, 2024. After the park's closure, its Sylvanian Families characters were moved to Grinpa's Sylvanian Village, and several rides were relocated to Greenland in Arao, Kumamoto Prefecture, and to Anipa in Akita City.

Kashii-Kaen's history began in 1938 when Hakata Bay Railway and Steamship, one of the predecessor companies of Nishi-Nippon Railroad, opened 'Kashii Tulip Garden' (香椎チューリップ園). The park was closed in 1943 during the Pacific War and converted into a farm to help employees achieve food self-sufficiency. It reopened in 1956 as 'Kashii-Kaen.' In the late 1980s, the park was expanded using the former site of the adjacent Kashii Baseball Stadium. Attendance peaked at approximately 570,000 in fiscal 1985 and then declined continuously, falling to about 244,000 in fiscal 2007. During the 2000s, the park ran an annual deficit of roughly 100 million yen. As a revitalization measure, the park closed on December 31, 2008, for renovation and reopened on March 7, 2009, as 'Kashii-Kaen Sylvanian Gardens' (かしいかえん シルバニアガーデン), incorporating the world of Epoch Co.'s Sylvanian Families. This was the second Sylvanian Families theme park in Japan, following Sylvanian Village at Grinpa in Susono, Shizuoka Prefecture, and the first in western Japan. In addition to Sylvanian Families, a 'Hero Challenge Park' operated by Toei, themed around Super Sentai and Heisei Kamen Rider series, was introduced in the event hall — the first such attraction at an amusement park in Kyushu. It was renewed as 'Super Hero Athletic Land' on March 5, 2011. After the opening of Sylvanian Gardens, the Sylvanian Families show content was updated around March each year, and park rides were renewed. Original character 'Hanazono Rabbit' (はなぞのウサギ) greetings and shows were held regularly. On July 13, 2012, the park installed a 'Retro Train Park' preserving 323-series car 324 and 600-series car 621 used on the Kitakyushu Line; on weekends and holidays, visitors could enter the cars for a fee. Previously, 200-series car 201 and 1000-series car 1001AB used on the Fukuoka City Line had been preserved after the line's major closure in 1975, but they were dismantled due to deterioration. The park closed again for renovation on November 24, 2016, and reopened on March 16, 2017, featuring 100,000 pots of 400 flower varieties. Three new rides were introduced to replace the Ferris wheel, and a park golf course opened in autumn. However, in light of diversifying leisure options, aging facilities, and reduced visitation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Nishitetsu decided to close the park permanently on December 30, 2021. With the closure, Fukuoka City lost its last amusement park, leaving Dazaifu Amusement Park in Dazaifu as the only amusement park in the Fukuoka metropolitan area. The goats from Nakayoshi Animal Land were relocated to Dazaifu Amusement Park. From April 15, 2022, until redevelopment began, the site operated as 'Kashii no Hama Village' (かしいのはまビレッジ), a limited-time facility with camping, a dog run, workation sites, and athletic areas, run by Nishitetsu Agency, until December 31, 2024. After the park's closure, 31 Sylvanian Families characters were moved to Sylvanian Village at Grinpa in Susono, Shizuoka Prefecture. Three ride types — 'Ducks,' 'Lady Bird,' and the 'Ferris Wheel Happy Sky' (which had been planned but canceled due to the closure) — were relocated to Greenland in Arao, Kumamoto Prefecture. The Ferris wheel was moved to Anipa, an amusement park within Omoriyama Zoo in Akita City. Pirate figures and a face-shaped tree monument were relocated to a bakery in Itoshima, Fukuoka Prefecture.

• 2022

  Site reopened as 'Kashii no Hama Village' on April 15 for limited-time operation until December 31, 2024.

• 2021

  Closed permanently on December 30.

• 2017

  Reopened on March 16 with 100,000 pots of 400 flower varieties; park golf course opened in autumn.

• 2016

  Closed on November 24 for renovation.

• 2012

  Installed 'Retro Train Park' on July 13, preserving 323-series car 324 and 600-series car 621.

• 2011

  'Hero Challenge Park' renewed as 'Super Hero Athletic Land' on March 5.

• 2009

  Reopened on March 7 as 'Kashii-Kaen Sylvanian Gardens,' incorporating Sylvanian Families.

• 2008

  Closed on December 31 for renovation.

• 2007

  Attendance fell to about 244,000; annual deficit of roughly 100 million yen during the 2000s.

• 1985

  Attendance peaked at approximately 570,000.

• 1956

  Reopened as 'Kashii-Kaen.'

• 1943

  Closed during the Pacific War and converted into a farm for employee food self-sufficiency.

• 1938

  Opened as 'Kashii Tulip Garden' by Hakata Bay Railway and Steamship, a predecessor of Nishi-Nippon Railroad.

A family-oriented, flower-themed local amusement park operated by a private railway group, later repositioned around the Sylvanian Families character IP to reverse declining attendance.

• Sylvanian Gardens (シルバニアガーデン)

  A theme park area based on Epoch Co.'s Sylvanian Families characters, the second in Japan and first in western Japan.

• Hero Challenge Park / Super Hero Athletic Land

  An indoor athletic park themed around Super Sentai and Heisei Kamen Rider, operated by Toei; first in Kyushu.

• Retro Train Park

  Preserved 323-series car 324 and 600-series car 621 from the Kitakyushu Line, open for paid entry on weekends and holidays.

• Nakayoshi Animal Land

  A petting zoo with rabbits, goats, and guinea pigs.

• Leisure Pool

  Open only in summer, requiring an additional fee.

• Park Golf Course

  Opened in autumn 2017.

1. 1Wikidata: Kashii-Kaenwikidata.org
2. 2Wikipedia (Japanese): 西鉄香椎花園ja.wikipedia.org