Hemulen’s Playground at Moomin Valley Park. Moomin Valley Park is one of the two key areas of Metsa, a Finnish theme park in Hanno, Saitama. Moomin Valley Park has an entry fee, but it is a reasonable at 1,500 yen per person. The other area of the resort is Metsa Village, which is free to enter. All the parking at Metsa is charged, and it is exorbitant (see information section).

Metsa = Metsa Village + Moomin Valley Park

Moomin Valley Park

While the cover charge to Moomin Valley park is reasonable, regrettably several of the attractions within Moomin Valley park have an additional disproportionate charge. Having visited Finland this summer, it all makes more sense. Prices are exorbitant there, particularly in comparison to Japan and other European countries.

Finland is a beautiful country though, rich in nature, with the most amazing people. And I can see why the site at Hanno was chosen as the location for the first Moomin theme park outside Finland: the area is reminiscent of Finnish landscapes with the lake and forest.

Thankfully, at Moomin Valley Park in Hanno, the Hemulen’s Playground does not have an additional charge…

Hemulen’s Playground

The playground is located in the Lonely Mountain Area, which is the furthest section from the entrance to the theme park. It is a good half hour walk from the entrance road and car park of Metsa. The last stretch of the route is uphill.

When we first visited it was shortly after the theme park opened and already some of the equipment was closed due to fault or disrepair. Not to disrepute it too much, as there was still plenty to play with.

Features of Hemulen’s playground

Treehouses

Pedal operated merry go round

Large chalk board

Toadstools

Suspension Bridges

Net Hammock

Climbing

Swings

Slides

Benches

Picnic tables

Merchandise Kiosk

Toilets

The playground is actually quite attractive and definitely has the wow factor at first glance. However, after playing in it for a couple of hours you realise there isn’t really that much to to it. Despite that for first time visitors under eight years old it provides an hour or two of fun.

Another free area of Moomin Valley Park that features on this blog is Kokemus, a museum and exhibition Facility:

Hemulen’s Playground Information

Located within Moomin Valley Park in Metsa, Hanno Saitama.

Address: 431-3-58 Miyazawa, Hanno, Saitama 357-0001

Official Website

Getting to Hemulen’s Playground at Metsa

By Public Transport

There are buses to Metsa Village from Seibu Ikebukuro Line’s Hanno Station (North exit, bus stop 1) or from JR Hachiko Line’s Higashi Hanno station. If you want to walk from the stations, it takes about 35 minutes on foot from both. And from the entrance of Metsa (as above) you have to walk ten plus minutes to the attraction. Source: insaitama.com/kokemus-exhibition-facility-moomin-valley-park/

By Car

The car park is about a ten minute drive from the Sayama / Hidaka Interchange of the Ken-o expressway. From the car park you have to walk through Metsa Village to get to Moomin Valley Park. It is at least a ten minute walk to the entrance of Moomin Valley Park and a further five minutes or so to Kokemus.

Please note that parking is particularly expensive. It costs 100 yen for 10 minutes on a weekday and 500 yen for half an hour on weekends. They have an upper cap in place though, so the maximum you will pay on a weekday is 1,800 yen and on a weekend 3,000 yen. It is marginally cheaper if you book in advance and you are secured a place on a busy day. Source: insaitama.com/kokemus-exhibition-facility-moomin-valley-park/