Yagiyama Benyland

Yagiyama Benyland opened in 1968 on the hill above Sendai's Taihaku ward, and it still feels like a neighbourhood park that grew up rather than a resort. There are about thirty attractions. The one to ride is the Corkscrew, a double-loop steel coaster that has been the park's symbol for more than forty years, and it is one of four coasters here. More than twenty rides take children from age three, so it works well with toddlers.

The location is the main advantage. Yagiyama Dobutsukoen Station on the Sendai Subway Tozai Line is about a five-minute walk away, and Yagiyama Zoological Park is right next door, so you can do the zoo in the morning and the rides in the afternoon. In spring the park is a local cherry blossom spot.

Tickets work as admission plus either single-ride tickets or a free pass, and prices have been revised over the years, so check the official site for current figures. Hours are short by big-park standards, roughly 9:15 to 16:45 in the main season and earlier closing in November and December. Winter is the catch: the park runs a reduced schedule and closes completely for several weeks, roughly mid-January to early March.