From June 3 to June 29, 2026 (excluding closed days), Japan's oldest amusement park, Asakusa Hanayashiki, will host a limited-time interactive event called "Coaster Uncle's Secret Savings Treasure Hunt!" The event takes advantage of the scheduled maintenance closure of Japan's oldest surviving Roller Coaster, opening up a course area that is normally off-limits to guests.
The Roller Coaster at Hanayashiki, which has been in operation since 1953, is undergoing its regular inspection from May 11 to July 17, 2026. During the June portion of this maintenance window, the course area's "Living Room (お茶の間)" — where a character known as "Coaster Uncle" usually keeps watch over passengers from below — becomes the setting for the treasure hunt.
Coaster Uncle's Secret Savings Treasure Hunt!
Participants pay ¥500 (tax included) or 5 ride tickets to enter the normally inaccessible "Living Room" set within the Roller Coaster course. Inside, they search for "secret savings (へそくり)" that Coaster Uncle has reportedly hidden but can no longer remember the location of. Prizes are awarded based on the amount of "savings" found.
- Event Period: June 3, 2026 (Wednesday) to June 29, 2026 (Monday)
- Closed Day During Event: June 23, 2026 (Tuesday)
- Fee: ¥500 (tax included) or 5 ride tickets ※Children 5 years and older are charged; unlimited ride passes cannot be used
- Hours: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM (last admission 5:40 PM)
- Location: "Living Room" inside the Roller Coaster course area
For more details, visit the event's special page: https://www.hanayashiki.net/events/event/ochanoma2026/
Note: Contents are subject to change or cancellation without notice. The event may also be cancelled due to inclement weather.
The Roller Coaster will remain under maintenance from May 11, 2026 (Monday) through July 17, 2026 (Friday).
Inside the Event
The story behind the event: Coaster Uncle hid his "secret savings" somewhere in the Living Room but has completely forgotten where. Visitors head inside to help track it down — and receive a special gift based on the amount discovered.
About the Roller Coaster
The Roller Coaster at Hanayashiki was installed in 1953 — the same year Japan's first television broadcast took place — making it Japan's oldest surviving roller coaster. The attraction's course weaves through a set designed to look like a traditional Japanese home, where passengers get a brief glimpse into the "Living Room" as their cars pass through. At the time of its debut, the rocket-inspired design was considered cutting-edge and drew visitors with its novelty and thrills.
Over the decades, the coaster's look has gone through various changes — taking the shape of a dragon and a treasure chest at different points — before eventually returning to its original rocket-themed appearance.
