Fukuoka Joypolis

Fukuoka Joypolis
Location: 福岡県福岡市博多区住吉1丁目2－22 キャナルシティ博多4Ｆ・5Ｆ, Japan
Opened: 1996-04-20
Closed: 2001-09-24

Fukuoka Joypolis (福岡ジョイポリス) was a Joypolis indoor amusement theme park opened by Sega. Located in the large Canal City Hakata complex and originally planned to be a Galbo location, the venue launched alongside it in April 1996, closing just under five and a half years later in September 2001 amidst a restructuring at Sega. One half of its former space subsequently became Club Sega Canal City.

History

In 1994, Sega launched its Amusement Theme Park concept with the openings of the Osaka ATC Galbo and the then-flagship Yokohama Joypolis indoor theme parks, creating two separate chains for a proposed 50 venues in Japan by 2000. Both had proven to be initially successful, however further Galbo parks, Ichikawa Galbo and Yokkaichi Galbo, were falling short of expectations, in contrast to the consistent numbers the flagship Yokohama location and newly-opened Niigata Joypolis were making. As a result, further emphasis was put on the Joypolis naming scheme, resulting in the removal of attractions and entry fees from the Ichikawa and Yokkaichi parks, as well as the two planned locations for 1996, Fukuoka Galbo and Shinjuku Galbo, being taken in under the Joypolis name some time after January 1996.

Shortly after its renaming, Fukuoka Joypolis opened in April 1996, occupying 4,610m² on the fourth and fifth floors of the Canal City Hakata complex. Likely due to the short amount of time between its replanning and opening, it did not make use of any specialised theming usually typical of Joypolis locations, though was the first venue to use the brand's redesigned logo. Its premier attraction on opening day was Aqua Nova, supporting several other examples debuted in the previous years, as well as a Café Blanca restaurant and a SegaSonic & Tails gift shop. The Funteraction line of machines, later given more prominence in Tokyo Joypolis, was also unveiled at the location.

Initially drawing in record visitor numbers during its first weeks of operation, the site saw continued support in the subsequent years. In addition to a number of smaller 3D sound rooms developed by Human, it received new Sega-made attractions such as Wild River and Drift Cart to replace its older examples. However, by the early 2000s, restructurings at Sega cut budgets heavily, and Fukuoka Joypolis became the fourth Joypolis theme park to close in September 2001, though it was claimed it would reopen. After the closure, part of the space that the venue used was split up and sold off - some of it was leased to a Ramen Stadium restaurant, whilst another section was redeveloped to become the Club Sega Canal City game centre by mid-November 2001, using the original outside façade of the venue with no alterations.

Attractions

Original attractions

• VR-1 (20-04-1996 - 06-1999)
• Aqua Nova (20-04-1996 - 24-09-2001)
• AS-1 (20-04-1996 - 24-09-2001)
• Ghost Hunters DX (20-04-1996 - 1996)
• Q-tag (20-04-1996 - 24-09-2001)
• Crazy Travel (20-04-1996 - 24-09-2001)

Later attractions

• Murder Lodge (1996 - 24-09-2001)
• Fortune Museum (1996 - 24-09-2001)
• Ghost Hunters II (1996 - 24-09-2001)
• The Lost World: Jurassic Park Special (1998 - 24-09-2001)
• Power Sled (10-1998 - 24-09-2001)
• Drift Cart (17-07-1999 - 24-09-2001)
• Wild River (17-07-1999 - 24-09-2001)

Gallery

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  At Night

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  Interior circa October 1999

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  Interior circa September 2001

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  Arcade games

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  AS-1

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  Ghost Hunters

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  VR-1, Aqua Nova entrances

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  Fortune Museum

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  Murder Lodge

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  VR-1

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  The Lost World: Jurassic Park Special

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  Drift Cart

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  Q-Tag

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  3D sound attractions developed by Human

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  SegaSonic & Tails gift shop

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  Cafe Blanca restaurant

Magazine articles

Main article: Fukuoka Joypolis/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

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