The owner of an abandoned amusement park and ‘haunted spot’ in Miyagi Prefecture is reportedly looking for a buyer.
Kejonuma Leisure Land opened in 1979 and welcomed as many as 200,000 visitors a year during its peak. After the crash of the bubble economy in the early 1990s, many of Japan’s amusement parks suffered from declining visitor numbers. The park closed in 2001 and the buildings have fallen into serious disrepair.
The owner is asking for offers above 500 million Yen (4.95 million USD) for the 150,000 square meter (15 hectare) property which overlooks Kejonuma Dam. The owner has already received 10 applications from companies located outside the prefecture, and will choose a buyer by the end of the year.
The seller is an 85-year old owner of a local real estate company and original founder of the park. He invested several billion Yen to create the park in the 1970s and has continued to provide general maintenance and security in the 15 years following its closure. In 2003, drilling was conducted to pump up hot spring water with the idea of creating an onsen resort.
Abandoned buildings include amusement rides, 6-hole golf course and a hotel.
Source: The Yomiuri Shimbun, September 25, 2016.
