Spa Resort Hawaiians

What to know

Spa Resort Hawaiians is a one-stop water park, onsen and entertainment facility with a Hawaiian theme. It is located in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, and was formerly known as Joban Hawaiian Center. Inaugurated in 1966, it is considered the first theme park to be built in Japan. Over the years, the resort has been upgraded to meet with times, and it is still today a highly visited destination.

The most famous attraction of the resort are the Hawaiian dance performances by the Hula Girls, the dance team whose name is synonymous with the resort ever since it opened. In the 1960s, Iwaki was a coal mining town facing crisis when oil became the predominant energy source in Japan. The resort was built and the Hula Girls entertained to draw in tourists - the new source of income for the town.

In the aftermath of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami and nuclear plant accident, the Hula Girls visited numerous evacuation centers along the tsunami-hit Pacific Coast to encourage their inhabitants. They also traveled all over Japan to perform and invite people to visit Iwaki. They were thus seen by many as a symbol of hope and recovery for the affected regions.

The resort is divided into multiple sections:

The Water Park is the main area where the indoor pools, water slides and the dance stage are located. Here, a Hawaiian atmosphere is recreated with pineapple plants and other tropical vegetation, and staff and hotel guests in Hawaiian outfits. Step outdoors and you will find Spa Garden Pareo, a water playground with outdoor pools, deckchairs, jacuzzis and a sauna.

The Spring Park is one of two hot spring areas that draw their spring water from Yumoto Onsen. It features lukewarm indoor pools where both genders can enjoy a dip in swimsuits, as well as regular, gender-separated hot spring baths where swimsuits are not allowed.