Huis Ten Bosch, the Dutch-themed park in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, has sharpened its identity around a concept it markets as “An Otherworld to Long For.” In recent months the park has expanded immersive, mixed-media experiences that pair hands-on attractions with food-and-beverage programming and elaborate nighttime productions. Its newest draw, 「에반게리온 더 라이드 - 8K -」, is part of that broader effort to turn the entire site into a cohesive experience.I spoke with Naoki Nakayama, the park’s international marketing chief, and Yeong-gyu Yu, who has led Huis Ten Bosch’s Korea office for 15 years, about what the park hopes to offer visitors and how the new Evangelion attraction fits into that vision.
Since opening in 1992, Huis Ten Bosch has recreated a Dutch streetscape across roughly 1.52 million square meters (about 376 acres), offering a mix of rides and participatory attractions. Yu said the park aims to be “a place where food and entertainment meet amid a European streetscape,” and that management continually adds content to sustain “a steady sense of excitement.”
Nakayama pointed to the park’s resort-style model as a point of differentiation. “We’re not just a theme park,” he said. “We combine attractions with hotel stays so guests can linger. By day we offer rides and strolls; by night we focus on illuminations designed for families and visitors of all ages.” Huis Ten Bosch’s evening light displays, he noted, have been rated No. 1 in Japan for 13 consecutive years and remain a signature attraction.
The park is intensifying its “otherworld” narrative across programming. Yu said the team is leaning into the European streets and large-scale settings to create experiences that feel markedly different from typical park visits. That approach is evident in last year’s opening of Miffy Wonder Square, the world’s first Miffy-themed zone. Because Miffy’s creator is Dutch, the character’s origins mesh naturally with Huis Ten Bosch’s concept, and the new area blends the streetscape with character-driven content to strong public response.
Strategic collaborations are central to that approach. Nakayama said the guiding question for partnerships is whether a collaborator fits the park’s spaces. In Miffy’s case, the Dutch connection made the partnership an organic fit and paved the way for the world-first themed area.
The new 「에반게리온 더 라이드 - 8K -」 follows the same logic. Huis Ten Bosch has positioned the park as a branch base within the Evangelion universe, effectively turning the park into a stage for the franchise.
Yu described the attraction as more than a ride. “This project transforms the park into an experiential ‘intercept fortress city,’” he said. “We combined promenade routes, a nighttime show, the ride itself, and themed guest rooms so visitors can experience the Evangelion world across multiple touchpoints.”
Immersion is the ride’s selling point. The attraction pairs an 8K LED dome screen with a high-resolution motion platform to recreate Evangelion’s battles. “This is the first—and only—attraction in Japan to use 8K technology,” Nakayama said, adding that the system creates a convincing full-body sense of suspension for riders.
Beyond the ride itself, Huis Ten Bosch has woven related offerings into a single guest journey: hotel packages, exclusive merchandise, multimedia shows, and themed food-and-drink menus. “We want visitors to experience a layered blend of European-style settings and the Evangelion universe,” Yu said.Both executives expressed optimism about the Korean market. Yu pointed to the park’s hotel options, photogenic streets, floral displays, and illuminations as particular strengths, noting that Korean travelers often prize Huis Ten Bosch as a “hidden small-city getaway.” Nakayama said Korean visitors generally prefer relaxed, local experiences over big-city tourism.
The park’s visitor mix has shifted since the pandemic. Nakayama said attractions like Miffy Wonder Square and an expanded illuminations program have drawn more young people. Yu added that family travel—especially around Chuseok and Lunar New Year—has increased, with more families booking the park’s managed hotels such as Hotel Europe, Amsterdam, and Forest Villa.
Huis Ten Bosch is adapting its future plans to reflect these trends, expanding offerings that combine family-friendly convenience with restorative, out-of-the-ordinary experiences that appeal across generations.
Standout recommendations include the Canal Cruise that runs the park’s waterways and the three-story Sky Carousel, which stands 15 meters (about 49 feet) tall. The Sky Carousel’s distinct daytime and nighttime atmospheres make it a favorite photo spot and a commonly recommended ride.
Looking ahead, Huis Ten Bosch plans to bolster its appeal to international visitors. Nakayama said the park is hiring more foreign staff, improving multilingual services, adding more vegetarian options, and upgrading its mobile app to better serve diverse guests. He envisions developing Huis Ten Bosch as a leading resort for Nagasaki and western Kyushu—one that combines nature, hot springs and world heritage sites. Yu emphasized that the park will continue evolving as “an otherworld to long for,” where nature, attractions and relaxation coexist.Wrapping up the interview, both executives stressed that Huis Ten Bosch has matured from a day-trip destination into a resort that rewards multi-night stays. “Whether you’re returning or visiting for the first time, we’ll keep building content so every guest leaves with more than they expected,” they said in unison.
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