Sagamiko MORI MORI: theme park, camping and the Illumillion

About 50 kilometres from Tokyo, in the mountainous area of Sagamihara, there is a park I have been visiting for several years that works quite differently from what you would expect from a standard theme park. Sagamiko MORI MORI (さがみ湖MORI MORI) — known as Sagamiko Resort Pleasure Forest until July 2024 — combines a theme park, a campsite run by PICA, a hot spring, and one of the country’s largest winter illumination events in a single complex. That combination is what makes it worth coming back to more than once.

The theme park

The park occupies a mountain slope, which gives it a natural topography many flat parks lack. Attractions are spread between the lower and upper sections, connected by an open-seat chairlift that is one of the most characteristic sights of the place.

The Ferris wheel at the top of the hill has some of the best views in the area: Lake Sagami below, mountains on all sides, and on clear days a distant outline of Tokyo.

The main attractions are the adventure courses: Muscle Monster is a multi-storey wooden structure with zip lines, climbing walls and suspended walkways. Picasso’s Eggs has 29 different skill and balance challenges. There are gentler options for young children as well. The park works best for families with school-age children or groups of adults who want to tackle the adventure courses — it is not a big roller coaster park.

Park entry is around ¥1,900 for adults. The Free Pass for unlimited attraction use is around ¥4,500.

The Illumillion

The event that has brought me back most often is the Sagamiko Illumillion: a multi-million-LED illumination that covers the entire park hillside from late autumn through spring. It runs in the evenings once it gets dark, and it transforms the park completely.

The daytime chairlift becomes an entirely different experience at night: the seats pass over a sea of coloured lights covering the slope below. It is one of the most striking moments of the whole event and one of the best photographs you can take there.

One of the elements that changes each season is the main centrepiece show. In the 2024 edition there was a drone show that formed a giant Paddington Bear figure in the sky, with the illuminated Ferris wheel behind it.

The Illumillion entry is included for guests staying at the PICA campsite — one of the reasons spending a night there makes a lot of sense.

PICA Sagamiko: the campsite

PICA Sagamiko is within the same complex, run by PICA Resort (part of the Fujikyu group, the same company behind Fuji-Q Highland). They offer several types of accommodation: set-up tent sites, permanent Enjoy Tents, and auto camping pitches, all with wooden platforms or prepared areas.

The most common plan is the CAMP Pack: one night with a BBQ dinner, breakfast, and park entry included. Dinner is prepared at the Wild Cooking Garden area with ingredients and equipment already provided — no need to bring anything. Plans range from pork and chicken to a higher tier with beef and seafood. The morning after, waking up to the mountains in the sun, is one of the things I like most about staying overnight.

Bookings are made online at the PICA site (pica-resort.jp). Weekends during the Illumillion season fill up well in advance.

The Ururi onsen

Inside the complex is a hot spring called うるり (Ururi), with both indoor and outdoor baths. The building has a careful design, and the outdoor section at night — with the mountain sky above — is particularly beautiful.

Campsite guests get a discount or included access depending on the plan. If you visit the park during the day only, the onsen has a separate entry fee.

Getting there

By train: JR Chuo Line from Shinjuku to Sagamiko Station (around 55–65 minutes on rapid services). From the station, take the bus towards Mikage (三ヶ木) and get off at the さがみ湖MORI MORI前 stop, about 8 minutes. The JR Pass covers the Chuo Line journey.

By car: Chuo Expressway (中央自動車道), Sagamiko IC exit. Parking is ¥1,000 per day. If you are camping, a car is much more practical for carrying gear, though PICA offers rental equipment on site.

When to go

The park is open year-round but closes on Wednesdays and Thursdays during normal season. The Illumillion runs from late October or November through late April or early May — exact dates change each year, so check the park’s online calendar before booking.

Weekends during the Illumillion are the busiest. Going on a weekday is noticeably quieter.