Carousel - Nara Dreamland (c.1960s)

Ticket1960sLeisure
Written By Zara Picken

Year: c.1960s

Format: Ticket

Illustrator: Uncredited

Client: Nara Dreamland

Details: This ticket was for an attraction called Nara Dreamland, a theme park near Nara in Japan. It was conceived by Japanese businessman Kunizo Matsuo, who was impressed after visiting Disneyland in 1955. Matsuo discussed franchising Disneyland in Japan with Walt Disney but the deal fell through.

Matsuo still wanted to open a Disney-like park, so opened the park in 1961 without any Disney-licensed imagery. However, features such as the entrance, Main Street and Sleeping Beauty castle were very similar. The park was initially popular due to the Disneyland resemblance.

However, following the opening of Tokyo Disneyland in 1983, visitor numbers fell. The park eventually closed in 2006 and was demolished in 2016.

Zara Picken
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Nara Dreamland (c.1960s)