No one does escapism quite like the Japanese, and the most creative ways to escape can be found in Tokyo. This is a city where stress, and finding ways to shake it off, are a part of daily life. The theme parks in and around Tokyo are prime examples of Japan’s excellent diversions, mostly erected during Japan’s 1980s economic bubble. 

Today there are 20 theme parks remaining in the vicninity of Tokyo; the indoor ocean and ski-field, alas, both closed for business. One of these though -- Tokyo Disneyland -- is the third most-attended theme park in the world. According to the 2009 Theme Index, a report on global attractions and their attendance, over 13 million people visited Tokyo Disneyland in 2009, a 4 percent decrease from the previous year. But that decrease will do little to damage the profits of the Disney empire. Instead it’s the smaller, more eccentric theme parks that are threatened by the current financial crisis.

Plus, the huge theme park developments across Asia (particularly China) are nearing completion, which will likely lead to fewer Asian tourists visiting Tokyo. Theme parks that are not visited die, and if you look in the right places you can see the evidence -- parks abandoned and overgrown as haikyo (ruins). Here are five of these outsider theme parks, resisting their fate with panache; eccentric parks that have heart, charm and elicit real nostalgia for a time when Tokyo had more money than it knew what to do with and when life seemed a little simpler. 

Roller Coaster Connoisseurs: Tobu Zoo Park (Tobu Dobutsukoen)

Although offering only a few thrill rides, Tobu Zoo has attracted roller-coaster connoisseurs (yes, they do exist) from around the world. Built by Tobu Railways in 1981, Tobu Zoo has become a hybrid zoo, water park and amusement park occupying a 530,000 square meter property. Alongside the other 37 attractions, the new kermit green coaster, Kawasemi, built in 2008 (at a cost of over ¥1.8 billion) is a real draw. Despite having no loop, visitors praise its high speed, airtime and vicious turns. Only slightly more relaxing is Regina, a towering 39 meter tall wooden coaster and one of the last ‘woodies’ in Japan. Outside the amusement area the zoo features a range of expected bipeds and quadrupeds, most notable are three white tigers and The Hotarium, an indoor firefly exhibit.

How to get there: Tobu Line to Tobu-Dobutsukoen Station

Website: www.tobuzoo.com

Tel. +81 (0) 4 8093 1200

Eternal Summer at an Indoor Beach: Water Adventure Tokyo Summerland

An hour away from Tokyo, and built up on the side of a mountain, Tokyo Summerland is the busiest waterpark in Japan. In 2009 over 920,000 people visited the park, making for some extremely crowded days over summer. One of those days was captured on video and went viral on Youtube, showing no water in the wave pool, just an ocean of bodies bobbing up and down. Also inside the temperature-controlled Adventure Dome is a lagoon and fake beach complete with deck chairs. Outside you can float along a 650 meter long river pool on rubber tubes or try Towers Rock, the newly built twin set of water slides. Less popular are the  thrill rides, but a jarring roller coaster called Tornado seems to draw a few unsuspecting riders.

How to get there: Take the bus from Keio-Hachoji Station for Summer Land, the last stop.

Website: www.summerland.co.jp/english

Tel. +81 (0) 4 2558 6511

Japan's First Theme Park: Asakusa Hanayashiki

Opened by a gardener named Morita Rokusaburo in 1853, at the end of the Edo period, this is the oldest surviving theme park in Japan. Now owned by Namco, a Japanese toy manufacturer, the park occupies a tiny block of land; squashed between the Asakusa-Kannon temple and a once-thriving area of shops and restaurants from days when this was Tokyo’s HQ for organized crime.

Today the tiny block where the original park stood is covered in layer-upon-layer of themed rides and attractions, divided into three areas, Fantasy & Dreams, Mystery & Panic and Full of Excitement. The park's centrepieces are Bee Tower, a 60 meter high gondola styled ride, and what may be the worlds first steel-tracked roller coaster. It already attracts 550,000 visitors per year, and spokesman Takashi Matsushita says attendance is on the up, though the majority of guests are local Japanese. "We would like to change style from a common ride park to a traditional Japanese entertainment park at the historical and traditional town of Asakusa. The major aim of a theme park is to offer unordinary things to visitors. We think that Tokyo itself has become 'mega theme park' through development of a large city capturing entertainment traits, so we cannot be optimistic in the business environment. Each theme park should have more personality because people can make memories here. Children turn to adults to love them, and young people become parents [and return] with their children to visit again."

Children will surely love it, but the challenge for adults is that the seats are literally too small on some attractions.

How to get there: Take the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line to Asakusa Station

Website: www.hanayashiki.net

Tel. +81 (0) 3 3842 8780

Ride the Monorail to Fish in a Fake Lake: Fantasy Pointe Nasu Highland

Built onto the south side of Mt Chausu -- an active Volcano in Nasu -- Fantasy Pointe Nasu Highland features a pedal-powered monorail, a fake lake which you can fish in, and a set of matching roller coasters. The coloring of the entire park is impeccable, stark white contrasts against blue, green, yellow and purple. It all looks art-directed by a Swiss modernist on psychotropics. There are nine coasters in total, many built by Japanese coaster manufacturer Meisho, the most enjoyable of which is Big Boom, providing a nice moment of weightlessness as it goes vertical. Child-friendly exhibits are plentiful, including a whole pavilion dedicated to Lego. Afterwards you can retire by fishing in a man-made lake before cooking your catch on a nearby barbecue.

How to get there: Tohoku JR line to Kuroiso station and catch a bus to Nasu Highland.

Website: http://nasuhai.co.jp

Tel. +81 (0) 2 87781150

Hello Kitty’s Psychedelic Sellertainment: Sanrio Puroland

Located in the heart of one of Tokyo’s newest suburbs is Sanrio Puroland, a theme park dedicated to Japan’s 36-year-old mouthless mascot, Hello Kitty. The character might already be emblazoned on over 15,000 products (Sanrio is not fussy when it comes to licensing), but the most impressive and bizarre example is surely Puroland, a 49,000 square meter, four-storied, hysterically colored indoor amusement park. At the center of it all is Hello Kitty’s life-sized house. An example of extremely narcissistic interior decorating; every single item of furniture is shaped in the likeness of the owner. Apart from a Sanrio Character boatride, most of the action is at the many performances throughout each day which feature professional dancers and the Sanrio characters themselves. Just be careful the expanses of pastel plastic and fake fur don’t lull you or your wallet into a cute coma -- the gift shop is one of the key attractions at Puroland.

How to get there: Take the Keio Line to Tama Center station.

Website: www.puroland.co.jp

tel. +81 (0) 4 2339 1111

For other wild and wacky theme parks across Asia, including Korea's Love Land, click here.