Chausuyama Dinosaur Park is a unique outdoor attraction on Mount Chausuyama in Shinonoi, Nagano City, where nature, imagination, and prehistoric life come together. The park is part of the 33-hectare Chausuyama Nature Botanical Garden, which was developed on land affected by a historic landslide.
Scattered throughout the greenery are life-size models of dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures from around the world. Made from fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP), the models create the unusual experience of encountering dinosaurs in a natural mountain setting.
The site is widely known as one of Japan’s pioneering dinosaur parks, offering a fun and memorable experience for children and adults alike.
The Chausuyama Nature Botanical Garden and Dinosaur Park were developed by Nagano City as part of a project commemorating the city’s 80th anniversary.
Rather than leaving the damaged landscape unused, the city transformed the unusual terrain into an attraction with a bold prehistoric theme. The idea of placing life-size dinosaurs on the mountain gave the former landslide area a completely new identity and created a place where visitors could enjoy nature while imagining the distant history of the Earth.
Admission to the park is free. Because the area receives considerable snowfall during winter, however, the park closes approximately from mid-December to mid-March. Visitors should check the seasonal opening period when planning a trip.
The park features approximately 25 life-size models of dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures from the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras, including species associated with the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.
The largest model is a gigantic Diplodocus measuring approximately 25 meters in length. Standing beneath such a huge prehistoric creature gives visitors a striking sense of the scale of these ancient animals.
Some of the models are designed so that children can interact with them as play equipment, including structures that function as slides. This combination of education, imagination, and outdoor play is one of the park’s distinctive attractions.
Permian Period: Dimetrodon, Seymouria, and Edaphosaurus.
Triassic Period: Thecodontosaurus and Plateosaurus.
Jurassic Period: Archaeopteryx, Ornitholestes, Allosaurus, Brontosaurus and Apatosaurus, Ceratosaurus, Diplodocus, Cetiosaurus, Kentrosaurus, and Stegosaurus.
Cretaceous Period: Protoceratops, Pteranodon, Trachodon, Triceratops, Ankylosaurus, Tyrannosaurus, and Iguanodon.
The collection includes models representing adults, young animals, and even eggs, allowing visitors to imagine the diversity of prehistoric life rather than seeing dinosaurs as a single group of creatures.
Chausuyama Dinosaur Park also offers a beautiful seasonal attraction in spring. Approximately 80 cherry trees bloom along the embankment near the park entrance.
When the blossoms reach full bloom, the trees create a beautiful tunnel of cherry blossoms. The combination of pink flowers, green mountain scenery, and enormous dinosaur models creates a particularly unusual landscape.
Mount Chausuyama became known for a large-scale landslide that once caused serious damage to apple orchards and homes in the surrounding area. Nagano Prefecture and Nagano City worked together to stabilize the land by removing groundwater and implementing measures to prevent further movement.
After the landslide was brought under control, however, the damaged landscape remained largely barren. Local residents were disappointed to see the once-familiar area left in poor condition.
Nagano City therefore began looking for a way to transform the land into a place where people could gather and enjoy themselves. The result was the Chausuyama Nature Botanical Garden and the unusual idea of creating a dinosaur park.
Takehiko Kojima, a former director of the Nagano City government, imagined a landscape in which dinosaurs stood among the trees of Mount Chausuyama.
His idea was based on more than simple fantasy. Dinosaurs were real animals that once lived on Earth, and he believed that seeing them in a natural setting could encourage visitors to think about the immense history of the natural world.
The proposal initially met with opposition, but Kojima’s enthusiasm eventually persuaded the mayor and the dinosaur installation project was approved.
Because the models were to be installed on former landslide terrain, conventional concrete foundations could not simply be used. Engineers instead designed raft-like steel foundations using H-shaped steel beams to provide stability and durability.
The dinosaur models were made from reinforced plastic containing approximately 20 percent glass fiber. Steel frames were incorporated inside the models, allowing them to withstand wind speeds of up to approximately 35 meters per second.
The unusual setting therefore required both creative design and careful engineering to ensure that the giant prehistoric creatures could remain safely in place.
The models were produced by Nitto Shoji, a company specializing in model production. Creating life-size dinosaurs was a new challenge for the company, and the designers carried out repeated discussions and adjustments at their workshop in Tokyo.
Considerable attention was given to color, skin texture, and the appearance of muscles. The designers studied newts and the skin structures of various living animals to develop more convincing surfaces and coloration.
For the Stegosaurus model, for example, the wrinkles on a turtle’s neck were studied as a reference for reproducing the texture of dinosaur skin.
These observations helped give the models a more natural appearance while allowing them to remain suitable for an outdoor environment.
In May 1980, the first 15 dinosaur models were completed. The Dinosaur Park officially opened on July 27, 1980.
Even the surrounding facilities were carefully designed. For example, the location and design of the gazebos were planned after studying the movement of the sun so that visitors could find shade while enjoying the park.
In 1981, another eight models were added, further expanding the park and helping establish it as a popular destination for families and dinosaur enthusiasts.
July 27, 1977: Chausuyama Nature Botanical Garden opens.
July 27, 1980: Dinosaur Park opens within the botanical garden.
September 23, 1985: Chausuyama Museum of Natural History opens within the park.
1997: The Chausuyama landslide is officially declared to have come to an end.
April 1, 2006: Nagano City Development Corporation becomes the designated manager.
November 25, 2007: Chausuyama Museum of Natural History closes and its functions are integrated with the Togakushi Geological and Fossil Museum.
Chausuyama Dinosaur Park is unusual not simply because it contains dinosaur models, but because of the story behind its creation. A landscape once associated with a devastating landslide was transformed into a place of recreation, nature, and imagination.
Today, visitors can walk among enormous prehistoric creatures, enjoy seasonal scenery, and learn about the geological and environmental history of the area. For children, the dinosaurs provide an exciting adventure, while adults can appreciate the fascinating story of how the landscape itself was restored and given a new purpose.
From Shinonoi Station, served by JR and Shinano Railway, the park is approximately 15 minutes by taxi.
Depending on the season and special events, shuttle buses may also operate from Nagano Station.
Whether you are traveling with children, interested in dinosaurs, or simply looking for an unusual attraction surrounded by nature, Chausuyama Dinosaur Park offers a memorable experience that is unlike most conventional sightseeing destinations in Nagano.