Don’t Miss Out! A Comprehensive Guide to Metsä Village – The Free Area Near Moominvalley Park

Recently, I visited Metsä Village, the free area near Moominvalley Park!

While Moominvalley Park is a very attractive place, I recommend visiting the free area of Metsä Village before going to Moominvalley Park.

In this article, I’ll thoroughly explain how to enjoy Metsä Village, its differences from Moominvalley Park, and efficient ways to explore the area.

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How to Enjoy “Metsä Village” – The Free Area Near Moominvalley Park

Metsä Village, the free area right next to Moominvalley Park, is an attractive spot where you can enjoy the scenic Lake Miyazawa and browse Nordic goods and Moomin merchandise.

“Metsä Village” is a leisure facility located at Metsä, 327-6 Miyazawa, Hanno City, Saitama Prefecture.

By the way, the meaning of “Metsä Village” is quite interesting. “Metsä” means “forest” in Finnish, and “Village” is, well, “village,” so it literally translates to “Forest Village.”

The place truly lives up to its name of “Forest Village”!

You can experience the rich nature surrounded by forests and lakes, making for a very pleasant walk.

I actually went there and found that I could enjoy quite a lot in the free area, so I’d like to talk about the “highlights,” “activities within the facility,” and “dining and souvenirs” based on my experience.

If you’re planning to visit Moominvalley Park or going to Metsä Village as your main destination, please use this as a reference for how to enjoy Metsä Village.

Highlights of the Free Area “Metsä Village”

Metsä Village is a free area where you can enjoy shopping and dining before entering Moominvalley Park.

The overall scenery is very beautiful, and on a nice day, it’s very comfortable to relax at the cafes or benches installed within the facility.

The “Lake Miyazawa” within the facility and the rich “forest” atmosphere are very refreshing, making it an ideal facility for spending time leisurely and relaxingly.

Metsä Village is a free area in front of Moominvalley Park where you can enjoy shopping and restaurants. There are buildings and objects that evoke the world of Moomin scattered around, and there are plenty of photogenic spots.

Activities Within the Free Area “Metsä Village”

Metsä Village regularly hosts events such as workshops, art exhibitions, and markets.

There’s also a playground where children can play, an athletic course called “Fun Mock” where you can freely play around in nets spread throughout the forest, and “Metsä Pier” where you can enjoy boating on the lake, making it recommended for families. (Fun Mock and boating are paid activities. Please check the official website for details.)

Dining and Souvenirs in the Free Area “Metsä Village”

In Metsä Village, you can find places selling Moomin character Arabia tableware, Nordic-inspired general stores, cafes, and restaurants. There are also many shops handling original goods, making souvenir shopping enjoyable.

Comparison: Differences Between Metsä Village and Moominvalley Park

For Moomin fans and Nordic enthusiasts, Moominvalley Park and Metsä Village are must-visit spots, but what are the differences between them?

I’ll introduce the differences between Metsä Village and Moominvalley Park in terms of themes and concepts, attractions and facilities, access, and fees. I hope this will be helpful when you actually visit Moominvalley Park and Metsä Village, after understanding the characteristics of each area.

Differences in Theme and Concept

Metsä Village is a free area for enjoying shopping and dining.

On the other hand, Moominvalley Park is a paid area where you can enjoy attractions and shows.

While Metsä Village is conceptualized around “Nordic,” Moominvalley Park is designed to let you experience the world of Moomin stories, with attractions like the Moomin House, Bath House, and Lighthouse that appear in the stories.

There are also products like mugs available only within Moominvalley Park, so it’s a place Moomin fans would definitely want to visit at least once.

Differences in Attractions and Facilities

At Metsä Village, you can enjoy a walk or window shopping for free unless you purchase items.

Conversely, Moominvalley Park requires a one-day passport costing up to 3,600 yen (adults) / 2,200 yen (children), with additional costs for activities like the Zipline Adventure.

While Metsä Village focuses on shops and cafes, Moominvalley Park offers attractions and shows. You can also meet Moomin characters there.

Also, while you can bring your own food and drinks to Metsä Village, it’s not allowed inside Moominvalley Park. This can be a bit troublesome when you get thirsty or a little hungry in Moominvalley Park, as you’ll have to purchase something there.

[Comparison table omitted for brevity]

Differences in Access and Fees

Metsä Village is a free area, so there’s no entrance fee. On the other hand, Moominvalley Park is a paid area with entrance fees and additional charges for some attractions.

Both have parking available and can be accessed by public bus.

For those using train and bus, take the direct bus to “Metsä” or the bus bound for “Musashi Takogi Station via Metsä” from bus stop 1 at the North Exit of Hanno Station on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line, and get off at the “Metsä” stop.

Efficient Ways to Explore Metsä Village and Recommended Spots

The free area of Moominvalley Park, Metsä Village, is compact yet packed with attractions, making it easy for anyone to enjoy the facility efficiently.

While introducing the recommended spots and highlights of Metsä Village, I’ll also explain how to maximize your enjoyment, including estimated time required and suggested routes. If you want to create wonderful memories at Metsä Village, please use this as a reference.

Highlights of Metsä Village

At Metsä Village, you can enjoy Nordic-inspired buildings and shops, as well as outdoor activities.

The beautiful natural scenery matching with stylish buildings creates a very relaxing space.

There are also places to enjoy outdoor activities like “boat rental,” “dog run & cafe,” “outdoor private space for BBQ,” and “RV park for casual car camping,” so you can also enjoy leisurely lakeside walks or relaxing in beautiful gardens.

How Long Does It Take to Explore Metsä Village?

Metsä Village is a relatively compact area that can be explored in about 1-2 hours. It’s recommended to first take a walk along the lakeside, then take a break at a cafe, and finally enjoy the shopping area.

Recommended Shops and Activities

There are many stores in “MARKET HALL” selling uniquely Nordic groceries, daily necessities, and miscellaneous goods, which are fun just to look at.

Also, although not to the extent of Moominvalley Park, Moomin character Arabia tableware is sold at shops like “Nordics,” so dish lovers and Moomin fans will surely find something they like.

Personally, I noticed that there’s quite a lot of alcohol for sale, so those who like alcohol will probably find good souvenirs too.

Also, events and workshops are held regularly, so check those out.

Q&A: Answering Likely Questions Based on Personal Experience

Based on what I thought before going and what I experienced after actually visiting, I’ll consider likely questions about Metsä Village and answer them on my own.

What About Parking for Moominvalley Park and Metsä Village?

The parking fee is 1,000 yen/day on weekdays (free for up to 2 hours) and 1,500 yen/day on weekends, holidays, and during consecutive holidays like Golden Week.

On weekdays, since it’s free for 2 hours, you can enjoy Metsä Village for free. On weekends and holidays, if you spend 5,000 yen (including tax) or more on dining or shopping at Metsä Village, parking becomes free. Also, for those using the nearby facility “Miyazawa Lake Onsen Kirari Bettei,” parking is free.

The parking fee is a bit high for just a short visit on holidays.

So, if you’re going during peak periods, I recommend using the lesser-known parking lot “Miyazawa Lake Moomin Soba Parking” that can be reserved in advance.

Although it’s not officially affiliated with Moominvalley Park and Metsä Village, this parking lot offers very cheap rates at 300 yen for 11 hours.

This lesser-known parking lot is about a 5-minute walk for adults to the entrance of Metsä Village.

If you want to plan ahead and get to the facility smoothly, I recommend using the “Miyazawa Lake Moomin Soba Parking.”

You can reserve the parking space from the link below.

Reservable special parking → https://toku-p.earth-car.com/parking-detail/310003097

Are There Accommodation Facilities at Metsä Village?

There are no accommodation facilities within Metsä Village, but there are hotels and private lodgings in the surrounding area.

Personally, if you can do car camping, I think it would be more fun to stay at “Metsä RV Park.”

As of April 23, 2023, there are no hotels within Moominvalley Park either.

For Moominvalley Park, it’s best to stay at a nearby hotel using their plans that include a 1-day pass to Moominvalley Park.

The closest to Moominvalley Park is “Marroad Inn Hanno,” which is right next to Hanno City Hall.

The map below shows the accommodation facilities that are part of the Moominvalley Park 1-day pass plan, as introduced on the official Moominvalley Park website. There seem to be plan-exclusive services, so please inquire directly with the hotel you wish to stay at for plan details.

Can You Do Zipline at Metsä Village?

You cannot do the zipline (Flying Oni’s Zipline Adventure) at Metsä Village.

The zipline is an attraction inside Moominvalley Park, so you need to enter Moominvalley Park to access it.

Does the Zipline Inside Moominvalley Park Ever Stop Midway?

In conclusion, if you follow the instructions properly, the zipline rarely stops midway.

However…

I saw it…

Someone stopped midway…

They were pulling with all their arm strength, so it looked really tough.

I don’t know how it ended up… ← Heartless!

It was probably a park employee! So it should be fine! ← Irresponsible laugh

If you’re worried, check before you fly about what to do if you stop midway.

What’s the Key to Enjoying Both Moominvalley Park and Metsä Village?

Since Moominvalley Park and Metsä Village are adjacent, you can enjoy both on the same day.

I haven’t been to Moominvalley Park yet…

But I think the best way to fully enjoy both would be to spend the morning at Moominvalley Park, have lunch at Metsä Village, and then explore Metsä Village in the afternoon.

If you do go, it’s better to purchase advance tickets for Moominvalley Park as they’re slightly cheaper and can help reduce waiting time at the entrance.

Conclusion: Have the Best Day at Moominvalley Park and Metsä Village!

In this article, I explained about Metsä Village, the free area near Moominvalley Park.

By combining Moominvalley Park and Metsä Village, you can have the best day out.

This time, I only enjoyed Metsä Village, but my impression was…

I wish I had gone to Moominvalley Park too! I wanted to try the zipline!

So I’m definitely going again!

I plan to write about it when I go again.

And when you go to Moominvalley Park, please enjoy Metsä Village as well.

I hope this article has been helpful in planning your enjoyable excursion that suits you.