Hours

What Hours does

Hours (legal entity: 株式会社アワーズ / AWS CO., LTD, established September 1977) operates Adventure World (アドベンチャーワールド), an integrated zoological, marine, safari, and amusement theme park located at 2399 Katata, Shirahama-cho, Nishimuro-gun, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, since April 22, 1978. The park houses approximately 120 species and 1,600 animals across three principal zones — Marine World (dolphin/sea lion performances, Japan's largest penguin habitat with 10 species), Safari World (walking, cycling, cart, and jeep tours), and Enjoy World (amusement rides) — alongside specialty installations including the Penguin World Lounge 'Penguin Dialogues' multi-sensory digital art space and ten animal-themed cafes.

The business is a multi-stream, event-driven consumer operation. Core revenue streams include: tiered day admission (1DAY adults 5,300 JPY down to children 3,300 JPY); unlimited/infinite re-entry passes (adult upgrades +3,000 to +3,500 JPY) and recurring annual passports; paid optional tours, animal-feeding, dolphin, and safari-jeep experiences; on-site F&B (Dontei, Rainbow, Smile Kitchen, plus 10 animal cafes); retail via in-park stores, an online shop, and external pop-ups; and premium commemorative services including the 110,000 JPY Maternity Photography Package, Happy Wedding plans, and the 176,000 JPY Horse Coaching Program co-developed with WHA Japan and YeeY Inc. Customers purchase through the official Terravie ticketing app, on-site, partner travel agencies, and partner retailers.

The target customer mix spans three segments: families with children (primary, supported by stroller rentals, family restaurants, and kids' spaces), corporate and group bookings (school excursions, team events), and premium experience seekers (maternity/wedding/horse-coaching). Marketing runs through the official site, Terravie app, social channels (X, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok), pop-up stores, and a government partnership with Wakayama Prefecture for free local children's admission. The wholly-owned AWS Animal Academy subsidiary (animal husbandry school, opened April 2000, ~390 graduates since inception) has been announced for closure by March 31, 2028. Industry partnerships include the four-institution 'Aquarium Friendship Project' with Toba Aquarium, Taiji Town Whale Museum, and Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan. The company is privately held with no public revenue disclosure.

Name

Hours

Legal name

株式会社アワーズ（AWS CO.,LTD)

Website

https://aws-s.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hours, operating as Adventure World, runs a Shirahama, Wakayama-based zoological and amusement theme park housing ~120 species and 1,600 animals across Marine, Safari, and Enjoy zones, serving families, groups, and premium experience seekers via admission tiers, optional tours, F&B, retail, and specialty programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Theme Park and Zoo

NAICS

Amusement and Theme Parks (71311), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130), All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (713990)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Amusement Parks & Theme Parks (THAAAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Amusement Parks (Regional/Local Ride Parks & Funfairs) (THAJAEAD), Safari & Overland Wildlife Adventures (4x4/Jeep) (THAJABAD)

Keywords

• Theme park operations
• Zoo and safari park
• Annual passport membership
• Animal interaction programs
• Wedding and event venues

Headquarters

HQ city

Shirahama

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Theme Park Admissions: Base admission revenue from day tickets (1DAY), with pricing tiers for adults (5,300 JPY), seniors (4,800 JPY), middle-schoolers (4,300 JPY), and children (3,300 JPY). Same-day re-entry is allowed with a hand stamp.
2. Optional Tours and Attractions: Paid optional tours, attractions, and experiences including animal feeding, safari jeep tours, cycling safaris, dolphin experiences, and special behind-the-scenes programs. Booking methods vary by attraction: same-day reservation, first-come-first-served, or advance reservation.
3. Food and Beverage: On-site restaurants, cafes, and take-out food services across the park including Dontei (Japanese food), Rainbow (take-out), Smile Kitchen (family restaurant with kids' space), and 10 types of animal-themed cafes inside animal enclosures.
4. Retail / Merchandise: On-site shops selling original animal-themed merchandise, exclusive goods, snacks, and souvenirs. The park also operates an online shop and pop-up stores at external locations (e.g., Odakyu Department Store Shinjuku).
5. Special Programs and Services: Premium paid experiences including the Horse Coaching Program (176,000 JPY per person, 1-night 2-day), Maternity Photography Package (110,000 JPY), Happy Wedding plans, and annual passports.
6. Annual Passports: Annual passport subscriptions offering unlimited park entry throughout the year.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Hours (AWS CO., LTD / 株式会社アワーズ) operates Adventure World, a combined zoo, safari park, and amusement park in Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. The company sells daily admission tickets and annual passports, runs on-site retail and animal cafés, hosts weddings and maternity photography programs, and offers animal interaction and education programs including the AWS Animal Academy.

Product overview

アドベンチャーワールド (Adventure World) is a unified theme park experience consisting of three main zones: Marine World (マリンワールド) featuring marine animal performances and Japan's largest penguin habitat, Safari World (サファリワールド) offering close wildlife encounters, and Enjoy World (エンジョイワールド) amusement area. The park houses approximately 120 species and 1,600 animals. Additional offerings include specialty experiences like the Horse Coaching Program for well-being, 10 themed Animal Cafes, Penguin World Lounge with multi-sensory digital art, maternity photography, and animal-themed weddings. Education division AWS Animal Academy operates within the park as a specialized animal husbandry school.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ＡＷＳ動物学院（AWS Animal Academy）: アドベンチャーワールドをキャンパスフィールドとした動物饲养教育機関。Wildlife Management Department wild animal husbandry education program. Scheduled to close in March 2028.

Products and services

• Adventure World 1-Day Adventure Pass Single-day admission ticket granting access to Marine World, Safari World, and Enjoy World zones at the Adventure World park in Shirahama, Wakayama. Targeted at families, couples, and tourists seeking a one-visit zoo, safari, and amusement park experience.
• Annual Passport (Infinite Adventure Pass and More Infinite Adventure Pass) Annual membership pass offering unlimited park entry over a 12-month period, with tiers such as the Infinite Adventure Pass and More Infinite Adventure Pass for repeat local and regional visitors.
• Happy Wedding Plan Wedding reception package that uses Adventure World's themed zones and animal backdrops as a distinctive ceremony and reception venue for couples.
• Maternity Photo Plan Maternity photography package offering expectant parents the park's themed zones and animal areas as photo shoot backdrops.
• AWS Animal Academy Educational program offering structured animal-themed learning experiences at the park, designed for school field trips, kindergarten visits, and public learners.
• WHA Japan Horse Coaching Program Horse coaching and equestrian training program associated with WHA Japan, leveraging the park's horse-handling expertise for trainees and equestrian learners.
• Animal Cafés Paid on-site café experiences that let visitors interact with animals in a controlled setting while purchasing food and beverages.
• Pop-up Stores Rotating on-site pop-up retail stores selling branded merchandise, souvenirs, and themed goods to park visitors.
• Penguin World Lounge (Penguin Dialogues) Premium penguin-viewing lounge that lets visitors observe and interact with the park's penguin colony, marketed as a "Penguin Dialogues" experience.

Quantifiable outcome

• Unlimited Adventure Pass surpassed 10,000 cumulative users, leading to the launch of an extended 'More Unlimited Adventure Pass' covering through May 2027.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered notable, core and minor.

• 鳥羽水族館 (Toba Aquarium)notableStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the 'アクアリウムフレンドシッププロジェクト' (Aquarium Friendship Project), a collaboration among 4 regional aquarium/marine institutions in the Kansai area to share animal husbandry expertise and jointly pursue rare animal breeding programs.
• 太地町立くじらの博物館 (Taiji Town Whale Museum)notableStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the 'アクアリウムフレンドシッププロジェクト' (Aquarium Friendship Project), collaborating with 4 Kansai-area institutions to improve animal husbandry techniques and breeding programs for rare marine animals.
• 海遊館 (Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan)notableStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the 'アクアリウムフレンドシッププロジェクト' (Aquarium Friendship Project), collaborating to enhance breeding efforts for rare animals through shared expertise among 4 regional marine institutions.
• 日本ウェルビーイングホースセラピーホースコーチング協会 (WHA Japan)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupervising and co-developing the Horse Coaching Program at Adventure World. WHA Japan (Well-being Horse Therapy & Coaching Association) provides program oversight and expertise for the horse-based well-being coaching experience.
• YeeY Inc. (株式会社YeeY)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developer of the Horse Coaching Program. YeeY's co-founder and CEO also serves as CWO (Chief Well-being Officer), providing well-being expertise for program design and delivery.
• GIVENESS InternationalnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on the Horse Coaching Program, with their director (与那覇 晋作) serving as PONY business development lead and contributing to program design.
• ル・クロ (Le Clos, French Restaurant)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWest Japan's first collaborative wedding partner, providing gourmet catering for the 'HAPPY WEDDING' plans at Adventure World.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan: Kaiyukan is one of Japan's largest aquariums and a formal Adventure World partner in the Aquarium Friendship Project. Comparable as a Kansai-based marine animal attraction targeting families and tourists with ticketed admission and live marine programming.
• Asahiyama Zoo: Asahiyama Zoo is one of Japan's most-visited zoos, known for immersive animal exhibits and behavioral displays. Comparable as a Japanese regional zoo destination competing for the same family/tourism demographic with paid admission and animal experience programming.
• Tobu Zoo: Tobu Zoo is a Japanese zoo and amusement park combination that, like Adventure World, blends animal exhibits with rides and family attractions under one operation. Both parks target families seeking combined zoo + amusement experiences in regional Japanese markets.
• Himeji Central Park: Himeji Central Park operates as a combined safari, zoo, and amusement park in Hyogo Prefecture. It is the closest direct analog to Adventure World given its safari drives, animal exhibits, and ride attractions serving Kansai-area family visitors.
• Hirakata Park: Hirakata Park is a regional Japanese amusement park operating rides and family attractions. Comparable to Adventure World as a mid-sized regional Japanese theme park serving the Kansai/Osaka-area family segment with a similar mix of general admission, attractions, and seasonal events.
• Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise: Sea Paradise is an integrated aquarium, amusement park, and marine show venue. Comparable to Adventure World's Marine World + Enjoy World combination, serving families with mixed marine animal exhibits and rides under a single admission model.

Broad incumbents

• Fuji-Q Highland: Fuji-Q Highland is a Japanese theme park known for thrill rides and IP collaborations. Comparable as a major ticketed Japanese amusement park competing for tourism and family segments, though differentiated from Adventure World by its ride-centric rather than zoo-centric offering.
• Universal Studios Japan: USJ is a major Japanese theme park in Osaka offering rides, shows, and IP-based attractions. Comparable as a Kansai-area family theme park competing for tourist and regional visitor spend, though positioned at a different price/scale tier than Adventure World.
• Oriental Land (Tokyo Disney Resort): Oriental Land operates Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea, the dominant Japanese theme park operator. Comparable as a Japanese family entertainment venue with ticketed admission and live entertainment, though at vastly larger scale and with different IP/licensing economics than Adventure World's zoological core.
• Nagashima Spa Land: Nagashima Spa Land is one of Japan's largest amusement parks with extensive ride offerings and on-site hotels. Comparable as a major Japanese regional theme park competing for family tourism demand, though lacking Adventure World's zoo/safari component.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/aws_official
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCVEmpbL5VzfXsULPFeRsj4Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/adventureworld.official
• Instagraminstagram.com/adventureworld_official
• TikToktiktok.com/@adventureworldofficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/panda-land

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hours