adventure experience

Copal, a children's playground in Yamagata City, is an all-weather playground perfect for snowy regions! You can have fun all year round.

  • ikoke ikoke
  • Last updated: 2025.08.19

Shelter Inclusive Place Copal (a children's play facility in the southern part of Yamagata City) opened in spring 2022 in Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture .

The facility has a wonderful overview, so we wanted to share it with as many people as possible. Please also take a look at the overall design of the facility, which is unique to snow country.

Indoor play facilities unique to the snowy country

Shelter Inclusive Place Copal (a children's play facility in southern Yamagata City), which opened in April 2022, is a facility based on the concept of an "inclusive" space where all children can play together and have fun, regardless of gender, age, nationality, or whether they have a disability.

The facility features a cloud-like curved roof that echoes the Zao mountain range behind it, and its design creates a natural connection from the site to the interior.

The wooden dome of the gymnasium, the large playground, and the continuous sloped space are not just barrier-free, but also designed to encourage learning and awareness through play. The architecture itself is a plaything, and the space is attracting attention as a place that truly embodies the idea of "inclusiveness."

Yamagata Prefecture is known nationwide for its heavy snowfall. Among them, Yamagata City has one of the fewest snowfalls, but as of February 2022, the snowfall exceeded 80cm for the first time in 10 years.

In winter, there are almost no places for children to play, and of course outdoor parks are unusable due to accumulated snow. In this environment, a long-awaited indoor play facility has been born.

A facility where children with disabilities can play together

Copal aims to be an all-weather indoor play facility that can be enjoyed by everyone from infants to adults (parents).More importantly, it is barrier-free and can be enjoyed by all children.

This facility is also suitable for children with disabilities, and there are various types of swings available for everyone from toddlers to older children, including swings that can be ridden in wheelchairs and swings that provide firm support for the body with belts.

It makes me so happy to see him riding the swing and feeling the breeze and seeing his big smile on his face.

Can you let your baby play while watching your child play?

This play space was conceived from the feedback that ``It would be nice if the younger children could play while watching the older children play.''

The high ceilings and spacious space are gently separated by benches to protect the play area for young children. It's the ideal play area, where you can sit on a bench and keep an eye on your children playing actively, or let them play right in front of you.

There is also a theater and reading corner.

The children's eyes sparkled and they were fascinated by the hands-on play equipment, which had images that changed in response to voices and sounds. Her mother was also happily participating. Some fees may apply, so please check in advance!

The book corner has approximately 1,400 picture books, including books in Braille that you can touch and enjoy.

The chairs are also box-shaped, and depending on the direction you place them, the height of the seat changes, allowing you to sit at a height that best suits your height. I want a chair like this at home! That's what you think.

The book section was also overflowing with messages like "Barrier-free, everyone together!"

Pool? ball? Play with wooden balls!

It's a pool-like playground filled with wooden balls.

Natural wood is used throughout the facility, and even the air is purified by the power of nature. That's what I think. In fact, we also pay close attention to the air conditioning. Furthermore, the ceilings are high throughout and the visibility is good, giving a sense of freedom.

A playful wooden bench that doubles as a xylophone

xylophone? bench? Although it is a bench created with a sense of fun, it is also an excellent item that can be used as a xylophone. Even adults will want to try playing the music.

It's so much fun outside!

Summer fun! There is also a space where you can enjoy splashing around in water. It is outdoors, but it is an open space that only visitors can use.

summary

Copal, an all-weather indoor play facility that focuses on barrier-free access, including the first "swing that wheelchair users can ride" in the country, has been the talk of the town even before it opened.It is a wonderful space that lives up to the rumors, so if you haven't been there yet, why not go and check it out?

I sincerely hope that spaces like Copal, where anyone can play and everyone can play together, and where even adults can get excited, will spread all over the country!

Yamagata City Southern Children's Play Facility (copal) <Information>

  • Name: Shelter Inclusive Place Copal (children's play facility in southern Yamagata City)
  • Address: 580-1 Katayachi, Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture, 990-2316, Copal
  • Phone number: 023-676-9876
  • Official URL: https://copal-kids.jp/

Google Map

Other articles