NHK Studiopark

NHK or the Nippon Housou Kyouka is Japan’s Broadcasting Corporation which is the public TV of Japan just as the ABC is Australia’s and BBC is Great Britain’s.

The Tokyo NHK Studio Park is in Shibuya walking distance from the Harajuka Station or JR Shibuya Station which are both close to Yoyogi Park and are open to the public. Attracting nearly 1 million visitors a year the studio park offers a tour of the recording studios where you can see where some of Japan’s favourite television is recorded. You might even be lucky enough to see some recording of a drama or news.

The public is also treated to a mini studio theme park with quite a few attractions including chances for visitors to try their hand at announcing or even acting.

Studio Q offers visitors to see the cutting edge broadcasting technologies used to deliver quality television and there is even a 3D high definition theatre which is well worth a visit.

For those wanting to be in the studio audience of one of the sometimes whacky television shows you can make an advance booking with the centre.

Like all Japanese media there are some pretty cute and somewhat weird animated characters in the NHK line up including Domo-kun, he is this little brown creature with a mean looking mouth that hatched from an egg and lives underground with a wise old rabbit…well you get the drift… He is one of the favourites at the great gift shop at NHK Studio Park which stocks lots of TV-themed T-shirts and other Japanese TV novelties.

The centre has a modest admission charge and is closed some Mondays and holidays