Pretty parks

Appearances can be deceiving. Standing in front of a huge red brick building that could conceivably be a chocolate factory - but does not resemble in any way my image of a theme park - I was convinced I was at the wrong place.

Having heard so much about the Shiroi Koibito Park in Sapporo, a theme park created by local chocolate company Ishiya, I was expecting a bit more fanfare like how Charlie felt when he first entered Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory in Roald Dahl's story. But, no queues whatsoever.

However, once I got past the main gates, a magnificent courtyard opened up before me, with a lovely rose garden in full bloom, surrounded by grand Tudor buildings and, looming overhead, a chiming mechanical clock tower.

Once I saw the miniature steam train chugging past a fantasy gingerbread house, I fell in love with the place.

Cookies in progress

Inside the chocolate factory, we went past a hall with an ornate fountain and a collection of delicate- looking antique chocolate cups, ending up in a 19th-century-style English chocolate factory.

While interactive displays explained the intricacies of how chocolate was made in the past, what really got the visitors excited was watching the actual modern day cookie production line.

Each stage of the process can be seen, with workers dressed in white uniforms, face masks and head covers working alongside ovens, mechanised machines that sandwich the chocolate between the freshly baked cookies, conveyor belts and packaging machines, with the individually packed cookie finally ending up in a box.

The level of automation was impressive, but what completed the picture was when I popped a piece of the company's flagship Shiroi Koibito cookie, which came with my ticket purchase, into my mouth.

The explosion of flavour, the perfect level of crunchiness and the rich creaminess of its chocolate made that biscuit incredibly delicious.

I almost couldn't bear having only one piece, but thankfully, the factory had a massive shop on site to sell converts like me more of its delectable wares.

If watching was not enough, visitors can also make their own confections at the Cookiecraft Studio, or practice painting a cookie, for an additional fee.

The park is not just about the famous biscuits and chocolates, but it also contains other rather odd bits of the collection, such as in the gramophone gallery where you can find various turntables of days gone by, or a room full of toys.

A touch of Dutch

Another special theme park not to be missed in Japan is Huis Ten Bosch.

Located in the Nagasaki Prefecture in Kyushu and named after a residence of the Dutch royal family, the 152ha resort is designed like a mediaeval 17th-century Dutch town, complete with windmills and tulips.

We arrived via the special JR Limited Express "Huis Ten Bosch" train from Fukuoka, the gateway into Kyushu. As we neared the town, we could feel the excitement among fellow passengers mounting.

Strolling through the cobblestone streets, and taking in the views of the lavish gardens and brick buildings is a good way of exploring the place. Huis Ten Bosch is striving to be the world's top flower resort, with different types of flowers seen throughout the year.

Six kilometres of canals crisscross the town and leisurely boat rides are available to whisk you across the resort or simply enjoy a different view from the waterside. Both young and old can enjoy the various shows at the resort.

I found the Horizon Adventure Plus production particularly memorable, as theatre goers are immersed in a diorama realistically recreating Holland's scenery, which is then overwhelmed with violent floods. In your seats, you will experience the spray of the rain and waves accompanied by thunder and lightning, while only getting a little wet.

Lovers of soft toys will enjoy themselves at the resort's Teddy Bear Kingdom (below), where 1,500 of the furry ones are on display, including the world's largest clocking in at 500kg.

Fans of the popular Japanese anime One Piece can go on a ride on the iconic Thousand Sunny Ship.

Meanwhile, art lovers can explore the world of Dutch artist MC Escher, who pioneered the expression of three-dimensional objects on two-dimensional surfaces creating a trompe l'oeil or an optical illusion.

A must-do is to head to the top of Huis Ten Bosch's landmark Domtoren Tower to enjoy the sweeping panorama of the resort and its surrounding bay. The resort has three hotels within its grounds, each exuding European elegance. We stayed at the Hotel Nikko Huis Ten Bosch situated just outside the resort.

While Huis Ten Bosch may not have exhilarating rollercoaster rides or even famous cartoon character mascots, the resort can be enjoyed for its old-world charm and picturesque avenues.

GUIDELINES

To Shiroi Koibito Park

Many airlines fly to Sapporo with one stop, connecting via Tokyo, Bangkok, Seoul or Shanghai depending on the carrier. To reach Shiroi Koibito Park, take the Tozai subway line and get off at Miyanosawa Station, after which the park is seven minutes away on foot.

To Huis Ten Bosch

Singapore Airlines flies direct to Fukuoka, where trains are available from Fukuoka's Hakata Station to Huis Ten Bosch. Buses and high-speed ferry from Nagasaki Airport and trains and buses from Nagasaki Station also connect to the resort.

- The Japanese yen has weakened against the Singapore dollar, making Japan an even more affordable destination.

- Admission to Shiroi Koibito Park is 600 yen (S$7.40) per adult. Those wishing to indulge their sweet tooth on site at the Shiroi Koibito Park will be able to choose from the chocolate lounge, the soft ice cream house and Restaurant Owls. Multi-day tickets are available for Huis Ten Bosch. A one-day passport costs 5,900 yen per adult.

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