Flight Of Dreams: The Japanese Theme Park Built Around The First-Ever Boeing 787

Located at Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO), 22 miles south of Nagoya in central Japan, is a shopping center and theme park containing the first-ever Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The decision to open an exhibition featuring the prototype Boeing 787-8 in a shopping center at NGO was not by accident.

The Aichi Prefecture in central Honshu Island is the heart of the Japanese aerospace industry. The area played a huge role in building the Boeing 787, with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Fuji Aerospace Technology, and Kawasaki Heavy Industries supplying 35% of the plane’s parts. The Boeing 787s wings, mid-forward fuselage, center wing box, and main landing gear well were all manufactured in Japan.

Boeing donated the 787 Dreamliner to Nagoya

Once complete, the parts were transported aboard a Boeing 747 Dreamlifter for final assembly at Boeing’s Everett, Washington, factory. In recognition of the Japanese company’s role in bringing the aircraft to fruition on June 22, 2015, Boeing donated the prototype Dreamliner to Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO). Serving the city of Nagoya, the airport is located in the third-largest metropolitan area in Japan, a region that is home to Toyota and Mitsubishi.

With the airport handling millions of passengers per year, they opened a retail and leisure park called the “Sky Town Shopping Center.” Open to the public, the shopping center features 61 shops and restaurants individually themed to look like they belong on a Japanese street.

The Flight of Dreams

In 2018 the shopping center decided to expand and open a new section called the “Flight of Dreams,” which it would build around the Boeing 787 as its centerpiece. Visitors and passengers can access the Flight of Dreams area via a footbridge from the passenger terminal. The exterior of the building where the aircraft is housed was built to resemble a hangar that was constructed around the jetliner.

The Flight of Dreams building is divided into two sections: the Flight Park and the Seattle Terrace. The Flight Park is an aviation-themed exhibition area where visitors can learn about the history of flight. The site also features two flight simulators, and of course, you can explore the Boeing 787 Dreamliner on display and have your photo taken while sitting in the cockpit. In Flight of Dreams, there is also a young children’s play area with swings and roundabouts. If you want to experience flying the Boeing 787, the simulator costs 1,080 yen ($8.00) for five minutes and 12,420 yen ($90) for a 30-minute flight.

The Seattle Terrace

Inspired by the city where Boeing was founded, the Seattle Terrace features many shopping and dining options you would expect to find in Seattle. There are some Japanese restaurants and noodle bars for visitors who prefer local fare.

Boeing Store

The Flight of Dreams is also home to the first Boeing store opened outside the United States. You can buy official Boeing merchandise imported from the USA. In the Seattle plane makers store. You will also find genuine Boeing aircraft parts which have been turned into furniture or fun decorative items for your home.

Getting there, opening hours and costs

The fastest and most convenient way to get to the Flight of Dreams is to take the Sky Limited Express from Nagoya train station. The train only has first class seating, and the fare is 1,590 yen ( $11.50). All seats must be reserved in advance, and the journey takes 28 minutes.