A film studio has existed on the site since 1926, when actor
Tsumasaburō Bandō opened his own film studio there. The site changed hands several times before being acquired by Toei in 1951 as Toei Kyoto Studio. The decision to open the studio to the public was one born of desparation. Yakuza movies and period dramas were declining in popularity, leaving Toei's Kyoto studios with dire financial prospects. Opening the studio to the public was a "last ditch effort" devised by the then head of the studio . The site was first opened as a theme park on 1 November 1975 and drew over 70,000 visitors in the first three days, effectively saving the Kyoto studio. In 2020, the park opened Evangelion Kyoto Base, which is based on the anime franchise
Neon Genesis Evangelion. The main attraction is a 15-meter statue of the
EVA-01's upper body, with visitors able to have their photos taken inside the Entry Plug and on the Evangelion's right hand. In 2023, Toei announced the park was to undergo major refurbishment in a bid to attract more adult guests and overseas tourists. The first phase of renovations was scheduled for completion in 2025 to mark 50 years since the park opened. The site briefly closed on 24 February 2026 to prepare for the first phase, before re-opening to the public on 28 March 2026. The second phase is scheduled to be completed in 2027 and there are plans for a third phase to open on an unspecified date. The park was rebranded as
Usumasa Kyoto Village and the closing time was extended from 17:00 to 21:00. Among the new adult-oriented attractions is an area where guests can play the traditional gambling dice game
chō-han, and an exhibit where guests can undergo a simulated historical interrogation. Both new attractions are only for those aged 18 years and over. == Attractions ==