The dream of many is to visit Disney in California! Some may not know, but the Japanese do not need to leave their country to experience Disney. This is because in Tokyo there is not just one, but two Disneys; today we will talk about “Tokyo Disneyland” and “Tokyo Disney Sea”.
Tokyo Disney Resort is the location of the 2 Disney parks in Japan. Here you will find hotel complexes and various attractions. The park was founded on April 15, 1983, as a replica of the Magic Kingdom in California.
The Disney in Japan was the first Disney park built outside the USA. It also has its exclusive water park called Tokyo DisneySea. The Disney in Japan is the 3rd most visited park in the world. Let’s get to know a little about each of these 2 Disney parks in Tokyo.
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Table of Contents
How to Get to Disney in Japan?
Although it is called “Disney Tokyo,” it is located in Urayasu in the Chiba region, a neighboring province that is about half an hour from Greater Tokyo using the JR train lines.
To get to Disney, you should depart from Tokyo Station or nearby stations where the “Keiyo” lines pass, which arrive at “Maihama” station where Disney is located.
Once at Maihama Station, you will be right next to the Tokyo Disney Resort. Exiting the station, you can walk to the entrance of the parks or take the Disney Resort Line, a monorail that circulates around the resort.
Disney in Japan – Tokyo Disneyland
The Disney in Japan is located on an artificial island called Shin-Urayasu located in Chiba. The island is about 465,000m² and has a resort with 7 themed areas and 5 hotels. This park features the same attractions that exist in Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom of Walt Disney World in California. Of course, both have their exclusives; see the main attractions and a map of the location:
List of Attractions at Tokyo Disneyland
The Disney park in Tokyo is divided into about 7 areas where the attractions are located. See below a list of the main attractions at Tokyo Disneyland:
- Cinderella Castle: The iconic symbol of the park, offers a stunning view and serves as a backdrop for various shows and events.
- Adventureland:
- Jungle Cruise: A boat ride with guides narrating exciting adventures through an exotic jungle.
- Pirates of the Caribbean: A boat trip through the seas with pirates, treasures, and naval battles.
- Westernland:
- Big Thunder Mountain: A dynamic roller coaster that simulates a race through a gold mine in a Wild West setting.
- Country Bear Theater: A musical performance with animatronic bears.
- Critter Country:
- Splash Mountain: A water attraction that combines an exciting drop with a charming story based on the movie “Song of the South.”
- Fantasyland:
- Haunted Mansion: A spooky tour through a mansion inhabited by ghosts and spirits.
- Peter Pan’s Flight: A magical flight journey over London to Neverland.
- Toontown:
- Mickey’s House and Meet Mickey: An opportunity to explore Mickey Mouse’s house and meet him in person.
- Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin: A spinning attraction that follows the crazy adventures of the cartoon character Roger Rabbit.
- Tomorrowland:
- Space Mountain: A dark roller coaster that simulates a high-speed space journey.
- Star Tours – The Adventures Continue: A flight simulator experience that takes visitors on a journey through the “Star Wars” universe.
There are many other attractions, performances, shows, parades, restaurants, and shops that can be viewed in detail through the official Disney Tokyo apps.
Recommendations
As soon as you arrive at the park, rush to the “Beauty and the Beast” attraction, which has one of the longest lines in the park. At least during the time I went, the 40th anniversary of “DisneyTokyo,” everyone had the right to choose to use the fast pass on one attraction every 3 hours; check if this option is always available, it helped a lot.
I also really enjoyed Space Mountain, the Stitch show, and the Pirates of the Caribbean boat ride. The park is more focused on theme, with only about 4 thrilling attractions. I wanted to highlight Splash Mountain, but unfortunately, it was closed, and I couldn’t experience it.
Dedication
To all of you who come to this happy place, welcome. Here you will discover enchanted lands of fantasy and adventure, Yesterday and Tomorrow. May Tokyo Disneyland be an everlasting source of joy, laughter, inspiration, and imagination for the peoples of the world. And may this magical kingdom be a symbol of the resilience of the spirit of cooperation and friendship between the great nations of Japan and the United States of America.
E. Cardon Walker, April 15, 1983
Watch a video showcasing Tokyo Disneyland:
Water Park – Tokyo DisneySea
Tokyo DisneySea is approximately 712,246m2, it is a park themed around nautical exploration, providing a journey around the world. Unlike Tokyo Disneyland, the overall intention is to create a more adult-themed park, including faster and scarier attractions, as well as shows designed for an older audience. Considered a major attraction and one of the most beautiful parks ever made. The two symbols of the park are:
- DisneySea AquaSphere – A water fountain with a giant model of the earth located at the entrance of the park;
- Mount Prometheus – A volcano located in the center of the park with the same height as Cinderella’s Castle;
See some of the attractions and the park map:
List of Attractions at Tokyo DisneySea
At Tokyo DisneySea, the attractions are inspired by maritime legends and exotic ports from around the world, divided into seven unique themed areas:
- Mediterranean Harbor:
- Venetian Gondolas: Gondola rides that recreate the romantic atmosphere of Venice.
- Soaring: Fantastic Flight: A flight journey that provides spectacular views of the wonders of the world.
- Mysterious Island:
- Journey to the Center of the Earth: An exciting adventure inside a volcano, following the theories of Jules Verne.
- 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: A submarine exploration in Verne’s universe.
- Mermaid Lagoon:
- Ariel’s Playground: A play area and attractions themed around the movie “The Little Mermaid.”
- Flounder’s Flying Fish Coaster: A gentle roller coaster ideal for families.
- Arabian Coast:
- Aladdin’s Flying Carpets: An attraction that allows visitors to fly on magic carpets.
- Sinbad’s Storybook Voyage: A boat ride narrating the adventures of Sinbad with a captivating soundtrack.
- Lost River Delta:
- Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Crystal Skull: An action-packed journey in search of treasures in a cursed temple.
- Raging Spirits: A roller coaster with a spectacular 360-degree loop.
- Port Discovery:
- Aquatopia: An attraction with vehicles that move unpredictably over the water.
- Nemo & Friends SeaRider: A simulated submarine journey in the world of “Finding Nemo.”
- American Waterfront:
- Tower of Terror: A free fall inside a haunted hotel, with a unique story for the DisneySea version.
- Toy Story Mania!: An interactive 3D ride that simulates a target shooting game in the world of “Toy Story.”
Disney SEA focuses more on an adult audience with more thrilling attractions, various roller coasters, the famous Tower of Terror, so there is no need for me to make my recommendations for this park; everything is worth it.
Dedication
Welcome to the world where imagination and adventure embark. Tokyo DisneySea is dedicated to the spirit of exploration that lives in each of us. Here we will chart a course for adventure, romance, discoveries, and fun on a journey to the exotic and fantastical Ports of Call. May Tokyo DisneySea inspire the hearts and minds of all of us who share the water planet, Earth.
Michael D. Eisner, September 4, 2001
Watch a video showcasing the Tokyo DisneySea:
Disney SEA or Disneyland – Which to Choose?
If you are unsure which park to visit, I would recommend visiting both, choosing one day for each. Of course, you should expect to spend at least 9,000 yen to visit each park.
Tokyo Disney Resort offers several ticket options that allow access to both parks, each on a different day; there are multi-day passes and special packages.
Now, if you intend to decide to go to only one of the parks, that will depend on your preferences, as both offer unique experiences. Let’s highlight their differences below:
Tokyo Disneyland is classic and family-friendly, reflecting the original spirit of Disneyland in California. It is ideal for fans of Disney’s traditional characters, families with young children, and those looking for the classic Disney experience with iconic attractions like Cinderella Castle, It’s a Small World, and traditional themed areas like Adventureland, Fantasyland, and Tomorrowland.
Tokyo DisneySea is unique to Japan and offers a more mature and sophisticated experience, focusing on maritime adventures and exploration. Its attractions are more geared towards an older audience, with more complex and elaborate themes, such as Mysterious Island and Arabian Coast. DisneySea is also known for its stunning aesthetics and detailed design, often considered the most beautiful theme park in the world.
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