The grand entrance to Tokyo Disneyland welcomes visitors beneath a special Dream-Go-Round anniversary banner, celebrating 40 years of magic, imagination and unforgettable experiences at one of Japan's most beloved theme parks.
I am sitting here on the Shinkansen heading towards Nagasaki (well Shin-Kobe as that is where I change trains) travelling at about 260-270 KPH (161-168 MPH) in my green class car and on the free Wi-Fi which is again awesome!!!!
A sleek N700 Series Shinkansen pauses at a station platform, showcasing the speed, precision and world-renowned engineering that have made Japan's high-speed rail network one of the most efficient and iconic transportation systems in the world.A journey aboard Japan's Shinkansen Green Car offers an upgraded high-speed rail experience, where spacious seating, enhanced comfort and seamless service complement the speed and efficiency of the country's world-famous bullet train network.
Exploring a Bit of Tokyo
31st July
On the day I wasn’t feeling the best so to be honest I condensed it down a fair bit as a headache in the middle of Tokyo isn’t something you want to be living with, although the local pharmacy was very helpful.
First thing that I did was go to a place that I had watched on a show called “Paul Hollywood Eats Japan” and during his travels all around Japan in search of good food, he went to this restaurant.
A visit to Nakiryu offers the chance to experience one of Tokyo's most acclaimed ramen restaurants, where carefully crafted broths, handmade noodles and Michelin-recognised attention to detail have earned the restaurant an international reputation among ramen enthusiasts.
This Restaurant is called Nakiryu Ramen and only has 14 seats, but there was a constant queue outside the shop from when I got in after 1 hours wait (from 10:30-11:30) till when I left (just after 12). The Ramen was the best if not some of the best food I have ever had, honestly, I cannot recommend this place enough and it is a Michelin star restaurant in Tokyo. Now just to compare I got a bowl of Ramen, Chicken Gyoza and apple Juice which cost me about £13-14. Whereas in London I got a smaller bowl of ramen, fried chicken and a drink for about £26! There is just no comparison.
The Rooftop at Shibuya Sky offers one of Tokyo's most spectacular observation experiences, where panoramic city views stretch to the horizon beneath open skies, showcasing the immense scale and energy of Japan's capital from above.A bird's-eye view of the famous Shibuya Scramble Crossing reveals the energy and scale of central Tokyo, where streams of pedestrians converge from every direction amid towering buildings, neon billboards and one of the world's busiest urban intersections.
Next place I went to was Shibuya when made me reminiscent of playing Persona 5 Royal, in fact I might play it again. It has the famous Shibuya Scramble which you may have seen in some films.
Shibuya Scramble Crossing pulses with the energy of modern Tokyo, where towering digital billboards, famous landmarks and waves of pedestrians converge at one of the world's busiest and most recognisable urban intersections.
As well as this I went up the Shibuya Sky Tower 45 floors about Tokyo, it was well worth it especially as I was able to see all over Tokyo.
A panoramic view from Shibuya Sky reveals the vast scale of Tokyo stretching to the horizon, where rooftop terraces, open-air observation decks and uninterrupted city views offer one of the capital's most spectacular vantage points beneath dramatic summer skies.A visit to Shibuya Sky offers a unique opportunity to stand high above one of the world's largest cities, where uninterrupted panoramic views stretch across Tokyo and showcase the immense scale, density and energy of Japan's vibrant capital.
Now in a little note I would like to point out that I did get a little lost at Shibuya and it isn’t called the 2nd busiest station in Tokyo for nothing. It is basically a major train station (3-4 lines), subway station for about 3-4 lines and has an underground mall and everywhere I looked I couldn’t find the line I was looking for (I could find all the others though, figures, right?). Luckily google translate and helpful people helped this Gaijin get to where he needed to go.
Tokyo DisneySea
1st August
The iconic entrance to Tokyo Disneyland celebrates the park's 40th Dream-Go-Round anniversary, where colourful decorations, beloved Disney characters and a sense of wonder welcome visitors to one of Japan's most popular theme park destinations.A visit to Tokyo DisneySea is marked with a stop at the park's iconic AquaSphere, where the towering globe fountain celebrates the spirit of exploration and adventure that defines one of Japan's most acclaimed theme parks.
So, this was the day I originally didn’t have anything planned for apart from maybe a beach trip. I am now glad that I didn’t do that as we had rain, thunder and lightning for about 2 hours. Funnily enough the first ride I went one was called the aqua hoppers, and it had the “get Soaked” version active that day, but why did they have to activate the “get extra soaked” version by turning on the rain 😅
Journey to the Center of the Earth takes adventurers deep beneath Tokyo DisneySea's mysterious Mount Prometheus, where volcanic caverns, glowing magma and encounters with strange subterranean creatures create one of the resort's most thrilling and immersive attractions.The detailed ride vehicle for Journey to the Center of the Earth immerses guests in the steampunk-inspired world of Tokyo DisneySea's Mysterious Island, where futuristic Victorian design, glowing machinery and subterranean exploration combine to create one of the resort's most celebrated attractions.The Temple of the Crystal Skull transports guests into an ancient Mesoamerican world at Tokyo DisneySea, where towering stone carvings, intricate ruins and atmospheric lighting create an immersive queue experience inspired by archaeological adventure and lost civilisations.The Temple of the Crystal Skull rises above the Lost River Delta at Tokyo DisneySea, where towering Mesoamerican-inspired ruins, dense tropical vegetation and intricate archaeological details create one of the resort's most immersive and visually striking themed environments.Raging Spirits sends adventurers racing through the ruins of an ancient civilisation in Tokyo DisneySea's Lost River Delta, where towering stone monuments, blazing fire effects and dramatic archaeological theming create one of the resort's most visually impressive roller coaster experiences.
Now one good thing for me was that both Indiana Jones and Raging Spirits had 3 Lines. 1 Normal line, 2 Priority Access Line and 3 Single Rider Line. Yes, there was a line that prioritised being a single rider which was awesome for me.
Mount Prometheus dominates the skyline of Tokyo DisneySea after dark, where the park's iconic volcano glows with dramatic lighting, eruptive effects and Jules Verne-inspired engineering, creating one of the most spectacular and atmospheric centrepieces in any Disney park worldwide.Mermaid Lagoon glows beneath the night sky at Tokyo DisneySea, where King Triton's enchanting underwater kingdom comes alive through vibrant lighting, whimsical architecture and immersive attractions inspired by Disney's The Little Mermaid, creating one of the resort's most magical evening scenes.
The park was open till 9pm at night which was also good and they had a fireworks/parade on that was packed so I just got in some more rides instead before the park closed, although the bits of it that I could hear and see (as I passed it twice). It did look good.
Next time will be me in Nagasaki. Hope you all enjoy these blogs as well. Till next time!!!
