Tōkyō Dizunīrando, 東京ディズニーランド, or as we refer to it, Tokyo Disneyland, is located in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture, which is close to Tokyo. It first opened 39 years ago, back in the spring of 1983.
The park, as well as Tokyo DisneySea, which is its companion park, are the only two Disney parks that are not operated or owned by the Walt Disney Company in any manner. But don’t worry; you do get the full Disney experience!
An introduction to Tokyo Disneyland
There are seven themed areas at Tokyo Disneyland:
The World Bazaar – At the World Bazaar, you will take a journey back to early 20th-century small-town America. Restaurants and shops line the streets, which have a beautiful Victorian style.
Four traditional Disney lands:
Tomorrowland – Fly into adventure, action, and imagination with this space-age world of tomorrow.
Fantasyland – Fantasyland is one of the most popular areas of Tokyo Disneyland, as this is where you will enter a world of Disney stories and fairytales, including Pinocchio, Snow White, and much more.
Westernland – If you want to take a ride out to the wild, wild West, Westernland enables you to experience the old American frontier.
Adventureland – At Adventureland, you can cruise along tropical jungle rivers while getting a glimpse into the mysterious world of pirates. It’s called Adventureland for a reason!
Two mini-lands:
Toontown – Mickey and his pals live, play, and work at Toontown.
Critter Country – Finally, critter folktales from the South become a reality here on the banks of the Rivers of America.
Many of these areas mirror those in the original Disneyland, as they are based on American Disney fantasies and films.
What are some of the most popular rides at Tokyo Disneyland?
There are lots of great rides at Tokyo Disneyland, but naturally, some are more popular than others. This includes:
Pooh’s Hunny Hunt
Haunted Mansion
Big Thunder Mountain
Splash Mountain
Space Mountain
Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters
Monsters, Inc. Ride & Go Seek
Enchanted Tales of Beauty and the Beast
Check these first when planning your day!
How many days do you need when visiting Tokyo Disneyland?
Of course, you may be restricted based on the number of days you have available throughout your trip. However, we generally recommend 3 to 4 days. The longest part ticket offered by Tokyo Disneyland is a four-day passport, so you will need to arrange further tickets if you plan to stay longer than this.
Some tips if you’re visiting Tokyo Disneyland for the first time
If you’re visiting Tokyo Disneyland for the first time, we’ve got some tips to make sure your day goes as smoothly as possible:
Arrive early – You should expect the queue to be long, which is why arriving early is imperative. Arriving an hour before the park opens can often be a good idea.
Download the Tokyo Disneyland Resort App – You’ll need the Tokyo Disneyland Resort App to access the Standby Pass system. This enables you to spend part of your wait time at select attractions, meaning you don’t have to wait in a physical queue.
Pre-buy your tickets online – You shouldn’t wait until you arrive at the park to buy your tickets, as you’re only going to waste precious time. Plus, tickets can often be more expensive when you do it this way.
When is the best time to visit Tokyo Disneyland?
May is one of the best months to visit Tokyo Disneyland, in our opinion. The crowds are low, the temperatures are ideal, and there are Easter festivities going on. Avoid the first week of May, though, to ensure crowds will be minimal. While the events may not be as exciting as Halloween or Christmas, costs are lower, and you have the perfect mixture of beauty, weather, and low crowds.
December is another great month because you’ll get all of the Christmas festivities, and the crowds are also quite low. The temperatures will be a bit cold, though, so do keep that in mind! Another good option is toward the end of September, as you get all of the Halloween events that happen throughout October, yet it’s cheaper and not as crowded.
Cool things to eat at Tokyo Disneyland
There are a lot of delicious and fun eats at Tokyo Disneyland. However, it’s only right that we start with a classic. If you’re in Westernland, make sure you head to Cowboy Cookhouse, where you can enjoy a Smoked Turkey Leg, just like the ones you get in the original Disneyland.
If you’re visiting Toontown, we recommend going to the Good Time Cafe. Here you can purchase the Mickey Gloves Chicken Sandwich. On the surface, it seems like a simple grilled chicken and scrambled egg sandwich. However, when it’s served, it comes shaped like Mickey Mouse’s gloves.
Finally, if you’re in Tomorrowland, take a trip to Pan Galactic Pizza food court. Here, you will find Three Green Alien Mochi. This consists of three mochi balls, which are shaped like the little green men in Toy Story. Each mochi has a different flavor; custard, chocolate, and strawberry. Delicious and a lot of fun!
The good news is that getting to Tokyo Disneyland doesn’t need to be difficult. Japan is known around the world for having an outstanding transportation system. Most of the major systems have English-language information readily available, so it’s not impossible to figure out where you need to go.
Tokyo Disneyland is a must-visit for any theme park or Disney fan
If you’re a fan of Disney or a theme park lover, you simply cannot visit Tokyo without experiencing Tokyo Disneyland for yourself. It is a truly spectacular theme park, with so much to offer across the seven themed areas.
