Tokyo Disneyland – The Unofficial Guide

Photo of author
Written By Carlos Braga

Tokyo Disneyland is the name of the Disney complex in the land of the rising sun.

A park with good structure, with shops, restaurants, attractions and interaction that emphasize Japanese culture. 

This at the same time enchants with the most beloved characters from around the world.

Learn all about this amazing Disney in Japan and book your vacation.

ToonTown at Tokyo Disneyland
ToonTown at Tokyo Disneyland

What is Tokyo Disneyland?

The Tokyo Disneyland is the name of the complex Walt disney which is in Japan.

By the way, those who believe that the magical world is only in the United States are mistaken, the charms also extend to Paris, in addition to Tokyo.

In the latter, the complex has existed for 31 years and is divided into two parks, the Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea.

There are seven thematic areas that complement each other and form the unity of Japan, some areas are very similar to the Disney Orlando and California, for example: 

  • World Bazaar: Main Street which is the main street and leads to Cinderella's Castle;
  • Adventureland: Includes attractions such as Pirates of the Caribbean and The Enchanted Tiki Room;
  • Westerland: is the Wild West area.
Tokyo Disneyland
Tokyo Disneyland

It owes nothing to the other units, on the contrary, Tokyo Disneyland mixes the oriental energy and customs very well with the American characters. 

So much so that it ranks second in terms of visits in the world, which is immediately apparent from the number of visitors per year, about 32 million, which is almost three times the number of residents in Tokyo.

theme park with a fountain, very busy
Tokyo Disneyland has many amazing attractions. Image by Life For Stock on Freepik.

Where is this Disney complex located?

The Tokyo Disneyland Resort is more precisely in Urayasu, in Chiba Prefecture.

The city is part of the Tokyo metropolitan area and is close to the sea.

The city, founded in 1981, basically serves to house the park, the brand's hotels and other facilities for tourists.

A curiosity is that this is the first Disney park that does not belong to the American company, however, it has a license and was built following the traditional architecture of the Orlando parks and California.

Stop - Tokyo Disneyland
Stop – Tokyo Disneyland

This is also reflected in the decoration and concern for the details of the attractions, as well as in the training of employees.

By the way, it is part of the park complex:

  • 2 theme parks;
  • 1 shopping center;
  • 3 hotels from Walt disney;
  • 6 official hotels.

In general, the place is impeccable in terms of cleanliness and organization, another positive point is the ease of information within the park, because the employees speak English very well and there are signs everywhere, especially at the attractions.

Is there easy access to transportation in Tokyo?

Transport to get to Tokyo Disneyland it's easy because it really works, which is great for those who don't want to rent a car.

It's a Small World at Tokyo Disneyland
It's a Small World at Tokyo Disneyland

There are several options to get to Tokyo Disneyland Resort, including bus, subway and urban train. 

Both have a connection, a useful tip is to use Google Maps to find out where to get off and join, as well as the time the train will pass and the travel time, because this will depend on where the tourist is staying.

How does the Disney complex in Tokyo work?

The Tokyo Disneyland works in a similar way to the Orlando unit, with the traditional character stops, the Castle of Princess Cinderella and some attractions.

 As well as the traditional stores that sell the famous little ears, souvenirs and stuffed animals.

The latter can be seen with the characteristics of manga designs, traditional Japanese culture and worth collecting.

Tokyo Disneyland store
Tokyo Disneyland store

The big difference between the two Disney complexes is that the one in Tokyo receives many tourists throughout the year, so it takes more than one day to visit all the attractions calmly.

Even because, a little time is wasted in queues and when looking for a cool place to eat.

The Tokyo Disneyland complex

If you prefer to stay inside the complex Tokyo Disneyland, has the advantage of not having to worry about transport to get to the park, because there are Disney Resort Cruisers inside the complex, just like in Orlando, they make the connection between the hotels and are free. 

Finally, inside the complex, the tourist has the chance to interact with characters, in addition to the quality of the brand, which is very concerned with the details and well-being of visitors.

Minnie at Tokyo Disneyland
Minnie at Tokyo Disneyland

That's what really makes the difference anywhere in the world, besides the bonus of being sure you'll get in, sometimes even before other tourists.

Disney Resort in Tokyo

The Resort is close to some famous places like Urayasu tourist spots and close to the park.

Just like others Disney hotels Japan it has luxurious suites and was designed in the smallest details.

In addition, the hotel has other benefits, for example:

  • Airport transfer;
  • Direct bus to the parks;
  • themed rooms;

If you want to rest from the hectic day of the Tokyo Disneyland at the hotel, it has a swimming pool, a bar with various types of drinks and a restaurant with incredible dishes.

ToonTown - Tokyo Disneyland
ToonTown – Tokyo Disneyland

Not to mention the Disney standard, that is, everything is meticulous to delight the visitor. 

tokyo disney park

It reminds a lot of Orlando, already at the entrance you can see the majestic castle, just follow the Main Street, which does not Japan is covered, to see it more closely.

Read too  The Mall at Millenia - Orlando's Fine Shopping

The traditional parades are also present, twice a day, as well as the traditional fireworks display at the closing of the park.

The park Tokyo Disneyland lives up to the title of the second most visited park, it has good structure, has attractions for children and themed places to eat, in addition to the traditional American Turkey Leg, wafer and machine ice cream.

Goofy at Disney Tokyo
Goofy at Disney Tokyo
Tokyo Disneyland Hotel

Opting for the official hotel is worth it in terms of cost benefit, because it still has the details and decoration of the Tokyo Disneyland, however, without the luxury of the Resort.

Which reflects on the value.

In fact, unlike this one, it does not give you the benefit of entering in advance, however, if it has reached capacity, those staying in one of the 6 Disney Japan hotels officers are guaranteed entry.  

Tokyo DisneySea

The park is new compared to the Tokyo Disneyland, after all, it was opened in 2001, and manages to be different from the traditional Orlando parks, without losing the magic and charm of the Disney brand. 

Food from New York Deli at Tokyo Disney Sea
Food from New York Deli at Tokyo Disney Sea

In it, the reference is the sea and it is possible to interact with characters different from those we are used to seeing in Orlando, such as Uncle Scrooge, for example.

It's more for an adult audience, with older references and more radical rides.

Tokyo Disneyland Hotel MiraCosta

The Tokyo DisneySea this is where the famous hotel is MiraCosta🇧🇷 Many suites face the sea, which gives the rooms a privileged view.

The luxurious hotel has classic Italian decor, the room service is impeccable and the guest gets lots of pampering.

It has a restaurant that serves Mediterranean food in sophisticated dishes.

The menu is available on the website, and has classic options for those with some type of intolerance and another for Chinese food.

For those who dream of getting married like a true princess, the Tokyo Disneyland allows weddings at Cinderella's castle and your guests are received at the MiraCosta to fraternize.

The official website has details and prices in English and Japanese.

In addition, another positive point is that it is located inside the complex and has the advantage of having the bus at the door.

What is Ikspiari?

In Orlando there is Spring's which is Disney's set of stores and restaurants, a delightful place where there is live music, presentations and characters.

ToonTown at Tokyo Disneyland
ToonTown at Tokyo Disneyland

no longer Tokyo Disneyland, they named this place Ikspiari.

There are American restaurants on site like Planet Hollywood, Rainforest Cafe and Starbucks.

In addition to famous stores such as Gap, Diesel and The Body Shop, and the AMC Theaters cinema.

For those looking for souvenirs, it has a huge official Disney store, in short, options for all tastes and is easily accessible from the Disney monorail.

themed roller coaster
Enjoy the attractions at Tokyo DisneySea. Image of Jannon 028 on Freepik

Is Tokyo Disneyland always crowded?

Yes, there is no particular date or time of year when the park is empty.

What happens are periods when the capacity is high or low, that is, it continues to exist.

In general, what makes the difference are the days of the week, take the opportunity to visit the park from Monday to Thursday instead of the weekends. 

Despite always with maximum capacity, the queues work, there are no queue jumps, nor misunderstandings.

What really harms the tour is the wait, which is often done under the sun.

Therefore, the important thing is to go with time and calm, so as not to get frustrated.

Where to stay to enjoy Tokyo Disneyland?

Accommodation will depend on how much you can invest in accommodation, so to enjoy the Tokyo Disneyland the tourist can stay in disney resort, which forms part of the complex.

The advantage of accommodation is to enter 15 minutes in advance of other visitors, so you are guaranteed to catch the Fast Pass in Japan to the most coveted attractions. 

Tokyo Disneyland Hotel
Tokyo Disneyland Hotel

In addition, those who stay at the Resort have guaranteed entry to the parks, even if they close due to overcrowding.

The same happens in official hotels, with the difference that entry is not allowed beforehand.

Disney Neighbor Hotels

Hotels outside the complex are great for saving money, the disadvantage is that tourists will need transport, subway or bus, to reach the park.

From the hotel, tourists can take the metro and bus to Tokyo Disneyland, they depart from various places like Narita and Haneda airports.

The values vary as follows:

  • Subway: ¥550;
  • Bus: ¥720 for adults and ¥360 for children;
  • Children under 6 years old do not pay.

If this is not a problem, it is worth staying in the vicinity, because, in disney japan you are sure that at the very least you will find a clean and well-kept place.

Disney Hotels

There are six hotels that are part of Disney, they have the standard of the brand, that means attention to the smallest details and impeccable treatment.

ToonTown at Tokyo Disneyland
ToonTown at Tokyo Disneyland

Also, they are closer to the park.

Already inside the complex there is the monorail system that connects the stations, in total there are four stops, namely:

  • Ikspiari, Ambassador hotel, Maihama;
  • Disneyland park for Hotel complex;
  • Network hotels;
  • Tokyo DisneySea to the hotel MiraCosta.

The value is per ticket or days, so you can buy as many days as you want or even free access, even with a slightly higher value, it's worth it for those who will stay several days.

Tokyo Disneyland Hotels

Overall, the Resort DisneyTokyo Disneyland accommodate tourists very well, the downside is not getting in earlier to catch the Fast Pass in Japan, the positive point is that the discounts for these accommodations reach up to 30%, in the end the discount makes a big difference in the total value of the trip.

Tokyo Disneyland Hotel Entrance
Tokyo Disneyland Hotel Entrance

The hotels, although simpler than the MiraCosta hotel, do not fail in terms of cleanliness and service from the staff, on the contrary, they make an effort to make guests feel at ease. 

Read too  Season of Storms at Disney Parks

How do tickets to enjoy Tokyo Disneyland work?

Tickets can be purchased on the official website, there are still no authorized tickets for resale in Brazil.

To buy it is very easy and the visitor can choose between tickets that give access to 1, 2, 3 or 4 days.

In addition, you can also opt for the pass that allows entry throughout the year.

You can also buy the version that allows you to go from one park to another on the same day.

This option is only worth it if you don't have more free days to visit the park.

Food at Tokyo Disneyland

Food is a separate chapter when it comes to Disney parks, inside the park tourists will find several options for all types of tastes and dietary restrictions.

The differential of Tokyo Disneyland is that he followed with the oriental reference, predominant time and at other times giving a touch on American food.

Tokyo Disneyland food
Tokyo Disneyland food

The novelty is that in the Japanese version, the ready-to-eat dishes are displayed in showcases.

This makes it even easier to choose between flavors that are difficult to pronounce. 

Among the traditional versions, you can try the Mickey waffle, as well as hot dogs and sandwiches, if you don't like oriental food.

Another point in which it is identical to the Americano is in the souvenirs, some snacks are served in plates, glasses and even buckets, in the case of popcorn, and everything is collectible. 

At Tokyo Disneyland, Japanese culture is in the details. Wirestock image on Freepik.

How to plan to visit Tokyo Disneyland

to know the Tokyo Disneyland you have to prepare a year in advance.

On the official website, tourists can choose the attractions they prefer to go to and even the restaurant menus.

It is also worth taking note of visitor tips and the times for parades and fireworks.

If you are going to stay outside the complex, you can put it on google maps and already have an idea of how to get to the parks.

With correct planning, it is easier to put together the trip of your dreams, do not forget to ask the travel agent for tips, he will certainly have great suggestions.

Money used in Japan

In Japan the currency is Yen, some Brazilian credit cards are available in parks, but the best is a prepaid card, in addition, the Japanese use a lot of cash, so it is important to carry a certain amount of notes. 

In any case, it's good to avoid the queues at the ATM in the Tokyo Disneyland, so as not to waste more time in queues.

Currently, the Japanese currency is worth one hundred times the American currency, that is, 1 dollar is equal to 100 Yen.

Japanese culture and language

Japanese culture is extremely rich, it is millenary and it is worth studying before the trip.

In general, the people are very helpful and like to help foreigners, especially Brazilians, in Japan there is, in general, a friendly relationship with our country.

The language is challenging, it's interesting to learn the basic words like thank you, excuse me, yes and no.

English helps a lot on this trip, however, don't worry about the language, you will definitely have help if necessary in Tokyo Disneyland.

How to access a telephone in Tokyo?

Visitors can buy a chip as soon as they arrive at the airport, it costs about 30 dollars and can be used with the park's Wi-Fi, which is freely accessible.

Make the most of Tokyo Disneyland

Japan is a surreal place, a mixture of tradition and modernity that delights tourists.

The Tokyo Disneyland it leaves nothing to be desired for the American and Parisian version, on the contrary, the climate and the people make the park even more interesting.

After all, the Disney it is also a tour for adults, because, as you walk through the streets of the park, several childhood memories come to light, the tourist accesses memories that were dormant when he was a child and watched movies.

It really is magical, so make the most of your visit.

I hope again that this post helped you in your research for your trip to Disney or Orlando.

As a way to help us keep the blog going, we just ask you to help us by sharing this publication and subscribing to our social networks as Facebook, Instagram or Youtube channel.

In addition to helping us, we are sure that there you will find hundreds of useful posts for your trip!

About the Author Carlos Braga:

Unparalleled experience in Orlando and Disney! As a former Universal Orlando team member and a passionate devotee of the magic of Disney, I have become a true Orlando travel expert. Before becoming a renowned travel consultant dedicated to Orlando, I had already made hundreds of visits to the parks, cultivating my knowledge and passion mainly over the last 7 years as a consultant and specialist in Disney travel.

My journey into this enchanted world began in 1995, when I took my first trip to Orlando. Since then, my love for Disney and the city has only grown. In 2023, we celebrate the sixth anniversary of 'Partiu Disney Parks', consolidating our role as one of the main sources of information about Disney and Orlando Parks.

During these six years of existence, we have continued to offer quality and updated content, being the reliable source for all those looking for essential information to plan their trip to Disney and Orlando. With my vast experience and passion for this magical destination, I am here to guide you every step of the way towards the most incredible Orlando and Disney experience!

I hope again that this post helped you in your research for your trip to Disney or Orlando.

As a way to help us keep the blog going, we just ask you to help us by sharing this publication and subscribing to our social networks as Facebook, Instagram or Youtube channel.

In addition to helping us, we are sure that there you will find hundreds of useful posts for your trip!

About the Author Carlos Braga:

Unparalleled experience in Orlando and Disney! As a former Universal Orlando team member and a passionate devotee of the magic of Disney, I have become a true Orlando travel expert. Before becoming a renowned travel consultant dedicated to Orlando, I had already made hundreds of visits to the parks, cultivating my knowledge and passion mainly over the last 7 years as a consultant and specialist in Disney travel.

My journey into this enchanted world began in 1995, when I took my first trip to Orlando. Since then, my love for Disney and the city has only grown. In 2023, we celebrate the sixth anniversary of 'Partiu Disney Parks', consolidating our role as one of the main sources of information about Disney and Orlando Parks.

During these six years of existence, we have continued to offer quality and updated content, being the reliable source for all those looking for essential information to plan their trip to Disney and Orlando. With my vast experience and passion for this magical destination, I am here to guide you every step of the way towards the most incredible Orlando and Disney experience!

Leave a Comment