Our 2023 Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea trip planning information gives information for visiting. We have ideas & tips, the place to remain, how lengthy to go to, must-eat meals & snacks, finest sights, avoiding crowds, and different issues to do whilst you’re in Japan. (Updated January 15, 2023.)
Whether you’re desperate to take your first go to to Japan or make a return go to for Tokyo Disneyland’s fortieth Anniversary “Dream-Go-Round” Celebration, we’re right here that can assist you begin planning! That’s the subsequent large occasion on the horizon at Tokyo Disney Resort, and our hope is that it coincides with the parks restoring extra normalcy. (See What’s New & Next at Tokyo Disney Resort in 2023 & 2024 for a extra detailed have a look at what else is on the horizon.)
The excellent news is that Japan has now reopened to particular person vacationers, and we’ve already returned to Tokyo Disney Resort to expertise every part that’s new and see how the parks have modified as in comparison with pre-closure. The unhealthy information is that Tokyo Disney Resort remains to be fairly removed from firing on all cylinders…
If you’re acquainted with Walt Disney World and Disneyland, the simplest approach to consider present operations at Tokyo Disney Resort is that they’re about 18 months behind the U.S. parks. In basic, it looks as if that is the dynamic throughout Japan, not simply at Tokyo Disney Resort. Face masks are nonetheless ubiquitous, plexiglass partitions are widespread in eating places, and different well being security protocol stay commonplace lengthy after they’ve been deserted in the remainder of the world.
At Tokyo Disney Resort specifically, there are nonetheless shuttered eating places and retail that haven’t reopened prior to now ~3 years following the closure of the parks. While individually minor, these considerably influence retail and restaurant capability in combination. The finish result’s crowded outlets and really lengthy traces for eating choices, particularly at peak instances.
There are additionally numerous leisure choices which have but to reopen, which is particularly noteworthy as a result of a lot of the expertise at Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea relies upon leisure. There are nonetheless daytime and nighttime parades, however they’re missing performers or have in any other case been truncated.
Many stage reveals are equally scaled again, or not being introduced in any respect. The daytime harbor reveals in Tokyo DisneySea have been lowered to transient smile & wave greetings. Seasonal leisure has been lowered throughout the board. If it’s your first go to, you most likely gained’t even discover this–Tokyo Disney Resort nonetheless has extra (and higher) leisure than the U.S. parks. However, for those who’re a repeat customer, there are methods that the parks at the moment really feel like shadows of their former selves.
All of this impacts park capability–the parks really feel extra crowded even with decrease uncooked attendance ranges. As a end result, multi-day tickets and Annual Passes nonetheless haven’t returned, nor has QuickPass. In its place, Tokyo has rolled out the paid Premier Access line-skipping, which might be the everlasting alternative without cost QuickPass. Standby Pass can be accessible for choose outlets and sights, albeit often solely on merchandise launch days or significantly busy dates.
In any case, there’s a really completely different dynamic as in comparison with pre-closure. Unless most of that is shortly restored for Tokyo Disneyland’s fortieth Anniversary, the parks are going to really feel unbearably crowded as soon as that celebration begins. In quick, there’s a provide and demand imbalance at Tokyo Disneyland–and that’ll grow to be much more obvious as worldwide journey comes roaring again and home subsidies proceed to gasoline pent-up demand among the many Japanese. Here’s hoping that Tokyo Disney Resort adjusts accordingly–and quick!
Already, Tokyo Disney Resort has felt busier throughout our latest visits than throughout comparable dates in 2019 and earlier. Speaking of which, we spend a ton of time in Japan, and we’ve up to date this virtually neurotically as we be taught from our travels and analysis. This Tokyo DisneySea and Tokyo Disneyland Guide has been refreshed dozens of instances since we first wrote it, and extra will likely be added over time as sure components are clarified or expanded. We are barely obsessed followers of Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea.
Prior to the closure, we visited Japan a number of instances per 12 months for 7 consecutive years, together with a number of multi-month stays. We have been Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea Annual Passholders (till TDR cancelled these) who’ve dined in virtually each restaurant and stayed in each single resort at Tokyo Disney Resort.
If you’re simply beginning to plan a visit to Japan, there’s loads to think about. We advocate planning your time at Tokyo Disney Resort in tandem with the place else you wish to go to in Japan. Consult our Ultimate Tokyo, Japan City Guide for suggestions within the metropolis. While we like Tokyo, we far choose Kyoto.
Kyoto is our favourite metropolis on the earth, and a spot that we view as important to a visit to Japan. In our Ultimate Guide to Kyoto, Japan, we provide our “sales pitch” as to why we adore it a lot, and canopy every part you might want to know for planning a go to to that great metropolis. Total, we’d advocate Disney followers allocate round two-thirds of their journey to the cities of Kyoto and Tokyo–with extra time in Kyoto.
Of course, all of this assumes that you need to go to Japan within the first place. Let’s backtrack and deal with that threshold query…
Should You Visit Japan & Tokyo Disney Resort?
If you have got the means to go to Japan or can save for it as a once-in-a-lifetime journey, we expect you’ll be very happy with the choice to go. While there’s no query that worldwide journey is expensive, touring to Japan may not be fairly as costly as you would possibly suppose; you actually ought to crunch the numbers earlier than ruling out the potential of swinging a visit to Japan. Without query, it’s well worth the cash for Walt Disney World regulars to go to the Japan parks.
Since we go to Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea frequently, we’ve been accused of being biased in the direction of the Japanese parks. That isn’t true in any respect. We’re biased in the direction of excellence. From upkeep to meals high quality to Cast Member friendliness, Tokyo Disney Resort is in a league of its personal. Moreover, we’ve but to come across anybody who has advised us they regretted visiting Japan. (If you wish to be the primary, be happy to say so within the feedback.)
Without a doubt, touring to Japan is outdoors consolation zones and one of many largest issues holding individuals again from visiting. From the lengthy worldwide flight to the prospect of navigating a overseas nation with out talking its native language, a visit to Japan may be overwhelming. This is regular, and there’s completely nothing improper with being anxious about touring someplace as a result of it’s outdoors of your consolation zone.
Tokyo is an extended flight to a spot the place English is a second language (at finest). However, the Japanese are among the universally nicest and most useful individuals on the earth. Once you perceive the ‘system’ at one Disney theme park, you perceive it in any respect of them, no matter their dominant language.
In phrases of the language barrier, there may be not a lot of 1 in any respect. All indicators are in English, park maps can be found in English, and plenty of sights have dialogue in English. Even the sights which have dialogue solely in Japanese largely convey their message by visible means.
More importantly, most Cast Members both converse sufficient English to successfully talk with English-speaking friends or can discover somebody that can assist you who does. Failing that, a little bit of pantomime will get the job carried out. Verbal communication and pantomime with the primary Cast Member you encounter is all you’ll want.
My social abilities are poor and I can barely talk with individuals in English, and I nonetheless do exactly positive. Irrespective of that, Cast Members in Tokyo are by far the nicest and most useful on the earth, and they’re going to do every part they’ll to make your expertise constructive, as long as that doesn’t contain breaking guidelines.
The Japanese idea of guidelines is completely different than the US idea of guidelines. Calling them “rules” is likely to be a little bit of a misnomer, as a result of it some instances they’re unflexible insurance policies. For instance, you is likely to be used to creating substitutions to your meals within the US parks due to a meals allergy or choice.
What’s on the menu is what’s on the menu in Japan, and makes an attempt at substitutions or modifications will sometimes be met with resistance or confusion. Americans usually tend to query the “why?” of a rule or coverage right here within the US and have a look at whether or not it actually is sensible given the circumstances. In Japan, adherence to each rule/coverage/process is universally anticipated, regardless of how arbitrary it might sound.
Most of the time, this leads to a extra orderly, fulfilling expertise. Only in Japan is there no line leaping, and everybody sits down for the parades! Sometimes it does have unintended penalties. We know some vegetarians who’ve gone to the parks and didn’t have the very best of instances as a result of there have been restricted vegetarian choices and so they have been unable to make substitutions as a result of a substitution goes in opposition to established coverage.
If you wish to really feel extra comfy earlier than you go to, learn our 101 Great Tips for Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea publish, which gives a wealth of random recommendation that can familiarize you with a ton of ‘little things’ (and loads of large ones) that you need to know concerning the quirks of Tokyo Disney Resort. Our aim with that publish is to assist first-timers really feel like they’re touring the parks like locals.
With that query settled, let’s dig into planning a visit to Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea…
How Many Days?
Part of answering this query requires figuring out how a lot time you possibly can spend in Japan. If you’re touring midway around the globe, hopefully you’re planning on seeing extra than simply the 2 Disney theme parks in Japan. In addition to those, we’d additionally strongly advocate spending period of time in Tokyo and Kyoto on the very least.
The different a part of answering this query is contingent upon whether or not you’re a Disney fan planning a pilgrimage to the 2 finest Disney parks on the earth, or a daily individual visiting Japan who stumbled upon this publish through Google. If the latter, two days is adequate. We have itineraries beneath for seeing all the highlights in a single day, and this information might be greater than you need or must learn about Tokyo Disney Resort.
Those itineraries cowl every part from the order you need to do rides to expertise them effectively, to the place you need to eat, and extra. Following these touring plans will assist you take advantage of your time within the parks and see as a lot as potential in solely 2 days.
If you’re a diehard Disney fan questioning what number of days you need to spend at Tokyo Disney Resort…that’s a trick query. No variety of days is sufficient…and that’s solely a half-joke. Tokyo DisneySea is the very best Disney park on the earth and Tokyo Disneyland can be close to the highest (second finest, for those who ask me). Think of those parks as “fine moonshine.” You must sip them slowly sufficient that you’ve got a pleasant intoxication, as a result of for those who drink them in too shortly, you’re more likely to go blind.
Hardcore Disney followers nonetheless mustn’t overdo it, and will intention to spend not more than one-third of your journey to Japan at Tokyo Disney Resort–or a most of 4 days, whichever is much less. Two days in every theme park might sound extreme, however we don’t suppose a visit to Tokyo is for the kind of fan who views the parks as a group of rides to “complete” as shortly as potential.
In our view, a balanced journey to Japan for a Disney fan consists of 4 days at Tokyo Disney Resort, 3 days in Tokyo outdoors the parks, and 5 days in and round Kyoto. If something, we’d be inclined to drag a day or two from the TDR and Tokyo portion of the journey to reallocate to Kyoto and different areas of the Kansai area (Osaka, Kobe, Nara, and so on). Reasonable minds might differ on that, although.
These parks, DisneySea, particularly, are supposed to be slowed down and brought in. The finest “attraction” at Tokyo DisneySea isn’t an precise attraction that you simply’ll discover on any park map. It’s the sense of place that it has, and that is one thing that you simply’ll wish to spend a while savoring.
When it involves precise sights, the traces may be lengthy at each parks. These traces truly beginning earlier than the parks open, and friends working for standard sights instantly. Tokyo Disney Resort’s major demographic is locals, and so they don’t thoughts ready hours in line for a single attraction as a result of they’ll all the time come again later to see others.
When to Visit
Choosing the very best time to go to is crucial side of planning a go to to Tokyo Disney Resort. We extremely advocate studying our When to Visit Tokyo Disneyland in 2023 publish, as that covers this important subject in a lot higher element. Everything from climate (Tokyo has extremes in each instructions–it could possibly even snow there!) to seasonal occasions to crowds is mentioned in that publish.
When choosing our days to go to Tokyo Disney Resort, the very first thing we take into account is what season we wish to go to. For subsequent journeys, we needed to see Christmas, Halloween, Easter, and Pirates Summer. We’ve now visited throughout each season, and so they’re all very nicely carried out.
Halloween and Christmas are the 2 hottest seasonal occasions at Tokyo Disney Resort, and the parks look superior for each, with a variety of particular seasonal leisure. You can “double dip” by planning a HalloXmas Trip to Tokyo Disney Resort that coincides with each Halloween and Christmas. That’s our absolute favourite time to go to!
We have separate posts on these holidays and different seasonal occasions at Tokyo Disney Resort, so for more information, try the next posts:
With it narrowed all the way down to which season we needed to see, take into consideration crowds…
As with climate, Tokyo Disney Resort is a spot of extremes relating to crowds. This makes it actually essential to decide on the least-crowded dates. Once we select the time of 12 months we wish to go to (see our ‘When to Visit’ publish above for suggestions), we typically seek the advice of 2023 Crowd Calendars for Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea to choose particular date ranges throughout the season which can be predicted to be calmly crowded.
More essential than the time of 12 months is the times of the week you go to. Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea are least busy Monday by Thursday. Friday is the busiest weekday, and weekends are extremely busy. Avoid weekends it doesn’t matter what time of 12 months you go to. This will prevent appreciable time in traces.
If you’re researching a visit, you might need encountered pictures of insane crowds that make you apprehensive about visiting. We suppose the crowds in Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea have taken on “urban legend” standing as these pictures unfold.
The actuality is that weekends and holidays may be insanely crowded–precisely because the pictures depict. On the opposite hand, low-season days in the course of the week can really feel extra nice than mid-January at Disneyland. The crowds at these parks fluctuate greater than any different Disney parks on the earth, which actually underscores the significance of fastidiously selecting days to go to.
The notion of crowds all the time being insane at Tokyo Disneyland is completely inaccurate.
What to Pack
For any Disney journey, the issues on our Unique Disney Packing List will likely be useful. There’s probably not something particular to Tokyo that you will want. No voltage converter is critical. However, there are some things you would possibly wish to pack for the lengthy worldwide flight.
Sarah had hassle sleeping on our first couple of flights to Japan, so she bought these reusable earplugs, this sleep masks, and this fancy inflatable airplane pillow (no matter pillow you get, ensure that it’s inflatable–carrying a traditional pillow whereas touring is a problem). Now she swears by all 3. I may sleep on a pile of hay throughout a dying steel live performance, so I don’t use earplugs or a particular pillow.
If you’re visiting throughout the summer time, issues like Frogg Togg Chilly Pads will even turn out to be useful, as will moisture wicking clothes as a result of Japan will get actually humid in June, July and August. Consult our Beating the Summer Heat at Disney publish for more information. In the winter, it’s chilly and might even snow in Japan, so learn our Packing for Disney in Winter publish for tips about visiting then.
We would warning in opposition to overpacking. This is particularly true for those who’re doing extra in Japan than simply Tokyo Disney Resort. The rail system in Tokyo is extremely advanced, with a variety of transfers. You will do a variety of strolling, using the rail, and so on., and you actually don’t wish to be encumbered by extra baggage, particularly throughout rush hour on the trains.
Perhaps the very best recommendation we may give you is to pack mild. Lay out every part you’re planning on taking earlier than you pack it, and decide for those who actually want it. Not if it “might come in handy, maybe,” however for those who truly will use it. Don’t pack belongings you gained’t use. If you’re going to be staying in a number of inns throughout your journey to Japan, we extremely advocate packing cubes or compression baggage (I choose the cubes) for group. You can learn extra of our “carry-on philosophy” and which kinds of baggage we use right here.
Buying Park Tickets
There are a number of ticket choices at Tokyo Disney Resort, we focus on them in additional depth in our Money-Saving Tips for Tokyo Disneyland Park Tickets publish. If you’re going on weekdays throughout non-holiday season, the simplest choice is solely buying your park tickets on the day-of on the ticket cubicles in entrance of Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. These not often have traces, and by doing this, you’re least more likely to have complications. This is what we do the overwhelming majority of the time.
If you wish to save a bit of cash and purchase tickets earlier than leaving house, we advocate Klook (if they’ve stock–which isn’t all the time the case). Not solely are their tickets discounted, but it surely’s simpler to navigate than the official (and costlier) Tokyo Disney Resort web site. Unfortunately, that website doesn’t promote each sort of park ticket, and sometimes they’re offered out totally.
If Klook is offered out, we merely advocate ready till you arrive to buy your park tickets. Although it does occur now and again, it’s uncommon for Tokyo Disney Resort to promote out of park tickets prematurely. Moreover, friends of monorail loop inns (just like the Sheraton and Hilton Tokyo Bay) might buy tickets from their resort’s concierge even when the parks are offered out to most people.
Unfortunately, the Tokyo Disney Resort Online Reservation & Tickets web site may be tough to make use of, and might usually have points with bank cards issued by U.S. banks.
Where to Stay
We have stayed at 10 completely different inns in and round Tokyo Disney Resort, plus Airbnb flats. Suffice to say, we’ve a variety of expertise at inns in Japan, and virtually all of it’s constructive. For our ideas on resort choices, learn our Hotel Reviews & Rankings at Tokyo Disneyland publish, as that covers the subject in higher depth, and supplies hyperlinks to particular resort opinions.
As for an summary, you principally have three choices: off-site, on-site “official,” and on-site Disney. We’ll begin by protecting the Disney inns. These are Disney’s Ambassador Hotel, Tokyo Disney Celebration Hotel, Tokyo Disneyland Hotel, Hotel MiraCosta, and Toy Story Hotel. They are all very dear. If you have got the cash, take into account an evening or two at Hotel MiraCosta or Tokyo Disneyland Hotel. We’ve stayed at each, and they’re two of essentially the most unforgettable resort experiences we’ve ever had.
If you’re approaching them solely from a cost-benefit or worth perspective, it’s tough to justify any of the Disney inns. Their large benefit is location, and that’s largest by way of the view out of your room (which may be into the park at each Tokyo Disneyland Hotel and Hotel MiraCosta) and never from entry, for the reason that on-site official inns are additionally situated on the monorail loop and still have theme park views in some instances.
Is it value doubtlessly $200-300/evening extra than the official inns for that view into the park? Probably not, except cash isn’t any concern otherwise you’re viewing this as a as soon as in a lifetime journey.
As for the on-site official inns, these are inns which can be on the monorail loop, and sometimes provide massive, Western lodging, and are reasonably priced given the circumstances. Many evaluate very favorably to a Walt Disney World Deluxe resort. Large, good rooms. Cinderella Castle or ocean views. Location on the monorail loop. All for $130-180/evening, more often than not. (Prices do spike for these inns sure instances of 12 months and on the final minute, so e-book early.)
Finally, there are the off-site inns, which we don’t advocate. There’s nothing improper with a variety of the off-site inns, however they’re a extra unknown amount with rooms that can sometimes skew in the direction of small, Japanese lodging. Plus, lots of the ones closest to Tokyo Disney Resort are overpriced contemplating what they provide.
There’s additionally the factor of attending to and from the parks on public transportation, which generally is a actual problem. Public transportation can be utilized by enterprise individuals and college students across the identical time you’ll be heading to the parks, making it chaotic.
If it’s essential to keep off-site as a result of the on-site inns or full, or since you’re on a good finances, we extremely advocate doing an Airbnb rental as a substitute…
We have a publish that discusses our Tips for Using Airbnb in case you’re unfamiliar with the service. We’ve used it quite a few instances in Japan, close to Tokyo Disney Resort in addition to in Kyoto and Osaka. We sometimes apply it to Friday and Saturday nights close to Tokyo Disney Resorts, as resort charges sometimes skyrocket for these nights.
When we’re touring all through Japan however aren’t at Tokyo Disney Resort, we choose Airbnb to reserving inns as a result of it offers us the choice for a a lot bigger room, often a complete house. Japanese resort rooms (that aren’t Western chains) are typically very small, and utilizing Airbnb is the easiest way to keep away from this concern.
Plus, the value is often cheaper than a resort room, and Airbnb hosts usually embody free MiFi so you need to use the web on the go. We’ve had some enjoyable experiences staying at distinctive Airbnb areas all through Japan, too. (The photograph above is from an Airbnb we rented in Japan that was transformed from a bar downstairs.)
Attraction Strategy
Even for those who go at a less-busy time of 12 months, we advocate arriving at both park half-hour earlier than it opens to your first couple of days. There will already be an extended line (or traces) to get inside whenever you get there, so don’t be alarmed. Once you get inside, stroll briskly (or run calmly) to your first journey of the day.
This is roofed within the technique guides above, but it surely’s good to reiterate. Once you knock out the primary headliners, you possibly can take the ‘sleep in and go late’ method, on subsequent days for those who so want–however your first day in every park you need to arrive previous to opening.
We’ve already written in depth attraction guides for each parks, so there’s no level in rehashing these right here. Those guides include technique in addition to opinions of the sights. There will likely be only a few sights you’ll wish to skip in Tokyo DisneySea, maybe extra in Tokyo Disneyland (the place there are extra clones). Here are these guides:
Refurbishments are widespread at Tokyo Disney Resort, so be sure you seek the advice of the 2023 Tokyo Disney Resort Refurbishment Calendar earlier than reserving. It’s good for about 6 months out, so it will not be of a lot assist. Much just like the US Disney Parks Blog, Tokyo has an official Parks Blog the place information on seasonal happenings and different stuff is posted.
Where to Eat
Dining at Tokyo Disney Resort is a big subject unto itself, and this information is already getting actually lengthy, so it will simply cowl the fundamentals. First, for particular eating places, ensure that to take a look at our Tokyo Disney Resort Restaurant Reviews.
We have particular person opinions from each Tokyo Disney Resort restaurant, plus restaurant rankings for each parks. We’ve eaten at each single restaurant within the parks, plus many within the inns and Ikspiari, so that ought to assist.
Snacking ought to be an enormous a part of your journey. The value of this will shortly add up, but it surely’s an integral a part of the Tokyo expertise. We have posts on Awesome Tokyo Disneyland Snacks and Awesome Tokyo DisneySea Snacks that you would be able to try to get some concepts. Tokyo Disney Resort has some loopy popcorn flavors, and so they’re positively value making an attempt so you possibly can kind your personal opinion.
We additionally like stopping for full meals. In our expertise, Tokyo Disneyland is the place to do counter service and Tokyo DisneySea is the place to do desk service (its counter service choices are additionally good, although). Both parks have some actually wonderful eating places which can be experiences in themselves.
The Tokyo parks have a status for small portion sizes and excessive costs, however that’s hit and miss. Portions may be small, however they aren’t all the time. We suppose costs are akin to the US parks for counter service meals (for related portion sizes and high quality), and desk service is cheaper at Tokyo Disney Resort. There’s no tipping (and it’s a strict rule–they gained’t allow you to tip) in Japan, which performs a component within the worth variations.
If you do plan on doing desk service, know that eating places usually are totally booked prematurely. Unfortunately, the one strategy to make eating reservations is by the Tokyo Disney Resort web site (in Japanese) or by emailing the resort in case you are staying at a Disney-owned resort.
As talked about above, substitutions are usually not a ‘thing’ in Tokyo, neither is accommodating these with particular dietary wants or preferences. If you’re a vegetarian, eating within the Tokyo parks will likely be a problem, as there are restricted vegetarian menus. If you have got different restrictions or preferences, you will have an much more tough time.
Neither of us are vegetarians so we’ve no first hand expertise on this regard, however we’ve heard tales from others. Fortunately, Tokyo Disney Resort has a listing of eating places that may accommodate friends with particular dietary wants. Here it’s for Tokyo Disneyland, and for Tokyo DisneySea. If you’re a vegetarian, the buffets are your only option, however vegetarian choices at counter service eating places are beginning to grow to be extra widespread.
Shopping
Merchandise at Tokyo Disney Resort could be very completely different from what you’ll discover at Walt Disney World or Disneyland. Instead of things with the park logos or attraction names, most gadgets at Tokyo Disney Resort are character-themed or kawaii. Depending upon who you ask, Tokyo both has the very best or worst merchandise of any Disney vacation spot on the earth.
Our Guide to Tokyo Disneyland Merchandise offers you an concept of what to anticipate in an effort to plan accordingly and alter your expectations and finances. It’s value noting that in the previous couple of years, Tokyo has elevated the quantity of emblem merchandise and both issues interesting to broader tastes. We’ve discovered ourselves “embracing the kawaii” of Tokyo Disney Resort’s merchandise increasingly more, but it surely’s positively an acquired style that isn’t for everybody.
On your arrival or departure day, take into account visiting Ikspiari, which is a eating, purchasing, and leisure advanced situated inside strolling distance of Tokyo Disneyland, the JR Maihama railway station, and with its personal monorail station. It’s Japan’s tackle the Downtown Disney idea.
Ikspiari has over 150 eating places and retail outlets, the highlights of which we cowl in our Shopping Guide to Ikspiari at Tokyo Disney Resort. Note that whereas we referred to Ikspiari as Tokyo Disney Resort’s twist on Downtown Disney, it’s decidedly not Disney. Oriental Land Company purposefully developed Ikspiari with out Disney branding to keep away from paying licensing charges.
For those that are large into purchasing and wish to do a few of that in Japan, we’d encourage you to take action in Tokyo correct. Literally each main practice or subway station in Tokyo has an above or underground labyrinth of retail and eating. Highlights may be discovered within the stylish storefronts of Ginza and Roppongi Hills, and the otaku gadgets of Asakusa and Harajuku.
However, none of those locations will likely be as compelling for Disney followers as Nakano Broadway, which is filled with second-hand shops that cater to collectors and geeks, together with Disney followers! We go to Nakano Broadway often to purchase nice Tokyo Disney Resort collectibles. For extra information & ideas, see our Shopping Guide to Nakano Broadway on our non-Disney weblog, TravelCaffeine.com.
Flights & Transportation
Flights to Tokyo from the United States are 10+ hours, which is a variety of time within the air. Fortunately, the bigger planes used for these flights are rather more comfy than your regular planes used for home flights. Complimentary in-flight leisure (together with the most recent films and tv reveals) additionally makes issues simpler.
If you realize your journey dates and don’t have any flexibility as to whenever you journey, we advocate ITA Software to seek for flights. ITA is the easiest way to search out the bottom costs on airfare for set dates of journey. Either HND or NRT will work as arrival airports. HND is situated nearer to town middle, whereas NRT is (barely) nearer to Tokyo Disney Resort, however farther from downtown.
If you’re within the preliminary phases of researching your flight, use fare alerts on Airfarewatchdog.com. You can set some parameters for the alerts right here (though not as many as I’d like) and obtain e mail updates after they deem costs to be low.
Airfare costs are all the time altering and are extremely dependent upon metropolis of origin, time of 12 months, and so on., however with round-trip airfare out of Los Angeles to Tokyo frequently within the <$600 vary, your full airfare bundle ought to value below $1,000/individual for those who put effort into choosing the proper instances to journey. If you’re reserving on the final minute or don’t do any work to search out offers, the sky is the restrict on the higher finish of airfare pricing.
If you might be on the lookout for a strategy to get extra bang to your buck, you need to use it so as to add stopovers to go to a number of areas. We cowl this in our “How to Visit 3 Disney Destinations on 1 Airfare” publish. It might sound difficult at first, however it’s nicely value studying that publish and figuring it out. That publish covers incorporate Shanghai Disneyland, Hong Kong Disneyland, and Tokyo Disney Resort right into a single journey.
That covers airfare. Now for utilizing floor transportation in Japan…
Out of all the cities on the earth we’ve visited, Tokyo has by far essentially the most difficult transportation community. This ought to come as no shock, because it’s the world’s largest metropolis. However, enhancements to Google Maps since we’ve began visiting have made this a breeze. (Google now has crowd predictions for trains at completely different instances of day, and recommends sure ones to take!)
To get from both Tokyo airport to Tokyo Disney Resort, it’s comparatively straightforward. You simply take the Airport Limousine Bus, which you catch outdoors the airport after buying your ticket close to the exit at a desk or the ticketing machine. It’s costlier than public transit, however simpler and direct. Note that whereas this bus runs frequently, its schedule typically stops round 5 p.m. Here’s the full schedule to TDR from Narita. If your flight arrives into Tokyo after 4 p.m., you need to most likely have a look at different choices.
If you’re getting in actually late, the simplest different is a taxi. These are ready outdoors the airport and straightforward to search out. The draw back is worth. Our understanding is that the price of a taxi to a Tokyo Disney Resort space resort from Narita is $200.
The most cost-effective different is to make use of public transportation. It’s intimidating at first, as Japan’s public transportation system could be very advanced, however we finally have had no points and it’s a comparatively easy route from the airports to Tokyo Disney Resort. Just use Google Maps.
Getting round Tokyo Disney Resort, you’ll wish to take the monorail. It prices cash, but it surely’s environment friendly, dependable, and clear. (That all would possibly sound weird to Walt Disney World followers…particularly the “reliable” half!) There are additionally Resort Cruisers, that are buses, which can be freed from cost. Just pay the minor charge for the monorail except you have got a big get together. It’s enjoyable and completely value it. Walking can be an choice, though it may be convoluted to get to Tokyo DisneySea.
Phone/Internet
There are three good choices for this: renting a SIM card, renting a pocket WiFi/MiFi, or utilizing your service as regular. We now use T-Mobile and easily use that as there’s no further cost to make use of our knowledge in Japan. It runs a bit slower, however we’ve discovered it completely usable for normal web shopping. It’s turning into extra widespread for mobile suppliers to supply worldwide day passes which can be comparably priced to MiFi, so try that.
Renting a SIM card is a superb choice for some individuals, however we actually favored the MiFi rental for our journeys previous to switching to T-Mobile. For these unfamiliar with the gadget, it’s principally a pocket WiFi hotspot, offering you with limitless LTE web. MiFi/Pocket WiFi rental is fairly straightforward. You merely select what number of days you wish to lease, what number of units, and specify at which airport you’ll wish to decide it up. Here’s a comparatively cheap and dependable choice for MiFi rental.
We advocate renting one MiFi per individual in your group, so you possibly can talk for those who separate. If you’ll not–below any circumstances–separate, simply get one MiFi. A single MiFi can deal with a number of telephones on it concurrently. We extremely advocate renting prematurely of your journey. If you wait till you arrive and easily decide one up from the outlets on the airport or at a comfort retailer, costs are larger and knowledge is often restricted.
While the web can typically be spotty in Tokyo DisneySea, the MiFi total is absolutely dependable. We’ve used it frequently for iMessage for speaking with each other, e mail, Dropbox, and even importing to YouTube. Most importantly, having the MiFi gave us the power to make use of Google Maps on our telephones for public transportation, and this was an enormous lifesaver.
There isn’t any publicly-available WiFi web at Tokyo Disney Resort, besides on the entrance to every park. Free public WiFi is unusual in Japan. (By distinction, it’s quite common in Hong Kong, for those who’re going to each.)
Money/Credit Cards
Tokyo Disney Resort (and most Japanese retailers) accepts commonplace US magnetic strip bank cards, or chipped bank cards. Chipped playing cards aren’t required. With the parks, Tokyo Disney Resort accepts Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. (If you’re making an attempt to pre-book one thing on-line, you’ll want a bank card issued in Japan or a Mastercard. Even then, it may be a painful course of.)
If you want an ATM, there are two at Tokyo Disney Resort that settle for American Visa debit playing cards. One is within the basement of Ikspiari close to the meals courtroom, and the opposite is within the foyer of the Tokyo Bay Maihama Hotel Club Resort (pictured above). If you’re staying at one of many official inns on the monorail loop, the second location goes to be much more handy to you. Typically, you don’t want to hold money at Tokyo Disney Resort, however you would possibly want it within the metropolis of Tokyo.
Other Resources
For basic journey recommendation to Japan, we’ve one other weblog: TravelCaffeine.com, the place we share our non-Disney experiences. We have written extensively about our favourite metropolis on the earth: Kyoto, Japan on TravelCaffeine. Kyoto has one thing for everybody, and gives loads by way of Japanese tradition and historical past. As talked about above, our Ultimate Guide to Kyoto, Japan additionally supplies a wealth of planning info.
If you’re additionally visiting the Hong Kong or Shanghai parks, ensure that to seek the advice of our Hong Kong Disneyland Trip Planning Guide and our Shanghai Disneyland Trip Planning Guide. There’s much more you’ll must know for these visits!
There’s much more we may embody on this information, however that is already the longest publish on the weblog to this point, so let’s minimize it off there. We will certainly add to this primarily based on widespread questions, and I’m very happy to supply help and recommendation within the feedback when you have questions. Want to see extra pictures or examine Tokyo Disney Resort in agonizing element? Check out our Tokyo Disney Resort Trip Report from our very first go to to Japan, after we too have been newbies!
Your Thoughts
Planning a visit to Japan is a variety of work, but it surely’s finally nicely well worth the effort! Hopefully this information supplies leaping off level. If you’ve visited Tokyo Disney Resort, do you agree or disagree with our recommendation? Any questions? Hearing your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!