Shibuya Street Crossing is the world’s biggest street crossing with as many as 3,000 people crossing at a time. A Rick’s doozy and marvelous.
After being enticed by several handfuls of carrots, the elephant walked smartly into the adjoining room for a blood sample to be taken.
Tokyo’s Uenomarunouchi Zoological Gardens has twin pandas. I saw the giant brother Xiao Xiao. Lucky timing for me for the twins return to China in 2026.
Gone are the days you stood in line to paid cash for a ticket. You stood in line for a ride.
During a 90 minute cue, two Disney Associates helped install features on my the Disney Resort App. I’m in the game!
(1) One Disney Lottery pass to choose between two selected events. No fee, it’s a lottery. Everyone loves a lottery. See how Disney is making you happy. It closes out super fast. This is your first move.
(2) 40th Anniversary Priority Pass a free ride reservation system. Additionally Priority Passes can be made only after the expired time of current Priority Pass. No gluttons allowed.
(3) Disney Premier Pass for fees of 1,500-2,500¥ / $10-$18 per ride for a designated reservation time lets you cue in a shorter priority line.
My TOKYO DisneySea World Rides. Justin, Disney’s greatest fan, are you sharing my excitement???
Tower of Terror
Electronic Train
Soaring Fantasy Flight
Journey to the Center of the Earth
Flounder’s Flying Fish
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Raging Spirits
Steam rising from a volcano was the first thing I saw approaching DisneySea. I knew Soaring Fantasy Flight would be my perfect debut attraction and worthy of a 90 minute wait. The ride runs like a roller coaster through a volcano dropping, accelerating, twisting until the car pops out of the volcano crater through steam and PLUNGS down faster and faster. Cool.
OVERVIEW
WALK: 8m from Plat Hostel Keikyu Asakusa Station to Tawaramachi Station (G-19) / enter Via 1
TRAIN: 3m, 2 stops from G Ginza Line – Shibuya – Platform 1 to Ueno Station (H-18)
WALK: 4m follow JR Ueno Station District Gate
TRAIN: 10 m, 6 stops from Ueno Station on Hibiya Line – Naka-Meguro – Platform 1 to Hatchōbori Station (H12)
WALK: 4m follow signs for Sakuragawa Park District Gate
TRAIN: 14m, 5 stops from Hatchōbori Station on JE Keiyō Line – Kaihimmakuhari – Platform 1 to Maihama Station Exit via South exit
WALK: 4m from Maihama Station to Resort Gateway Station
TRAIN: 9m, 3 stops from Disney Resort Station on Disney Resort Line to Disneysea Station
WALK: 1m from Disneysea Station to Tokyo DisneySea
1h 10m / 708¥
Riding four trains and transferring to multiple stations is daunting. I spotted four Filipinos women with rabbit ears and you know where they are going. Instead of stalking them, I asked to join them in getting to DisneySea. Ten eyes are better than eight eyes. Lovely ladies who were enthusiastic over seeing Mt. Fugi the day before. (Can I work Mt. Fugi into mt final days?)
OVERVIEW
WALK: 5m from Kyoto INN Gion the Second to Higashioji Street bus stop
BUS: 25m from bus stop on Higashioji Street on Bus 206 to Kyoto Train Station
TRAIN: 2h 30m @ 9:08 on Shinkansen Train / HIKARI 500 car 12 seat 13-E to Tokyo Train Station @ 11:42
WALK: 1/2 mi from Tokyo Train Station to Nihombashi Station enter via B7
TRAIN: from Nihombashi Station on G Ginza line for Asakusa / Platform 2 local / 7 stops, 11m to Tawaramachi Station / exit via 3
WALK: 8m / .3mi from Tawaramachi Station to Plat Hostel Keikyu Asakusa Station
Arriving at the Imperial Grounds and Garden only to find them closed, I salvage the afternoon by strolling through Hibiya Park.
Gion is Kyoto’s ideal district to stay. It’s the old section with most buildings only 2 or 3 stories high and is best associated with geishas. If you want to see geishas, don’t go where the tourist are swarming. I’ve had many chance encounters on deserted side streets.
With a week left, it’s now or never. A good meal is in order. Trip Advisor’s restaurant map lead me to a promising restaurant. Not surprisingly reservations were completely full. However, charming me was promised a seat at the bar shortly. The food, drink, and ambience was all I had hoped.
Bunraku National Theater is famous for its puppetry productions. Months before coming to Japan, Eddie and I surfed the web with great interest. I actually know someone majoring in puppetry at college. With last minute encouragement from Namiyo, I went! This morning I snagged a ticket on line, traveled 1 1/2 hours on multiple trains to Osaka, and saw a four hour production. I gasped when a nursemaid tries suicide by knife! It takes three persons to operate puppet. Sesame Street was never like this.
