8 Reasons Why You Should Totally Visit Tokyo Disneyland

It’s no secret that foreign travelers visiting Japan love Tokyo DisneySea. It’s the park that most of us recommend to first-timers to Japan because of how unique and different the park is to us.

Often, this leaves Tokyo Disneyland as a mere afterthought! Sure, there’s a lot to love about DisneySea’s novelty, but there’s also a lot to love about Tokyo Disneyland!

After visiting both parks, I can confidently say both parks are worth visiting for their own reasons. There are things that I love about Tokyo DisneySea (Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival, the water-themed lands, Ariel’s Playground), but there are ALSO things I love about Tokyo Disneyland!

Like The Enchanted Tale of Beauty and The Beast, as well as the entire Beauty and The Beast village — this is an area at Disneyland not to be missed.

If you’re a true Disney fan, you should most definitely be visiting both! Today, we’re going to show Tokyo Disneyland some love.

Here are all the reasons why we think Tokyo Disneyland is worth visiting.

This post may contain affiliate links. You won’t be paying a cent more, but in the event of a sale, the small affiliate commission I receive will help keep this blog running/pumping out useful and free content. Thanks a lot!

👉 Looking for a side-by-side comparison of the two parks? Check out this post: Disney Tokyo vs. DisneySea: Which One Is Right For You?

Table of Contents

8 Reasons Why You Should Totally Visit Tokyo Disneyland

1. Cinderella’s Castle is Located at This Park

Tokyo Disneyland Japan - Cinderellas Castle

Tokyo Disneyland features the iconic Cinderella’s Castle, which is a central landmark and a quintessentially Disney photo opportunity. Some would say snapping a photo in front of the castle is a rite of passage as a Disney park-goer!

This fairytale castle not only captivates visitors with its grandeur but also houses attractions like the Cinderella Fairy Tale Hall, providing an immersive experience into the world of Cinder-Ellie. In the castle, you can view the throne room (and her glass slipper!) and wander through the castle to view paintings, dioramas, and other artworks that follow her story.

2. The Beauty and The Beast Ride is a Must

Tokyo Disneyland Japan - Beauty and the Beast Ride

The Enchanted Tale of Beauty and The Beast is a must-see attraction that may even make you cry with how beautiful and fun it is! This new, enchanting ride takes visitors through the beloved tale of Belle and the Beast, combining state-of-the-art animatronics, breathtaking scenes, and a heartwarming storyline.

You’ll board magical cups that “dance” in rhythm to the well-known music from Beauty and the Beast, as the teacups take you through scenes depicting the story of the animated film.

The musical moments and the immersive experience bring the magic of the classic Disney film to life — it was 100% the highlight of our visit. My personal favorite rooms were the “Be Our Guest” scene and the final scene where Belle and The Beast share their romantic dance together!

This is hands-down the most popular ride at the park — we even paid extra for Disney Premier Access so that we didn’t have to wait in the 2+ hour line. 10/10 would recommend this ride!

3. It’s Home to Nostalgic Rides and Disney’s Most Iconic Attractions

Tokyo Disneyland Japan - Pirates Of The Carribean

Tokyo Disneyland offers a more traditional Disney experience similar to other Disneyland parks around the world, featuring all your classic faves like Splash Mountain, It’s a Small World, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Space Mountain.

And of course, you can’t forget about all the classic rides that the original Disneyland Park in Anaheim opened with (in 1955)! These include a majority of the Fantasyland rides like Peter Pan’s Flight, King Arthur Carrousel, and Mad Tea Party.

Tokyo Disneyland Japan - Cinderella Castle

These iconic rides embody the spirit of Disney, so if you’ve never been to a Disneyland park before, experiencing these traditional attractions is a rite of passage and a key part of the Disney magic that you can’t miss.

4. The Iconic Blue Bayou Restaurant is Located Here

Tokyo Disneyland Japan - Blue Bayou Restaurant

The iconic Blue Bayou Restaurant, nestled inside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride in Adventureland, offers a unique dining experience with its enchanting, dimly-lit atmosphere resembling a serene night in the bayou.

If you can manage to snag reservations here, you’ll be able to enjoy delicious Cajun-Creole cuisine while watching boats with riders drift by. The chef’s recommended course is a must. It’s such an unforgettable meal that’s both magical and immersive!

5. You Can Find Really Unique Merchandise Unique to Japan

Tokyo Disneyland Japan - Unique Souvenirs

Tokyo Disneyland offers a treasure trove of unique merchandise exclusive to Japan, including Woody and Jesse cowboy hats, funky Mickey ears, Tokyo Disneyland-themed aloha shirts, and beautifully packaged confectionaries and cookies. You can find a lot of the same merch at Tokyo DisneySea too.

These one-of-a-kind souvenirs make perfect keepsakes or gifts, providing a fun reminder of your visit to the park long after you’re back in your home country.

Tokyo Disneyland Japan - Disney Souvenirs — Regretting not buying these Toy Story hats…

6. You Can Partake in the Disney Popcorn Craze

Not sure how popcorn became so freakin’ popular at the Disney Parks in Japan, but they’re basically as popular as churros are in the USA parks!

While you’re at the park, you’ve got the chance to partake in the Disney popcorn craze! If you’re imagining parkgoers munching on buttered popcorn or kettle corn, you’d be wrong. It goes way beyond that in Japan!

Tokyo Disneyland Japan - Curry Popcorn — The curry-flavored popcorn was my favorite!

You can choose from a variety of fun flavors like matcha white chocolate, honey, curry, black pepper, caramel cheese, and more.

You can even take it one step further and buy yourself a popcorn souvenir bucket! My favorite ones are the Winnie The Pooh one and the Peter Pan / Tinkerbelle one (the latter actually lights up!).

7. It’s the More Family-Friendly Park

In our opinion, Tokyo Disneyland is a more family-friendly park, boasting a greater number of rides that cater to children of all ages. With attractions specifically designed for younger children (like the ones in Fantasyland and Toontown) and a variety of family-oriented experiences (parades, character dining, etc.), it ensures that everyone, from toddlers to grandparents, can enjoy their visit.

Meanwhile, we found DisneySea to be more impressive for adults. There were a lot of really cool areas to look at, but in terms of the number of kiddie rides, it just doesn’t compare to what Tokyo Disneyland offers.

8. There Are More Locals and Fewer Tourists

Because most tourists flock to Tokyo DisneySea, which is unique among Disney parks, you’ll actually find a lot fewer tourists at Tokyo Disneyland.

When we visited on our fourth trip to Japan, we only saw a small handful of Western tourists. Most of the park-goers were local families who lived in Japan and spoke Japanese. If you want a less touristy experience, this is the park to choose!

Tokyo Disneyland: A Deeper Dive Into The Park

Tokyo Disneyland Japan - Donald Duck City — Park entrance with the Donald Duck takeover!

Tokyo Disneyland’s Theme And Main Attractions

If you’re looking for the iconic Disney experience or have never visited a Disney theme park in your life, this park is the perfect introduction to the world of all things Disney! This is where you’ll find all the classic elements that make Disneyland the “Happiest Place On Earth”.

On top of that, Tokyo Disneyland is ideal for people traveling with younger children, as the park ofers many slower, gentler rides suitable for kids.

You’ll find lots of character shows, parades, fireworks displays, and many classic rides like Big Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain, Star Tours, Haunted Mansion, and Splash Mountain.

The park features seven lands in total, all themed with cute buildings, characters from various Disney films, rides, restaurants, and shows.

The Different ‘Lands’ at Tokyo Disneyland

The seven different lands/zones in Tokyo Disneyland are:

World Bazaar

Similar to Main Street, U.S.A
Glass Victorian Conservatory roof protects from Japanese weather
Many places to grab a snack or food, and lots of shops

Adventureland

Combines adventurous themes like Pirates of the Caribbean and Swiss Family Robinson
Features the Jungle Cruise and a unique ride called the Western River Railroad
Has many restaurants from Cajun to Asian to Polynesian and features several shops.

Westernland

This is Tokyo Disneyland’s answer to Friontierland, with a Western theme and Rivers of America
Features Big Thunder Moutain and the Mark Twain Riverboat
American-style restaurants abound, and themed shops sport Western goods. You’ll also find turkey legs here!

Critter Country

Home of Splash Mountain and Beaver Brothers Explorer Canoes
A small zone that gets very crowded
It has two restaurants and three shops

Fantasyland

Features Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, and Beauty and the Beast themes
It’s a Small World water ride, and Peter Pan’s Flight are featured rides
There are several taverns and restaurants and many gift shops.

Toontown

An area perfect for younger kids
Features classic Disney characters, snack venues, character ‘homes’, and toy shops

Tomorrowland

Science fiction and fantasy themed, with Buzz Lightyear and Big Hero 6
Features the Space Mountain ride, space-themed restaurants, and shops

Top Rides and Attractions at Tokyo Disneyland

The Happy Ride With Baymax: Experience this wild musical ride developed by the young inventor Hiro Hamada.
Enchanted Tale of Beauty and The Beast: Immersive journey through the beloved Beauty and the Beast story.
Monsters, Inc. Ride & Go Seek!: Interactive flashlight game in the Monsters, Inc. universe.
It’s a Small World: Boat ride showcasing diverse cultures through animated dolls and music.
Haunted Mansion: Spooky tour through a ghost-filled, eerie old mansion.
Peter Pan’s Flight: Fly over London and Neverland with Peter Pan.
Pooh’s Hunny Hunt: Whimsical adventure with Winnie the Pooh in search of honey.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Boat ride through a pirate-infested Caribbean world.
Enchanted Tiki Room: Animatronic bird show with tropical themes and catchy tunes.
Jungle Cruise: Wildlife Expeditions: Guided boat tour through exotic, animatronic wildlife jungles.
Star Tours: The Adventures Continue: 3D space adventure in the Star Wars universe.
Space Mountain: High-speed roller coaster through outer space.
Splash Mountain: Log flume ride with drops and Br’er Rabbit story.
Big Thunder Mountain: Runaway mine train roller coaster through a Wild West mountain.

Popular Restaurants and Foods at Tokyo Disneyland

Queen of Hearts Banquet Hall (Fantasyland) – Try the Queen of Hearts’ Special Set Menu, featuring dishes inspired by Alice in Wonderland.
Plaza Pavilion Restaurant (World Bazaar) – Enjoy a variety of Japanese and Western dishes.
Crystal Palace Restaurant (World Bazaar) – Offers a buffet with a mix of Japanese and Western cuisine.
The Hungry Bear Restaurant (Westernland) – Known for its Western-style dishes like burgers and fried chicken.
Great American Waffle Co. (World Bazaar) – Super popular for those iconic Mickey-shaped waffles!

Other Foods You Can Find

Tokyo Disneyland Food — Courtesy of Tokyo Disneyland

Little Green Alien dumplings – Inspired by the tiny green aliens in Toy Story, these adorable dumplings are unsurprisingly one of the most famous Tokyo Disney foods on Instagram.
Gyoza Sausage Bun – A unique snack featuring a sausage wrapped in a gyoza dumpling-like bun.
Seafood pizza – head to Captain Hook’s Galley for a slice of savory flavors of scallops, shrimp, and cheese.
Special Character-themed Bento Boxes – Find cute and delicious bento boxes featuring Disney characters.
Mickey-shaped Snacks – Look for various snacks in the shape of Mickey Mouse’s head, such as waffles, churros, burgers, and ice cream bars.

Popular Shows And Parades at Tokyo Disneyland

Tokyo Disneyland offers more shows and parades than DisneySea; this may be your deciding factor if you have young children who love to see their favorite characters in action.

Here are some attractions you can expect, though events change seasonally:

Disney Harmony in Color
Electrical Parade Dreamlights (night parade)
Disney Sky Full Of Colors Fireworks
Mickey’s Magical Music World
Jamboree Mickey! Let’s Dance!
Mickey’s Rainbow Luau
Club Mouse Beat
… and way more seasonal shows (featuring Baymax, Donald Duck, etc.)!

Some of the parades/shows are seasonal, so be sure to check the site for the latest offerings and showtimes before your visit.

BUY YOUR TOKYO DISNEYLAND TICKETS HERE

Tokyo Disneyland: Tickets And Reservations

When buying tickets for Tokyo Disney Resort, you can easily buy them online, at a Disney-affiliated hotel, or at the gate. Having said that, we like to pre-purchase our tickets in advance to save time.

Since the theme parks can get very busy, there could be a chance you can be turned away at the gate if you haven’t pre-bought a ticket and the park reaches capacity. I’ve actually seen it happen!

For this reason, I recommend always buying tickets in advance! You can get them up two months in advance online.

👉 Pro Tip: You can buy Disneyland tickets in advance on Klook to save a lot more money than buying directly from the Disney site. This is where I purchase all my Disneyland tickets for parks in Asia!

Another way to secure tickets when the park is at capacity during peak seasons is to stay at one of the Disney Hotels and pay for the tickets at the hotel desk. However, to take advantage of this, you’ll need to stay at one of the hotels that offer guaranteed park entry.

Tickets are available as:

1-day passports
fixed-date passports, which start from 10:30am
early evening passports begin from 3pm on weekends and public holidays
Weeknight passports start from 5pm on weekdays (not public holidays)

Ticket prices vary and can be lower or higher depending on whether it’s a weekday vs. weekend or a public holiday. Here’s an example of what the ticket prices could look like for a 1-day passport:

Adult	8,400yen – 10,900yen
Junior	6,600yen – 9,000yen
Child	4,700yen – 5,600yen

Each ticket will allow you into EITHER Tokyo Disneyland or DisneySea.

A 1-day passport does NOT mean it’s a Park Hopper ticket! They don’t have those here. If you want to visit both, you must buy separate tickets for the theme parks. The prices are the same for both theme parks.

There are also tickets available for later afternoon/evening that are cheaper than full-day passes, which is a good option if you have limited time to spend at the park.

Depending on the type of credit card you have, you may run into an issue with your non-Japanese credit card on the official Disney site. This is why we like to buy all of our Disneyland tickets for Asia parks on Klook!

I’ve purchased tickets for DisneySea as well as Hong Kong Disneyland and have never had issues with payment going through. PDF tickets are delivered via email immediately too!

👉 Pro Tip: If character dining or scoring lunch/dinner reservations at an iconic Disney restaurant is on your agenda, be sure to download the official Tokyo Disney Resort App to help you make advanced bookings for restaurants and attractions. The app will also make it easier to plan your day when you’re at the park.

Where To Stay For Tokyo Disneyland

Tokyo Disney Resort has six official onsite hotels located near the different parks. There are four deluxe hotels (many of which are super pricey).

Are they dreamy and gorgeous? Yes. Will they also cost you a fortune? Also yes.

Tokyo Disneyland Hotel – right in front of the Disneyland park
Tokyo DisneySea Hotel MiraCosta – located inside Tokyo DisneySea
Disney Ambassador Hotel – sits between both parks
Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs Hotel – brand-new immersive hotel located inside Tokyo DisneySea in Fantasy Springs
There is also the more budget-friendly Tokyo Disney Celebration Hotel (rooms starting at ~$170 USD / ¥26,000)
and a moderately-priced Tokyo Disney Resort Toy Story Hotel (rooms starting at ~$230USD / ¥36,000)

Don’t want to pay that much for accommodation? Neither do we! You’ll be glad to know that there are another 19 Disney partner hotels near the parks.

The main perk of being a Partner Hotel Guest? You can take advantage of a complimentary direct shuttle bus service between the hotel and the bus terminals at both Tokyo Disneyland Park and Tokyo DisneySea Park.

Tokyo Disney Resort Official Hotels

Staying at a Tokyo Disney Resort official hotel offers several perks, including the convenience of:

purchasing park tickets on-site (to save time)
guaranteed park admission even during peak periods
complimentary shuttle service to the parks

While these hotels are not on the Disney Resort property, they are situated just steps away! Plus, all of them come super highly-rated by previous guests.

Grand Nikko Tokyo Bay Maihama – Many rooms at this 4.5-star hotel offer fantastic views of Tokyo Bay and the Disney Resort area. This hotel is conveniently located within walking distance or a short shuttle ride from Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea.

Tokyo Bay Maihama Hotel First Resort – The hotel offers some uniquely themed rooms, such as ones inspired by Fantasyland and Adventureland!

Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel – The 4.5-star hotel has extensive and beautifully landscaped grounds, providing a relaxing atmosphere. Also offers character dining experiences where you can enjoy meals with Disney characters.

Tokyo Bay Maihama Hotel – 4.5-star hotel known for its affordability compared to some other nearby hotels.

Hilton Tokyo Bay – Situated along the scenic waterfront of Tokyo Bay. Also features Disney-themed rooms and a Disney store for shopping convenience.

Hotel Okura Tokyo Bay – This 5-star hotel is known for its excellent dining options, including Japanese cuisine and a buffet restaurant. Unlike other hotels in Tokyo, Okura Tokyo Bay has very comfortable spacious rooms!

Tokyo Disney Resort Partner Hotels

Similar to Disney Resort Official Hotels, guests at Partner Hotels get similar perks:

use of complimentary shuttle bus services to travel directly between their hotel and parks
purchase park tickets at their hotel
access real-time Tokyo Disney Resort information

Urayasu Brighton Hotel Tokyo Bay – This 4.5-star hotel offers stunning panoramic views of Tokyo Bay and the Disney Resort area. It’s also situated along the waterfront and close to Kasai Rinkai Park, providing a really quiet and peaceful setting.

Oriental Hotel Tokyo Bay – A 4-star hotel known for its elegant and luxurious interior decor and furnishings. Offers a variety of dining options, including Japanese cuisine and a lounge with bay views.

Hotel Emion Tokyo Bay – A 3-star hotel known for its family-friendly facilities and services, including a play area for children. This one offers a water taxi service to and from Tokyo Disney Resort, providing a unique transportation option!

Mitsui Garden Hotel Prana Tokyo Bay – A 4-star hotel that features a contemporary design and comfortable amenities. Also has an onsen bath for guests to use!