People-Watching is More Fun Than Festivals

Went to see the sanja matsuri at Asakusa yesterday. I’m not into these types of things and I’m very claustrophobic in crowded streets so instead I had lots of fun with our new zoom lens~

Tokyo Disneyland – Pirates of the Caribbean

I really hope that our pop culture has come to the point where this ride needs absolutely no explanation whatsoever.

Tokyo Disneyland – Pooh’s Hunny Hunt

Arguably the most popular ride in all of Tokyo Disneyland, rivaled only by the holiday version of The Haunted Mansion. The wait time for Pooh’s Hunny Hunt, on average, is 2 and a half hours and Fast Passes usually run out for the day before lunchtime.

Tokyo Disneyland – Electrical Parade: Dreamlights

And so begins my revamped posts (and layout?!). First up is Tokyo Disneyland’s night parade: Dreamlights. This is my absolute favorite of all of the Disney parades that I’ve ever seen… though granted that’s not saying much.

Tokyo Disneyland – Queen of Hearts Banquet Hall

Right across from Alice’s Tea Party is the Queen of Hearts Banquet Hall. As implied, this is a food court of sorts with an enormous wait line and standard menu. I’ve never eaten here but I waited on the line just to get inside to take pictures. 

Tokyo Disneyland – Alice’s Tea Party

Okay, so most people who know me are quite aware that I have a slight obsession with the Mad Tea Party from Alice in Wonderland. There’s something about the style, the colors and the complete and total absurdity of it that I absolutely love. It’s also the first ride that I have any memory of (along with the famous Dumbo ride).

Too bad the tent area itself isn’t that large, because that means fewer photos… 

Good Ol’ Ueno

Ueno is where our usual hotel is, so the area between the hotel and the train station is extremely familiar to us. I was killing time waiting for the hair salon to open ($70 straight perms!) so I just walked around and took photos as I went. It must have been like 9 am, so there weren’t that many people out and about outside.

I rather like morning photo walks, to be honest (as if going to Shibuya at 6 am wasn’t a clue).

Sunshine City Observation Deck

So before leaving Ikebukuro, we spent some time at Sunshine City’s observation deck. It was the cheapest attraction and we wanted to go see it anyway, so we went.

On the Road to Sunshine City

A few months ago I read about this giant building in Ikebukuro called Sunshine City that had an observatory, an aquarium, and a Toys ‘R Us inside of it and figured that it was worth checking out as long as I was living 2 train stops away.

Rina agreed, so we went and had a touristy adventure.

Down Omotesando Street

I went down Omotesando St. with Irina on Christmas day, after we went to Hatsudai, to go to Kiddyland and to just waste some time before we met up with my cousin Masako for dinner.