Opened on April 15, 1983, Tokyo Disneyland is the first Disney park inaugurated outside the United States.
Contrary to popular belief, Tokyo Disneyland is NOT owned or operated by Disney.
Both management and ownership fall under the responsibility of The Oriental Land Company, a private Japanese corporation.
Where is Tokyo Disneyland located?
Tokyo Disneyland is located in Urayasu, in Chiba Prefecture, about 20 minutes by subway from central Tokyo. 
What does it include?
Tokyo Disneyland is one of the parks that make up the Tokyo Disneyland Resort, which is structured as follows:
- 2 theme parks (Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea)
- 5 Disney-owned hotels (Disney Ambassador Hotel – Tokyo DisneySea Hotel MiraCosta – Tokyo Disneyland Hotel – Tokyo Disney Resort Toy Story Hotel – Tokyo Disney Celebration Hotel)
When is it open?
Both parks are open 365 days a year with hours that vary depending on the season and any special events. They usually open at 9:00 AM and close at 9:00 PM.
I recommend visiting the official park website to check the schedule and to download the park app, which will be very useful before and during your visit.
How much does Tokyo Disneyland cost?
The ticket price for a one-day visit to Tokyo Disneyland is sold on the official website at a price of ¥8,400 (about €56).
Tickets valid for two consecutive days are also available for purchase.
What themed areas is it divided into?
Tokyo Disneyland consists of 7 themed lands:
- WORLD BAZAAR
- ADVENTURELAND
- WESTERNLAND
- CRITTER COUNTRY
- FANTASYLAND
- TOONTOWN
- TOMORROWLAND
WORLD BAZAAR
World Bazaar is what we would call Main Street in any other Disneyland around the world, but here at Tokyo Disneyland, besides having a different name, this area has two major features that make it unique.
The first major difference, and also the most visible one, is the large glass canopy that protects this area from the rather unpredictable weather in this part of Japan.
The second difference is the complete absence of the train station that is usually found at the entrance of this part of the park.
In fact, Tokyo Disneyland is one of the Disney parks that does NOT have the classic train circling the park.
ADVENTURELAND
Adventureland is a mix between New Orleans Square from the original Disneyland and the Adventurelands of other Disney parks.
Inside, you’ll find some of Disney’s most iconic attractions.
Western River Railroad is the classic Disney steam train which, instead of taking you around the whole park, lets you explore the wonders of Adventureland.
As mentioned earlier, this land also draws from New Orleans Square, so Pirates of the Caribbean could not be left out—though the way the entrance is designed left me a bit puzzled.
Inside Enchanted Tiki Room: Stitch Present “Aloha E Komo Mai”, you’ll find another gem of Tokyo Disneyland—here, the classic version of this attraction has been enriched with a new host who knows how to entertain his guests.
In Jungle Cruise: Wildlife Expeditions, you’ll be taken into a “real” jungle on a boat captained by your personal skipper who will show you the wonders of the area—and reveal the beauty of the “backside of water” (a joke only a few will catch).
The Swiss Family Treehouse is the most famous treehouse from Disney movies—if you want a view of Adventureland from above, this is the perfect place.
WESTERNLAND
We Italians have always been fascinated by the “Wild West”—it’s no coincidence that a themed area like this is present in almost every Italian park, from Gardaland and beyond.
Here in Westernland, there’s plenty to enjoy.
The Mark Twain Riverboat is a steam-powered paddle boat that takes you on a journey through the beauty of the RIVERS of AMERICA, the river that dominates this area.
At the center of the RIVERS of AMERICA is Tom Sawyer Island, an explorable island full of caves, tunnels, and hideouts waiting to be discovered.
The Big Thunder Mountain rides are pioneers of the mine train coasters found in many parks around the world.
The ones in Tokyo Disneyland are exact replicas of those in Magic Kingdom, Orlando—but are still absolutely unmissable.
At the Country Bear Theater, one of the most hilarious—and retro—shows you’ll ever see takes place, hosted by a band of occasionally over-the-top bears.
CRITTER COUNTRY
Splash Mountain is a true masterpiece of entertainment—a clever blend of storytelling, outdoor and indoor segments, a catchy tune you’ll sing all the way through, and one of the steepest drops that will soak and thrill you on one of California’s many sunny days.
Recently, Disney announced that the versions of this attraction at Disneyland and Magic Kingdom in Orlando will be completely reimagined with a Princess and the Frog theme—but not the one at Tokyo Disneyland, which I found to be at its finest.
Beaver Brothers Explorer Canoes is one of the craziest things you’ll try at Tokyo Disneyland!
Together with a group of strangers, you’ll paddle an authentic Native American canoe to discover the wonders of the RIVERS of AMERICA. The two guides will help you through this impossible mission—and most importantly, they’ll make you laugh out loud with their surreal stories.
FANTASYLAND
With 12 attractions, Fantasyland is the most attraction-packed area in all of Tokyo Disneyland.
Here you’ll find the Disney park classics:
- Dumbo
- Pinocchio
- Carousel
- Peter Pan
- Mad Tea
- “it’s a small world”
- Snow White’s Adventures
- Mickey’s PhilharMagic
- Haunted Mansion (yes, it’s in Fantasyland because for the Japanese, ghosts are part of fantasy)
Many of these exist in other Disney parks as well, but the three attractions I’ll describe next are truly unique.
Cinderella’s Fairy Tale Hall is a walkthrough attraction located inside Cinderella Castle, an identical copy of the one in Orlando.
Along the path, you’ll relive Cinderella’s story and end up in the castle’s grand hall, where you can sit on the throne and try on the glass slipper.
Pooh’s Hunny Hunt is completely different from the one in Orlando.
The level of technology in this attraction is incredibly high—and so is the fun.
Trackless ride vehicles, animatronics, projections, optical illusions, dance scenes—everything in this ride is taken to the extreme.
Now that you’re all hyped, get ready to have your mind blown.
Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast is the most beautiful attraction in the world that you’ll ever experience!
If you loved the film, you’ll get goosebumps the moment you enter the queue—which is mind-blowingly themed—until you step off the ride.
The castle, the queue, the ride system, the music, the illusions—everything is on a level I’ve never seen before in my life.
TOONTOWN
This area is dedicated to the little ones, where you can find several Meet & Greet spots—like the unmissable one with Mickey Mouse. 
You can explore Chip & Dale’s treehouse, paint Goofy’s house, or take a ride on Donald Duck’s boat.
But the real reason to visit Toontown is Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin, worth it even just for the immersive entrance and queue.
The ride is hilarious, packed with gags from the movie—but to truly experience its full potential, spin the steering wheel of your taxi. You’ll see what I mean.
TOMORROWLAND
Tomorrowland always has that retro feel—like a future that’s already past—but still full of charm.
A classic that must be in this land is Star Tours: The Adventure Continue, an identical copy to the versions found in other Disney parks, updated with the latest “slot machine” system for randomly selecting scenes.
Another staple attraction is Space Mountain—this version is quite similar to California’s, but its departure station must be seen in person!
Stitch Encounter is a show where kids can interact with characters from the film—but if you don’t understand Japanese, I wouldn’t recommend it.
On the other hand, Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters needs no introduction—by now a Disney park classic.
Now let’s get to the most exciting attractions in this land.
The Happy Ride with Baymax is a ride type that’s becoming a hit across Disney parks, always with different themes.
Here, it’s themed after Baymax, the robot from Big Hero 6. Everything is colorful, Japan-style, and of course, loads of fun.
But without a doubt, the most fun attraction in Tomorrowland is Monsters, Inc. Ride & Go Seek!—even the queue alone is worth the trip. The ride is so immersive and fun it truly feels like stepping inside the world of monsters.
Tips & Final Thoughts
As always, remember to follow my golden rules found in this article, but here are some helpful tips for your visit.
Arrive early at the park—even 2 hours before official opening.
Currently, the most crowded attraction is Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast, so head there first.
From there, explore the park in a circular route—Tokyo Disneyland was designed to be visited this way, allowing you to move through the lands smoothly.
Keep in mind that Japan is a super-populated country with over 130 million people—it’s normal for them to queue for everything, so don’t be surprised to see guests lined up at 8:00 AM for the 11:00 parade!
The politeness, cleanliness, and attention to detail of the Japanese, combined with Disney magic, create a surreal atmosphere that I’ve only ever felt here at Tokyo Disneyland.
I’m almost tempted to say that in terms of quality vs. price, Tokyo Disneyland is the best Disney park I’ve ever visited.
