Japan is a world-class destination that is becoming more and more popular with tourists around the world. This is especially true for theme park fans as Tokyo Disney Resort offers two of the best theme parks in the world in Tokyo Disneryland and Tokyo DisneySea. Still, there are many who are on the fence about traveling to Tokyo Disney Resort. In this post, we’re going to give ten reasons why you should absolutely take the leap and go to TDR and Japan.

Obviously there’s more at play here than just deciding if you want to go to Japan or not. Cost can be an issue, as well as the flight length and other small variables. That’s not to say those issues should stop people. It’s actually an equal cost, if not cheaper, for us to go to Tokyo Disney Resort than WDW. That’s not the purpose of this post though as we’ve covered the cost subject already, as well as having a full Tokyo Disney Resort Guide.

Instead this post will solely focus on the why you should go to this resort and country. We’ll have a few very specific reasons, as well as some broad reasons. These aren’t in any specific order nor are they a top ten, rather just ten somewhat diverse reasons on why everyone should consider a trip to Tokyo Disney and Japan. I should say that this list will focus more on Tokyo Disney Resort than the rest of Japan, simply because this is a Disney blog. Let’s get to it!

DisneySea is the best theme park in the world

I’ve said it time and time again but Tokyo DisneySea is unlike any theme park around. An excellent attraction is just a small part of the allure that DisneySea has. The park is full of beautiful sightlines and surpasses all other theme parks thanks to its attention to detail and story. Simply walking around DisneySea is worth the cost of admission and then some. If you like theme parks at all, then DisneySea is a must do. If you’re a theme park junkie then this is the holy grail to chase.

The atmosphere is unlike any other resort in the world

Similar to the first reason, Tokyo Disney Resort is extremely unique because of the wonderful atmosphere. Cast members are enthusiastic and excited to converse with guests. While the service stateside is generally excellent, Tokyo Disney Resort takes it to another level. There’s a level of pride in the resort that I haven’t experienced elsewhere.

The atmosphere is enhanced by a different style of fandom at Tokyo Disney Resort. Kawaii (cute) culture is huge in Japan and that draws long lines for meet and greets and other character interactions. It’s hard to get the feeling of this atmosphere to come through in a blog post and I disregarded it while reading about it at first too. But, it’s certainly there and, frankly, it’s adorable. The whole experience is more fun thanks to an incredible, fun-loving atmosphere.

Parades

I didn’t know how much I enjoyed nighttime parades until going to Tokyo Disneyland. The Tokyo Disneyland Electrical Parade Dreamlights it’s a gorgeous nighttime parade with stunning floats and an outstanding soundtrack. Watching the parade with the castle in the background is one of my favorite castle park experiences I’ve ever had.

The parades don’t just stop there. The daytime parade, Dreaming Up, is giving way to a new parade this spring for Tokyo Disneyland’s 40th anniversary. I’m eager to see the new one!

Kyoto

Moving away from Tokyo Disney briefly to talk about my favorite city in the world. Kyoto is nestled in a valley and is the old capital of Japan. The city is full of beautiful, historic temples and shrines. The city is also home to the famed Bamboo Grove, a great monkey park and the Philosopher’s Path. Kyoto is certainly worth more than a simple paragraph in this post, it’s my favorite city in the world and should be just as appealing to travelers as Tokyo Disney Resort, if not more. Don’t miss Fushimi Inari, the Silver Pavilion and Kiyomizu-dera, among many, many others.

Sinbad’s Storybook Voyage

From a topic as broad as the beautiful Kyoto to a very specific dark ride at DisneySea. Few attractions possess the heart that Sinbad’s Storybook Voyage shows. The slow moving boat ride takes guests on a journey with Sinbad and his sidekick, Chandu. Though the ride is all in Japanese, the story is easy to follow and the song that plays throughout is powerful and melodic. Sinbad is unassuming and a perfect asset to the thoughtful DisneySea.

The Food

One of the questions we’re asked most about going to Japan is how we managed the food. We managed it pretty well because we loved it. I should start by saying that we love ramen and sushi and that was a large part of what we ate outside of Tokyo Disney Resort. Sushi isn’t for everyone but most of what you’ll find in Tokyo is far better than what you can have in the states. Ramen is foreign to many people but it’s a safe dish for all palates and one we’d definitely recommend trying even before you go.

If neither of those items appeal to you then there are still plenty of other options. Chicken Katsu, Japanese Curry and excellent seafood is found throughout the country. In Tokyo Disney Resort, there’s a large variety including plenty of theme park food we’d find stateside. While the food may seem a little adventurous at first, it was truly one of the highlights of our time in Japan.

Mysterious Island

Back to DisneySea for one of the most incredible lands in any theme park. Mysterious Island is the centerpiece of DisneySea, housing the daunting Mount Promytheus. Inside of that is Journey to the Center of the Earth, the flagship ride of Tokyo DisneySea that’s well worth doing. An interesting and under appreciated version of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea also resides in Mysterious Island. More than anything, the land is gorgeous with bubbling water below guests and stunning color shown throughout.

Tokyo

Like Kyoto, describing Tokyo in one paragraph is an impossible task. The biggest city in the world feels like it and is overwhelming to the senses. The food is incredible, as is the shopping. There is truly something for everyone in Tokyo thanks to the size of the city. No matter how many days you spend in the city it won’t be nearly enough to experience it all. Give it a try anyway though!

Tokyo Disneyland Dark Rides

While Tokyo Disneyland is sort of like a greatest hits from the American castle parks, it does house two unique dark rides in Pooh’s Hunny Hunt and Monsters Inc. Ride & Go Seek. The former is a Fantasyland dark and seen as one of the best attractions in the world. The latter is a nice addition to Tomorrowland, as a fun and interactive dark ride. There’s plenty that makes Tokyo Disneyland unique but these two attractions are obvious and great additions.

It’s Cheaper Than You Think

As I touched on in the intro, traveling to Japan isn’t as expensive as you might think. Finding round trip flights under $1,000 anywhere in America is easy. If you live on the west coast, flights can be found for under $600. Once you get there, accommodations, food and park tickets are all cheaper than what you can find at Disney World and Disneyland. Naturally, you can spend a good amount of money on this trip too but for those on a budget, traveling to Japan and Tokyo Disney Resort is within reason.

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