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When I first arrived in Japan I taught lessons about traveling since it is my passion in life. I told my students about all the incredible places I had been and intended to go, including places like living on a boat for a week in the countryside of England, eating the best baguettes in the world in the south of France, hiking the Swiss Alps, scuba diving in Mexico, drinking Czech beer in Prague, riding a camel in Tunisia, and wandering the canals and red light district of Amsterdam (now I am just bragging!). As the year went on I boasted about hiking Fuji-san, riding a bicycle to Shikoku, and my desire to harvest rice. All these amazing things did nothing for my students. I soon realized that a) leaving Japan was not high on their priority lists and b) the temples of Kyoto were about as exciting to them as riding a cable car in San Francisco was to me.

The Happiest Place On Earth

Casey Lary
2007-04-27 21:49:04

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who helped us get chocolate covered popcorn without waiting in the 30-minute line. We went back for the 20,000 Leagues ride and were very pleased. Although some of the rides were rather lame, we realized if we just screamed with excitement the whole time and pretended like it was the best ride ever, it really was!

Disneyland
I figured that if I was going to go to Tokyo for Disney, I mind as well go all out and visit Disney Sea and Land. To save some yen, we decided to only go at night to Disneyland. On Tuesday evening after the conference (yes we actually did go to parts of the conference in Yokohama) Larissa, Carolina, and I (Nikki opted out) boarded the bus bound for Disneyland! I ran through the turnstile and started singing Disney songs immediately. As I said earlier, no matter the age the moment you get there you automatically become excited. Tokyo Disneyland is EXACTLY like Disneyland in LA. Literally, without the Japanese people there it would have felt like California. I think the only difference was the Pooh-san ride at Tokyo Disneyland.

While at the park the 3 of us acted like we were 10 again. We caved and bought Minnie Ears to wear the entire evening. We stopped in Tomorrowland for a Mickey-shaped hamburger and Mickey Nuggets. Then we headed to Tune Town for some Mickey-shaped Pizza. It honestly tasted better because it was in the shape of Mickey. Since it was night, a weekday, and winter, lines were shorter. For nostalgic reasons, we went on It's a Small World. That was the first ride I ever went on at Disneyland. We also went on the teacups and braved the Haunted House. Many of the cooler riders were closed for repair. Our last ride was the Jungle Safari, which actually turned out to be way cooler at night! As the park was closing we went and gazed at the Cinderella Castle, dancing along to the princess songs playing around us, pretending I was Cinderella. On the way out we were sucked into a souvenir store and bought Mickey keychains to go on our cell phones.

What can I say, I am sold. I see why Japanese people love
Disneyland and going there just makes you so happy! I love Disney!!!

The last day up in the Tokyo area I went to Hakone, famous for its incredible views of Mt. Fuji. It was a very beautiful day and Mt Fuji looked amazing. I loved looking at it from a distance thinking to myself 'I have hiked you TWICE!' Due to my time restraint I did not have time to do the whole Hakone Tourist circuit including a gondola, museums, buses, a huge pirate ship (rather out of place!) and some temples. Instead I just wandered around the town enjoying the beautiful day. I was late returning to Tokyo and found myself running through the station to make my train- this seems to be a constant theme when I come to Tokyo. I made it and relaxed for the 4 hours home to Hiroshima.

Hakone, Yokohama, and Tokyo were great, but Disneyland and Disney Sea were the definite highlights. They truly are the happiest places on Earth. I have been to both Disneys, Space World, and Universal Studios Japan. That's more theme parks than I have gone to in America! All I have left to visit is
Kitty Land!