Returning to Japan this April was such a special experience, even though I’ve been there a few times in my life. This was the first big trip with my partner Satise, who had never been to Japan but has always dreamed of visiting. And it was the most luxurious version of travel I’ve done in a very long time.
The trip combined several of my favorite experiences in Japan, which I got to share with Satise, and new ones for both of us:
TOKYO DISNEY!
Tokyo Disneyland and Disneysea are two of my favorite theme parks in the world. Getting to visit them with Satise and seeing them through her eyes was such a joy. Walking down the World Bazaar, strolling through Mediterranean Harbor, marveling at Mysterious Island — incredible. We both loved Beauty and the Beast, Frozen, Poohs Honey Hunt, and Journey to the Center of the Earth. But honestly the simple pleasures of the teacups in Fantasyland and the carousel in the Arabian Coast were also delightful.
A big upgrade this time around was splurging on a full vacation package for Tokyo Disney. We stayed at the relatively affordable Toy Story Hotel, which honestly was so much more fun than I anticipated. The theming was just so on point, from the exterior to the lobby to the rooms. And the breakfast buffet — wow, so much incredible food in a very cute dining room.
The vacation package included so many great perks: early entry to Disneyland, passes for several of the most popular rides, unlimited beverages in the park, free gifts, and a free popcorn bucket. A little spendy, but well worth it for a short two-day visit to the parks, particularly on a very popular week.
TEAMLABS
The digital art experience TeamLabs Planets was the best version of TeamLabs that I’ve done. We got there 30 minutes before opening, and we had the place almost to ourselves for that first hour. The tea service was the highlight. But there were so many other multi sensory experiences that blew us away.
GHIBLI EXPERIENCES
Satise is a huge Miyazi fan, so visiting the Ghibli Studios Museum and the Ghibli theme park were high on her list of priorities. I tried to manage expectations, since scoring tickets to either is extremely difficult to impossible. But surprisingly we were able to secure tickets for both!
I honestly did not know what to expect. I am a fan, but not as much as Satise. Would doing both a studio museum tour and a theme park be too much for me? What does a theme park experience even mean for a series of animated films?
I was completely blown away by both sites. The museum tour focused more on the process of animation, from the its early days to idea generation, story boarding, hand drawing, coloring, filming, and distribution. So many detailed sketches and final art on display! And an exclusive film that you can only see there. The architecture of the building and interior design are worth the visit alone.
The theme park is set inside a lush, gorgeous public park in Aichi Prefecture near the city of Nagoya. Seeing Ghibli films brought to life inside of a verdant, natural setting feels so right.
I didn’t know what a theme park with virtually no rides would be like. But it was such an entrancing, engaging, immersive experience that changed my conception of what a theme park could be. You literally walked into iconic scenes from several of the films, got to explore detailed sets, touch, smell, and taste what the inhabitants might have experienced.
We got there an hour before opening at 9am and stayed pretty much right up to the close at 5pm, and we didn’t get to see everything.
HAKONE ONSEN
We ended our 10 day trip with two and a half days in the resort town of Hakone. I’ve been to this beautiful area before for a quick day trip, but didn’t get to really experience it. So getting to return with my partner and really get the full onsen experience was so amazing.
Satise found us this recently refurbished onsen called Mizunoto, about 30 minutes from the main train station, not far from the Open Air Museum. I have never done a luxury spa resort before, but I can see the appeal now. So many baths! Public ones, private ones, indoor, outdoor, even one in our hotel room. Plus a sauna, massage services, free drinks and snacks, and a multi-course breakfast. All all of that in your Japanese PJs and slippers!
The hotel combines western and Japanese elements throughout. Our hotel room was like a small traditional home, with tatami mats, sliding screen doors, and an outdoor patio with a bath. We felt like VIPs, but also at home.
FOODIE ADVENTURES
One of the biggest challenges of the trip was finding vegetarian and vegan options for Satise. While there were some difficulties, we also got to eat some delicious meals, from “konbini” (convenience store) snacks like onigiri and seaweed salads to multi course vegan meals in Ueno. Kijigogi just outside Tokyo had several vegan offerings, from bahn mi to ramen.
We discovered that Tokyo Disney parks had several plant based options, from a vegan Baymax curry plate to veggie burgers in Arendelle. Hakone was more limited, given the relatively remoteness. But even there we found places that offered at least a couple of vegetarian options.
Of course, I got to eat lots of great treats, both plant based and otherwise.
Overall, this was one of the best trips I’ve ever taken. Getting to experience Japan with my partner is a memory I’ll treasure forever. I’m just so grateful for everything and excited for the future.