mwm1444 Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 Looks like the group had better weather at Tobu than when Divv, Andrew and I went the previous week. We did manage to get Kawasemi, though - and it was epic. Still wish I'd been with you lot for the actual TPR day at Tobu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Six Flags Enthuseast Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 Great update! Looks like everybody had an awesome day at Tobo and Hanayashiki! Kawasemi does a good job at packing a lot of awesome into a small space; I'm still somewhat surprised that only 4 Mega-lites have been built with the great ratings TPR has given them (although that keeps them unique and exciting). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosscoe Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 Robb the video for Kawasemi is a classic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRACHEN_FIRE_FAN-BOY Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 ... When is the next Japan trip? Kawasemi looks so amazing! So does Pyrenees, Bandit, and Takabisha I am guessing the news was there due to "most people seen in park in ten years" LOL!!! Just kidding. Good thing I will have enough saved for the next japan trip. Thank you for the pictures and very amazing videos! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldJJman Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 I miss Japan!! Â Love the new Kawasemi video!!! The backstage clips of the video really helps show how AWESOME it really is!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoCo Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 Hanayashiki is now officially on my bucket list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QueerRudie Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 Once again, epic, epic goodness- all around. The food porn is obscene... and more than a little eye-candy for the audience at hand. Â BUT... Â The Domo-fication of the tour is sadly lacking! Only ONE Domo credit??? And NO Schwarzkopfs. (Yes, I know, there's none left in Japan. Such a culturally deprived country, I think.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Totopez Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 ^Isn't there a Schwartzkopf Looping Star AND a Shutttle Loop at Nagashima Spa Land? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QueerRudie Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 ^Isn't there a Schwartzkopf Looping Star AND a Shutttle Loop at Nagashima Spa Land? Â You're right- I stand corrected in my own stupidity... How could I forget them???? I keep thinking of the lovely gem that was lost at Portopioland (DoubleLoop- with the insane drop)- and that BMRX is now English. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottian Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 Amazing video for Kawasemi. Â Can you catch me a crayfish, please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carnage Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 The best part about the coaster at Hanayashiki was the guy waving at us from the gym. Also the random park employees running around on the ground to cheer us on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aimster Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 The video of the coaster at Hanayashiki is made of pure awesomeness. LOVE IT! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharkTums Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 So KT ended up picking up 21 "Jeff Johnson" credits or 16 actual credits on the Japan trip. I think that's pretty great! Â Current count 137 JJ or 105 Actual! Â 100 was the Kiddie Coaster at Yomiuriland. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kasseroo Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 I'm super amused that Kristen has more credits than I do (both Jeff Johnson and actual)! On one level, I'm extremely jealous of her credit-getting abilities, and then I remember that she's only four, and I calm down. Then, I remember that her parents are amazing, so I'm jealous all over again! 'Tis a vicious cycle! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Movieguy Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 Awesome, awesome, awesome. Tobu Zoo looks great as usual, and I love all the pics of the area near Hanayashiki. Nice to get in the occasional culture credit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theGrayZone Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 Very cool footage on the Kawasemi video. The overcast, partly sunny, cloud veil provided great natural lighting conditions to show off the color scheme! Â That Gatorade-Electric-Lemonlime would look awesome against the backdrop of dark storm clouds with the sun highlighting... OR during that surreal time at when atmospheric illumination becomes a natural UV/blacklight (always loved the slopes and GP neon winter garb during that time of evening = iridescently rich). Have any coasters ever been painted with a UV-responsive coating... while illuminated in the evening with HI-UV, commercial lighting? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r4blue Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 ^I'm sure this isn't what you mean (seeing as I'm not a photographer and have no idea what you're on about ), but here's a pic I took of Kawasemi at dusk(ish) anyway! Â Â I went by myself and rode in the front seat, completely alone on the train, which is quite a weird experience. Â And I also found Regina quite fun at the start of the day, so I thought I'd wait until the end of the day when it had warmed up some more for a great ride... but the opposite happened, it was so incredibly rough the airtime had all disappeared. Â Then I went back into the city and rode Thunder Dolphin. It might not be the best ride in the world, but I got lucky and was placed in the front seat. Let me tell you, front seat, at night, with lots of screaming girls in the rest of the train... quite a ride! Â Anyone else ridden a mega-lite and a mega in the same day? It really emphasizes that size isn't everything! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Movieguy Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 ^ You said it! There are so many examples from the 90's, of coasters with gigantic first hills, but the rest of the ride is absolute rubbish (Desperado, anyone?) Â I'm glad that people are finally realizing that good things CAN come out of smaller sizes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
805Andrew Posted July 8, 2011 Share Posted July 8, 2011 That Kawasemi "airtime filled" Intamin looks awesome, especially for its size. That coaster doesn't BS around, it just goes straight to the airtime moments. I wish the San Diego or LA Zoo or some zoo in CA had a coaster like that. The world needs more Intamin coasters, especially CA. Â So was that the last day of the official TPR tour, or is there more to come? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharkTums Posted July 8, 2011 Share Posted July 8, 2011 ^There's still more! Â We just got a bit behind as the days got longer and a couple of relax days at Tokyo Disney! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrygator Posted July 8, 2011 Share Posted July 8, 2011 ^There's still more! We just got a bit behind as the days got longer and a couple of relax days at Tokyo Disney!  And you and Robb certainly earned those vacation days after the Tour, hope you both got to relax. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theGrayZone Posted July 8, 2011 Share Posted July 8, 2011 ^I'm sure this isn't what you mean (seeing as I'm not a photographer and have no idea what you're on about ), but here's a pic I took of Kawasemi at dusk(ish) anyway! Â Oh, well I really have no idea what I'm on about either... Â However... I can see "it" kind of happening in your picture... and that answered my question... almost looks like the track is starting to glow (along with what looks like a faint, fire-red, or blaze-orange coming from the train for some reason)... and I like it. Thanks. Would love to check that scene out in person at some point. Your solo ride sounded "right on" as well... surreal and special... along with the nocturnal, city-light tour on Thunder Dolphin. Memories to reflect on... and thanks for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted July 8, 2011 Author Share Posted July 8, 2011 Another update coming soon... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted July 8, 2011 Author Share Posted July 8, 2011 Wait for it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted July 8, 2011 Author Share Posted July 8, 2011 (edited) Our next day is one of our more popular days on every Japan trip we have ever done. Cosmoworld & Sea Paradise in Yokohama. We have visited both of these parks fairly regularly since 2004, and we've seen improvements in both of them over time. Cosmoworld has just about doubled in size, taking over the amusement section on the other side of the bridge, and Sea Paradise has re-opened closed attractions, and keeps getting more and more sea animal exhibits (new since our last visit was the Whale Sharks!)Onto some photos.... Â Next park on the TPR Japan Tour - Yokohama Cosmoworld! Â When we arrived at Cosmoworld's back entrance gate, we knew we were in the right spot when we found this! Â "A park that gets TPR's sense of humor is already awesome!" Â Cosmoworld is located in two different sections of Yokohama, separated by a river and is easily accessible by a short walk over the bridge. Did we mention that the tallest building in Japan also exists here? Â We will start our morning with some ERT on Diving Coaster Vanish! Â Is TPR excited? You should be! We're going to make you all... DISAPPEAR!!!!Check out our POV video of Diving Coaster Vanish! Â Â Â PLUNGE! There they go! DISAPPEAR! DISAPPEAR! Â Ahh, this one should not only satisfy the lift hill enthusiasts, but the first drop ones as well! Â We spend most of our life trying to get back in.... Â Happy TPR members? Perhaps! One more ride? Â SKLOOOSH!!! Â Next up was ERT on the Crazy Mouse. This one spins... a LOT! Â The goal here was to make Derek sick...or at least sick enough to where he'd need a beer or two to recover. He was on one side... Â ...while TPDave and myself on the other. We made it as unbalanced as we could... Â Were the results were successful? Watch the video to find out! Â Â Â A huge thank you goes out to Mr. Kitagawa of Senyo, Japan, who is a big fan of TPR! Â Hooray! They even let us credit whore with ERT on the kiddie coaster! Â "Got tall legs? No problem!" Â Hey, at least we actually had one kid for the kiddie coaster!And yes, there is even Family Banana Coaster POV! Â Â Â This is the "other side" of Cosmoworld. There are more family rides and shops here. Â I'm not exactly sure what I was having Big Mike do here.... as Nagashima Spaland would say "It's Something." Â Turns out Dr. Edgar is kind of creepy and keeps half-dead girls locked up in his basement.... sort of like how some of our TPR members do! Â See! This is what I'm talking about. Â Dr. Edgar kind of looks like Derek...always knew there was something off about that guy... Â Don't go in there guys...seriously...you might never come out! Â Anything with the words "Panic" in it, is a must see for TPR! Â PANIC!!!! Â Awww, crap.... not again! Â Cosmoworld has one of the largest arcades of all the parks we visited. It's on like 4 floors! Â The ice house was needed on a day like today. It was about 95 degrees out and like 140% humidity! Â "I'm not cold daddy...I swear!" Â AAAAHHHH!!!! HE'S COMING RIGHT FOR US!!! Â Awww, it's like Christmas in here...where's my presents? Â An Ice Bar! If only it were real! Â Here's the map of Cosmoworld so you can get an idea of how the park is laid out. Â BEST NEWS OF THE ENTIRE TRIP!!!! Meat Cow is STILL ALIVE! Yes! And not only is Meat Cow still here, he's been joined by the latest meat animal friend - MEAT SHEEP!!!! Â Shooting Dark Ride time...Hanno looks to take these kind of rides very seriously.SHOOTING DARK RIDE POV!!! Â Â Â Yup. Â The arcade featured "gambling for kids!" We totally approve! Â This is the "Crazy OMG Japanese Airtime Log Flume." Seriously, it's a great, GREAT ride! Â It feels like you're doing about 50MPH down that drop! And yes, you DO get airtime! Â The log flume is mostly on track leading up to the drops...and you pick up a ton of speed here! Watch the video!!!! Â Â Â More arcades.... Â The Judge was new...and it was AWESOME! It is a haunted walkthrough...Not for the weak. Â More shots of Vanish. Â The Ferris Wheel, I believe, is one of the biggest in Japan. It's freakin' HUGE! Â "We're not exactly sure what this is...but they gave us prizes!" Â "They have locked us in a cage before riding this dark ride!" Â OH GOD! NO!!!! THE SPIRIT OF ADAM HAUNTS ME EVEN WHILE IN JAPAN!!!! Wait...why is the spirit of Adam a woman!??! Â "Look what I won for getting the high score on the shooting dark ride!" Â "MUST. HAVE. MEAT COW!!!!" Â Love how the log flume, ferris wheel, and coaster are all built on top of each other. Â Tallest building in all of Japan! Â "The best part about the Ferris Wheel....totally air conditioned!" Â A birds eye look at the park. Â And there is the "across the bridge" section. Â Mini-golf on the roof of a building? Why not! Â You can see quite far out on Yokohama bay. Â See! Air conditioning! VERY important! Â I love going into deep, dark holes. Â Another look at Vanish. Â These were the awesome little "Cosmoworld Mascots!" Â DIVE! DIVE! Take her down easy.... Â And of course, for lunch.... Shaka shaka chicken! Â I swear this is the place the Simpsons went when they visited Japan! Â If you ever thought there would be a problem with food in Japan...think again! Â A final look at Cosmoworld... Â Our first attempt at a group photo turned out to be quite the fail! Â Thank you to everyone at Cosmoworld! What an awesome, AWESOME day! Â And thank you Mr. Kitagawa! Next time, we'll also do Yakitori & beer! Â Hooray! Next park of the day! Â Surf Coaster might very well be the smoothest Togo in Japan!Watch the Surf Coaster POV video and decide for yourself! Â Â Â Surf Coaster is long, has some decent airtime, lots and I mean LOTS of Japanese helices, and it's smooth! WTH? Â Hello Togo train! Â Pretty much the same cars that Knott's old Windjammer used to run. Â Surf Coaster is absolutely "right on the water!" Â Surf Coaster gets the TPR stamp of approval! Â Yay! TWO Intamin tower rides! Â Ahhh...so pretty! Â Blue Fall is still my favorite drop ride in the world! (sorry Aussies!) Â The sign speaks the truth! Â Hello Mr. Seats! Â Over 300 feet tall...that is a LONG way up! Â This is the proper way to ride Blue Fall. Â This is the proper way to ride Blue Fall AND scare the crap out of some poor unsuspecting random Japanese woman at the same time! Â Remember when Six Flags Magic Mountain and Kings Island used to have these? Â And yes, Sea Paradise has funny fish shows! Â The best news of the day is that the Splash Chute is back open! Â It no longer has the "boat jumpers" (boooo!), but it's great to see the ride back in operation after quite a few years on hiatus! Â It's one long, fun ramp to the water! Â While there may not be boat jumpers anymore, you at least get to paddle your way back to shore! Â It does make quite a good splash. Â TPR takeover of the Splash Chute!!!And what are the boat jumpers you ask? Check out this video we shot in 2004...the final year of the "boat jumpers" Â Â Â Thank you Sea Paradise! Was a lovely visit. Edited May 18, 2013 by ernierocker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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