Jump to content
  TPR Home | Parks | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram 

TPR in Japan - 2018 - Theme parks and Japanese Fun!


Recommended Posts

  • Replies 336
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

REGISTER for our forum to leave a comment!

 

Click HERE for an index of all our Japan 2018 Trip Updates

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Yay! Another update! Today we visited two parks again: Yokohama Cosmoworld and Sea Paradise! Despite some rainy weather today we had a great time at both parks as the major rides were all open and both parks feature a lot of "indoor stuff" so that's a good thing! We love visiting Comosworld as the parks staff and management are always so nice and welcoming! Highly recommend when visiting Japan!

 

DfsMNRKV4AEfYgM.jpg

Good morning from Yokohama Japan! I’ve got my Japanese Starbucks and I’m happy!

 

Dfs0DrvUEAA462A.jpg

Cosmoworld is home to a giant Ferris Wheel with GREAT views of Yokohama.

 

Dfs3FxgUwAAFPOM.jpg

Yokohama Cosmoworld is also home to Diving Coaster: Vanish! The only “under water” roller coaster in the world!!! (We swear! We would never lie to you!)

 

Dfs6Qk-VMAAl-5c.jpg

Are you guys all ready to go “under water?”

 

[twitter]

[/twitter]

 

[twitter]

[/twitter]

 

DftPVqcUwAAqvEz.jpg

The dark rides at Yokohama Cosmoworld are super cool!

 

DftPVqaU0AAZqxy.jpg

This one you use an augmented reality app to shoot creature in the ride.

 

DftPVqdVAAAnwOX.jpg

I’m not exactly sure what we were doing, but it was fun!

 

DftT2YMV4AAmfnW.jpg

DftT2YKU8AA9d2J.jpg

At the Alien spooky creature shooting dark ride everyone was given tokens based on your score and then you got some sort of trading cards from the machine!

 

DftT2YLUcAAKRwu.jpg

Why don’t we have cool stuff like this in the US parks???

 

DftWm0RU8AA1se-.jpg

DftWm0ZVMAEM0Qi.jpg

Next up we tried Cosmoworld’s new VR attraction you say in this vehicle that moved back and forth down the track while your seats moved in sync with the motion on the VR media.

 

DftWm0VVAAA3CHi.jpg

It most certainly was interesting!

 

DftaHo7VAAEkdie.jpg

DftaHo5U8AAoKyr.jpg

There are attractions on both sides of the water.

 

DftaHo7VQAALaW_.jpg

Your Yokohama Cosmoworld ride tickets will work at either section of the park.

 

Dfta4VWU8AAptrB.jpg

Great morning at Yokohama Cosmoworld! Huge thank you to the staff and management of the park for all their hospitality!

 

DfuFsozU8AAC5HE.jpg

We made a quick stop at Sea Paradise for their amazing drop tower and Surf Coaster.

 

DfuFso3VMAA16dH.jpg

DfuFsozU0AI1hTs.jpg

The signs advertising the park at the train were just so amazing and Japanese!

 

DfuDYdEU0AAcc0A.jpg

The girls rode Blue Fall... still one of the tallest drop rides in the world!

 

DfuDYdEVQAAveg0.jpg

And because it was lightly raining, the park gave them all rain gear to wear so they wouldn’t get wet at 310 feet in the air! I love Japan!

 

DfuKA9XUYAA8jcW.jpg

Surf Coaster at Sea Paradise is actually pretty darn good!

 

DfuKA9eU8AAHZaH.jpg

Especially for a “Togo” coaster that’s 20+ years old!

 

DfuKu-8UcAAtKje.jpg

We tried Japanese Shake Shack today!

 

DfuKu_cUcAA_8mH.jpg

DfuKu_6UEAAA9kR.jpg

DfuKvAiVAAIO3NJ.jpg

Happy to report it’s just as awesome as US Shake Shack!

 

DfuLRbfU8AEgmDT.jpg

DfuLRbhUwAAyMSP.jpg

Here’s the menu for Japanese Shake Shack!

 

DfuLRbvVMAEwDi9.jpg

I did have the blueberry “Flavor of the Month” Shake! Delicious!

 

Dft6a9UVAAIR7e6.jpg

Dft6a9TUcAEIWcS.jpg

I went to Sea Paradise and all I got was this Whale Shark Meat Bun!

 

Now, POST YOUR COMMENTS!!!! After all, we took the time to write this report, the least you can do is post something nice about it!

 

Click HERE for part Eleven of our Japan 2018 Trip!

Edited by robbalvey
Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

I Love It!!!!!!

 

Did they still have the Lemur cage where you could basically go into the cage?

What no Red Pandas?

 

Yes to the Lemur Cage, and to some terrifying aviary where a giant bird almost attacked the girls! Stupid animals that are just basically a fox don’t get featured in Trip reports!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Every new installment of this TR makes me want to go to Japan more and more! Seems like an incredible country with an awesome culture, great things to do and see, and that’s not even considering the amusement parks and incredible public transportation! (I love trains and am very upset that I rarely get to ride them where I live )

 

This is an absolutely fantastic TR! I can’t wait to see more!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Robb, how is the capsule toy count on this trip? Any interesting ones found?

Anybody going/gone totally OVERBOARD with the number they've bought?

 

I miss Cosmoworld and Sea Paradise. And Blue Fall.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Robb, how is the capsule toy count on this trip? Any interesting ones found?

I haven't bought a single one in probably the last 2 or 3 Japan trips. Honestly, I think I'm "over" buying capsule toys for the most part. I'll take pictures of the machines we see that are interesting, but I've just found that the stuff I buy winds up in a drawer or eventually gets thrown away, so I really haven't been into buying many of them lately.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

WIN!

 

I was watching your front page twitter post of "We're on a Screaming Log Flume!"

 

and about 10 minutes later, I hear cursing from the other room. So I called out to Nick, "what's wrong?"

 

and he replied with:

"We're on a Screaming Log Fluuuume!!!"

 

"It's stuck in my head! why did you play that????? "

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Great report! Cosmoworld definitely is a unique park. Did you do the haunted house walkthrough where they gave you the candle that measures your fear?

I didn't do it this time around, but I've done it in the past. It's a type of walk-through you'll find at quite a few Japanese parks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

REGISTER for our forum to leave a comment!

 

Click HERE for an index of all our Japan 2018 Trip Updates

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Day 11 - Today we had a nice casual day in Tokyo after doing a few park days, so it was great to take a break and give people some time to see the city. We ended up back in Harajuku to re-visit some shops we wanted to go back to and also find some familiar but different food! I then ventured out to Akihabara, the "electronics district" for some retrogaming fun and ended the night taking advantage once again of the "evening Starlight" pass at Tokyo Disney! Here we go...

 

DfximsIUcAAbYIe.jpg

Good morning from the Yamanote Line in Tokyo! Today’s adventure will bring us back to Harajuku and Akihabara areas of the city!

 

DfxmATdUYAAlRpS.jpg

OH, SHIIIiiiii....

 

Dfxpo2RVMAEOsrQ.jpg

Dfxpo2QUEAArA3Y.jpg

Because the world needs...NEEDS a whole section of a store dedicated to squishy bakery products!!!

 

Dfxpo2RU8AEv_ZD.jpg

Dfxpo2QUEAEWRhX.jpg

Not kidding, there is a HUGE section of a store decides to fake squishy bakery items that look and smell (and squish) like the real thing!!!

 

Dfxs7rdUcAEpuZv.jpg

It is IMPORTANT that there are four different colors of squishy French Baguettes!

 

Dear world... I apologize in advance that this had to happen...

DfxxWQ2U0AAbVgh.jpg

DfxxWQ0UYAA4tEB.jpg

This was a quick service restaurant that ONLY serves things that are "long, longer, and longest." Potato on a stick, Cotton Candy, Churros. All super long versions of it!

 

And now for the food portion of the day...

DfyELroVQAAF8IR.jpg

Because we LOVE Gyu-Kaku at home, it only makes sense we go to one in Japan also!

 

DfyELrtU8AEcgaM.jpg

While the menu items were slightly different, the concept was the same...

 

DfyELrsVMAEkg6W.jpg

And everything is so fresh and delicious! If you live in or near a major city in the USA, you may have one of these close by!

 

DfyrGwSU0AAIXDG.jpg

Akihabara is the “electronics district” and you can find every electronics item known to man.

 

DfyrGwSV4AM-gwV.jpg

DfyrGwQVQAAQShH.jpg

From iPads, Computers, Big Screen TVs, to wire cutters and soldering irons.

 

Dfyrdw8V4AAxDt2.jpg

I am mostly here for retro video games!

 

DfyrdxlVQAAyiJt.jpg

DfyrdxFVAAIpU8E.jpg

You can find LOADS of Japanese retro games dating back to the early Nintendo Famicom days.

 

Dfyr8qnU0AA1kCy.jpg

Super Potato is the most well known retro games store in Akihabara but it’s also become the most main stream over the years.

 

Dfyr8r2V4AAeWoD.jpg

Dfyr8tpV4AAzdc1.jpg

There are other shops like Book Off and Traders in the area, too. The volume of obscure retro game finds and decent prices are becoming less common in these stores and they are now more common to tourists rather than locals selling or trading games.

 

DfysdDbVMAEDM0n.jpg

DfysdC8VMAEFjoK.jpg

Inside Super Potato you will find rows and rows of Famicom games for “okay” prices (about the same as eBay honestly.)

 

DfysdBQVMAAey9L.jpg

There are still a few oddball systems, like this Japanese Vectrex, but I think this store is becoming less appealing for more hard-core collectors and more for casual retro game fans.

 

Dfys1lWV4AIWve5.jpg

Stores like “Book Off” will have bins of old Famicom games as well.

 

Dfys1luVMAEx3ea.jpg

Dfys1mSVQAAVpWb.jpg

Mostly common stuff so if you’re just starting out your collection, Akihabara is a great place to go!

 

DfytcDcV4AAZaTg.jpg

Many of you probably know that before I did TPR full time, I spent 20+ years in the video games business.

 

DfytcEaUYAASM4N.jpg

DfytcFPU8AAtFSL.jpg

While I’m not as much into modern games anymore, I will always have a soft spot for retro games and I love checking out these shops!

 

DfzTUjuUwAAPyyl.jpg

It’s sooooo weird that I keep ending up here isn’t it?

 

[twitter]

[/twitter]

 

DfzacciVMAAXNar.jpg

I will never... EVER get tired of this view!

 

[twitter]

[/twitter]

 

DfzqhDdV4AAM-S-.jpg

This is instantly my new favorite store at Tokyo DisneySEA! #NewsiesForever

 

Dfz0MzpU0AE392C.jpg

We just shot some really nice 4K low light footage of Sindbad’s Storybook Voyage! Can’t wait to share it with you all soon!

 

Dfz5CnmVQAAhcXE.jpg

It is most certainly a popcorn kind of night!

 

Dfz5Cn1V4AAs6ss.jpg

First some Curry Popcorn (still one of my top favorite flavors!)

 

Dfz5CnuUwAU3Pnq.jpg

Then the new Blueberry flavor!

 

Dfz5CnkU0AE0uAl.jpg

This one is soooo good!

 

Df0DVf9U0AE0ZPk.jpg

Another view I will never got bored of!

 

Df0IddFU0AEkOox.jpg

Aquatopia is still my all-time favorite “pointless” attraction! (And I mean that in the best way possible!) I always have the biggest smile while riding this!

 

Df0Q-YMVAAAhkyj.jpg

You can find Toy Story Mania in the Toyville Trolley Park! Another completely impressive area of the park!

 

And here are Some of my favorite scenes from Sindbad’s Storybook Voyage...

Df0T4oCVQAAvX8u.jpg

Df0T4oKVAAAYFFr.jpg

Df0T4oEVQAEB_q9.jpg

Df0T4oFV4AEw17Q.jpg

Love this attraction!!!

 

Df08EedUcAAiWSP.jpg

Another amazing evening at Tokyo DisneySEA!!! I can't believe all these Tokyo Disney visits so far have been "un-official" and we don't even start our official visit to the park for about another 10 days! We still have four full Tokyo Disney days to look forward to!

 

While that wraps up this day, I have posted an awesome... AMAZING video from Yokohama Cosmoworld! Be sure to watch with the volume UP!

 

Now, POST YOUR COMMENTS!!!! After all, we took the time to write this report, the least you can do is post something nice about it!

 

Click HERE for Part Twelve of our TPR Japan 2018 Trip!

Edited by robbalvey
Link to comment
Share on other sites

TPR records back at it again with their new hit single “We’re on a Screaming Log Flume!” going on tour now at a flume near you

 

Jokes aside, that’s one cool log flume, and another great installment in this TR!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just got caught up with this report. So much to love here. Squishies, plushies, Pokemon, expectations that people behave civilly--Japan is incredible. And that's even before the ramen noodle ride and screaming log flume. Japan is full of the best ideas.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey Robb, can you drop some of your retro game knowledge and explain the ATARI 2800 Centipede cartridge? Did they name it 2800 instead of 2600 because it was a Japanese system or was this just a later updated reiteration of the 2600?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

^^ Looty, I managed to get to all three in a day but it wasn't feasible to get all rides in...are you asking how feasible to ride everything?

That would be a fun challenge and I would take you up on that if I was back in Japan soon!

 

 

Why can't California be Japan?

I don't think there is a single person in Japan asking why Japan can't be California...

 

Japan doesn't want to deal with California and the nonsense that everyone deals with there...

Not to mention Japan loves fireworks and many other hobbies that are banned in California. CA is not making people happier, Japan is.

Edited by Hoppy
Link to comment
Share on other sites

REGISTER for our forum to leave a comment!

 

Click HERE for an index of all our Japan 2018 Trip Updates

 

Follow our LIVE updates on Twitter and Instagram Stories!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Day 12 & 13 - It was time for us head out of Tokyo and down to Osaka. Don't worry, we will be back to Tokyo again later in this trip... we still have MORE Tokyo Disney (which is awesome!) In fact, technically the "official" trip hasn't even started yet as everything to this date has been the pre-trip stuff we've been doing.

 

Our days in Osaka have been exciting so far considering we were on a train platform when the earthquake hit and even as someone who grew up with quakes in Southern California that quake hit HARD! That being said that, for the most part other than some train delays it didn't impact our day too much and everywhere we went everything was business as usual. Onto some photos & videos...

 

Df23P5OUEAIOFXz.jpg

Today TPR is heading out of Tokyo (but don’t worry, we’ll be back) for some time in the Osaka and Nagoya areas of Japan! We will miss this Shinagawa location though as it is one of our favorites in Tokyo! Follow along for the next part of our adventure!

 

Df28ugwU0AAOSkc.jpg

Kristen is giving her speech on Japanese etiquette to our TPR Japan trip participants! This is the first time she’s addressed the group on one of our trips! I am very proud of her and hope she continues doing this so I can retire early!

 

Df3B7XLU8AAG-RZ.jpg

Time to get on a bullet train and head to Osaka!

 

Df3Ef6kVQAAxiDf.jpg

Our first Shinkansen of the trip! This bullet train will travel at top speeds of about 170mph going to Osaka today! We will cover 546km in about 2 1/2 hours and that includes 6 stops along the way!

 

Df3JGliUEAAwcGw.jpg

Df3JGlnUwAAcwc2.jpg

Happy to be back on a Japanese bullet train!

 

Df3JGm5UcAAgPzl.jpg

Df3JGmQVQAASmjM.jpg

They are so smooth & quiet! You can sit back, relax, fall asleep, play Nintendo and enjoy one of the best travel experiences you’ll ever have!

 

[twitter]

[/twitter]

 

Df3ZMogUEAA3u1T.jpg

How many of you wish you could be on this train?

 

Df3l8TFUcAAbiSS.jpg

We just got to Universal City Walk!

 

Df3l8S-VAAA_Cfc.jpg

Df3l8TDVQAQHE0A.jpg

Our first stop is this amazing take-out Gyoza place! So good for being a “take out window!”

 

Df4TEHPUwAAuOZq.jpg

For our TPR Japan Trip “Welcome Dinner” we are introducing our trip participants to the wonders of Yakiniku!

 

Df4TEHNVAAAK7ig.jpg

Df4TEHMU8AArOY3.jpg

Amazing Japanese BBQ!

 

Df4YGDwUEAAVryt.jpg

Japanese BBQ is soooo good!

 

Df4YGDyVQAEcQdy.jpg

Df4YGDyVQAAeTEx.jpg

Df4YGDyV4AE70j6.jpg

This place is in City Walk at Universal Japan! We highly recommend it!

 

Df4dghtU0AAcESg.jpg

Df4dghtUEAA1Hb8.jpg

Our master BBQ tables at the TPR Japan welcome dinner!

 

Df4dghvU8AU24Gj.jpg

Df4dghuUEAE9hQ_.jpg

These guys are turning Japanese BBQ into an art form!

 

Df4wAFxUcAAGDfi.jpg

The elevator at the Universal Japan Port Hotel terrifies me!!!

 

Df5BNhNV4AAFy9n.jpg

We came out to Dotonbori tonight but the weird Ferris Wheel is closed!

 

Df5BNhMU8AAtuNl.jpg

Df5BNhPVQAAwx7w.jpg

Do any of our local Osaka followers have any idea if it has run recently?

 

Df7QjW_VAAAf_5r.jpg

I wonder where that train is going?

 

Df7S0NqVQAEjHU5.jpg

This is by far the best “Women Only” train I’ve ever seen in Japan!

 

Df7dlYsVAAIJaJE.jpg

We just felt an awesome jolt of a 5.9 earthquake in Osaka! Being originally from Southern California this brought back some “interesting” memories!

 

[twitter]

[/twitter]

 

Df7kODPU0AAC8NZ.jpg

And not only are the trains moving in Osaka 20 minutes after that earthquake but they are already fixing the very minor damage they had here in the station. Again, this is why I love this country!!!

 

[twitter]

[/twitter]

 

[twitter]

[/twitter]

 

Df79DtOUYAABdrZ.jpg

This is how amazing Japan is... This random guy approached one of us, gave us a bag of drinks and snacks he bought for us, apologized about the train delays & the earthquake, & wished us safe travels once the trains are back in regular service. I this country!

 

[twitter]

[/twitter]

 

Df8QCLZUEAEvh4O.jpg

We are currently on our way to Misaki Park! Hopefully the roller coasters will be open today after the earthquake!

 

Df8SANzU8AA-ab9.jpg

We see the park off on the distance!

 

Df8a3kLU0AAaPiT.jpg

Our first coaster of the day at Misaki Park was this bizarre looking Wild Mouse ride!

 

Df8a3kKVAAAdlaw.jpg

Df8a3kKVMAUK_oA.jpg

It wasn’t thrilling really, but it was WEIRD!!!

 

 

Df8ovt1UwAEi-TG.jpg

The park allowed us adults to take over the “Child Coaster”...

 

Df8ovt5UYAAVMUK.jpg

Df8ovt1VQAAZuEn.jpg

...but we had to ride in a very unusual way! Side-saddle!

 

[twitter]

[/twitter]

 

Df8z6yHV4AAXneO.jpg

We ended our quick visit to Misaki Park with a ride on the Jet Coaster. The park claims this is the second oldest coaster in Japan. We had a great time riding it!

 

Df82Np-UEAAVpCd.jpg

It was a shorter visit to Misaki Park today due to the earthquake but we made it & had a great time! Parks like this bring out the child in all of us!

 

Df85BkfVAAAg65J.jpg

We are back on the train heading to our second park! I love that this train was still on time and efficient considering there was the earthquake this morning and we aren’t that far from Osaka.

 

Df9eo-YUEAAGsS-.jpg

Our next park was Adventure World! Arriving a bit later than expected due to the earthquake, but we made it!

 

Df9gtnoUwAAw6MC.jpg

Df9gtnpUwAAM3S8.jpg

Df9gtnmVMAAu8J7.jpg

We made it over to the “Big Adventure” coaster in plenty of time before it was going to close.

 

Df9l06UUcAAug1h.jpg

The “Pandafull Coaster” was adorable! Not that thrilling, but again another unique “Wild Mouse” style coaster that we rode today!

 

[twitter]

[/twitter]

 

Df9r-lyUYAAxMXO.jpg

Yes, we even took a ride on the powered coaster at Adventure World! (Its themed to bees... we think!)

 

Df9uQdBUYAA8G33.jpg

In the “never in America” department Adventure World has penguins in this pond area you can just walk right up and look at.

 

Df9uQdCVQAA76M2.jpg

Everyone respects the animals and doesn’t try to touch or pick them up.

 

Df91OBcVQAAFier.jpg

And of course it wouldn’t be a Japanese amusement park without a giant Ferris Wheel!

 

[twitter]

[/twitter]

 

Df-BtN1UcAA4EPc.jpg

We had a short but fun visit to Adventure World today! Even with the earthquake we still managed to get in everything we wanted to do today! A lot of thanks goes to how efficient and amazing Japan is!

 

We had a pretty crazy day today! We experienced a 6.1 Earthquake very close to the epicenter, but was fortunate the trains we needed out of Osaka were not delayed too long and we made it to two theme parks today! Was great to see how well Japan handled this situation!

 

Now, POST YOUR COMMENTS!!!! After all, we took the time to write this report, the least you can do is post something nice about it!

 

Click HERE for Part Fourteen of our TPR 2018 Japan Trip!

Edited by robbalvey
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Terms of Use https://themeparkreview.com/forum/topic/116-terms-of-service-please-read/