Tokyo Disneyland was the first Disneyland built outside North America, but surprisingly, it is not owned by Disney. Instead, it is operated by The Oriental Land Company, which also owns some Japanese railway lines.
The Oriental Land Company runs the Disney Resort under license, paying a fee for the name, characters, and attractions.
The resort features two main theme parks: Tokyo Disneyland, which closely resembles the Disneyland parks in California, Florida, Paris, and now Hong Kong, and DisneySea, a spectacular nautical-themed park with Disney favourites like 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, The Tower of Terror, and Indiana Jones, along with attractions found nowhere else in the world. Opened in 2001, DisneySea is a must-visit for anyone in Tokyo. In fact, the Disney Resort is the most visited theme park in the world.
The resort also includes several hotels, the Disney Monorail, and Ikspiari, a shopping and entertainment complex similar to the Downtown Disney districts at other Disney resorts.
There are plenty of hotels in the area, and in 2008, a full-time Cirque du Soleil theatre opened nearby. The Tokyo-exclusive Cirque du Soleil show, ZED, was inspired by the world of tarot.
The Disney Resort is easily accessible by rail—just take the JR Keiyo Line to Maihama Station, where you can transfer to the Disney Monorail. It’s best to buy your Disney tickets in advance, as queues can be long. Tickets can be purchased at any Disney Store throughout the region.
For those looking for even more entertainment, Maihama Station is also home to an aquarium and Japan’s largest Ferris wheel, perfect for rounding out a fun-filled day.
Disneyland, DisneySea, all its attractions and characters are part of the Walt Disney Corporation. For more information, please visit the official home page http://www.tokyodisneyresort.co.jp/
