If it’s your first time at Lake Kussharo, you have to check out Sunayu! Just dig into the sand by the lake a few times, and hot spring water actually bubbles up. It felt like magic!
Soaking my feet in a natural foot bath I dug myself while relaxing by the lake was incredibly soothing. It’s such a unique experience—not only great for photos, but also a lot of fun. Highly recommend adding it to your Hokkaido itinerary!
Yomiuriland
Yomiuriland is the historic, representative amusement park of Tokyo that is located in the area spanning across Inagi, Tokyo and Kawasaki, Kanagawa.
When visiting Tokyo, besides Disney, Yomiuriland is also well worth adding to your itinerary! It’s about a 30-minute trip from Shinjuku, and both adults and children can have a great time. The nighttime light show is especially beautiful—it really makes you not want to leave!
After exiting Keio-yomiuriland Station, there’s still some distance to go before reaching the amusement park. You can take a taxi, bus, or gondola up the hill. We originally planned to take the gondola, but it was suspended because of strong winds, so we had to walk uphill. It takes about 20–30 minutes, so remember to check the gondola’s operating status before heading out!
If you take the gondola, I recommend using an IC card since it’s more convenient. There are also big crowds when everyone leaves at night, so make sure whether the line is for buying tickets or boarding so you don’t get in the wrong one.
The park is filled with colorful lights everywhere, and every ride is decorated with sparkling lights in a wide variety of changing colors. Together with the nighttime view of the whole park, it really feels magical! There are great photo opportunities wherever you go, and you can even take beautiful pictures while waiting in line for rides.
When taking the gondola back down the hill, you can also enjoy a view of the entire amusement park lit up along the way. Be sure to take the opportunity to enjoy it—it’s really worth it!
A quick tip: Some rides have height restrictions for children, such as a minimum height of 90 cm. Remember to check the rules for each ride in advance so you don’t wait in line only to find out they can’t ride.
We didn’t enter the park until around 7 p.m. We bought our tickets online in advance, and scanning the QR Code at the entrance was very convenient. After entering, remember to keep the red wristband on. Since we had limited time, we had to quickly choose a few rides for the kids, and there were still so many we didn’t have time to try!
What left the deepest impression on us this time was Yomiuriland’s nighttime lighting and atmosphere. It was truly magical and romantic! It’s not only suitable for families with children, but also a great place for couples on a date.
If time allows, I really recommend planning to spend the whole day there, from daytime through the evening. That way, you can enjoy both the rides and the nighttime lights without feeling too rushed.
Tokyo Disneyland
Known and loved as the “kingdom of dreams and magic”, this full-scale themepark is just a 15 min. train ride from Tokyo Station.
For this trip to Tokyo, we specifically set aside two days to visit Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea separately, so we could finally fully experience the magic of Disney!
In comparison, I think the attractions at Tokyo Disneyland are more suitable for young children. The entire park feels like stepping into a fairy-tale world, with each attraction telling its own story. It’s very immersive and really great for family trips.
We lined up at the entrance at 8:00 a.m. and entered the park at around 9:10. Even though it was a weekday, the lines for popular attractions were still very long. I recommend downloading the Tokyo Disney app in advance and researching the attractions you want to experience. If necessary, you can purchase DPA for faster access, which can really save you a lot of time!
My top recommendation from this visit is Beauty and the Beast! The castle and scenes are recreated with incredible accuracy, and together with the music and story, it feels like you’ve stepped right into the movie. The moment when the Beast turns back into the prince especially made me exclaim, “How can this be so magical?” Even if you’re not a devoted fan, it’s easy to be moved, and it’s definitely worth experiencing! I suggest watching the original animated movie before you go, as it will make the experience even more meaningful.
Another thing that left the strongest impression on me was the nighttime parade! Familiar cartoon characters appeared one after another, accompanied by gorgeous floats, synchronized dancing, and cheerful music. Before I knew it, I was swaying to the beat. The atmosphere was truly wonderful!
There was also the Reach for the Stars castle light show, which combines projections, lasers, fire effects, fireworks, and music to present exciting stories featuring Disney characters. The visual effects rival those of a blockbuster movie, so you really shouldn’t miss it! There was also an earthquake that day, and the fireworks show was paused midway through. It became a very unique memory from the trip.
Although the food in the park isn’t cheap, some of it is shaped so adorably that it almost feels too cute to eat! With family-friendly facilities and stroller parking areas, it’s also very convenient to visit with young children.
Tokyo Disneyland isn’t just an amusement park; it feels more like a beautiful fairy-tale dream. The most precious part of this trip was being able to accompany my daughter into the princess world of her dreams and create wonderful memories of our own.
Ozeki Supermarket Asakusa Kaminarimon Store
Nothing but local roots at this supermarket popping up across Tokyo.The Asakusa Kaminarimon branch is located just about 100 meters from the iconic Asakusa Temple Kaminarimon Gate. Check the storefront and just inside for wall-to-wall daily necessities like seasonal vegetables, fruits, fresh groceries and snacks, to seasonings, alcohol, daily necessities, and more! You can always expect an easy energy and bustling vibe from here during open hours.
When visiting Asakusa, besides exploring Kaminarimon and Nakamise Shopping Street, don’t miss OZEKI (オオゼキ). It sells a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, meats, and fresh foods, along with plenty of everyday Japanese ingredients to browse through at your own pace and discover interesting finds.
Whenever I travel to Japan, I really enjoy visiting local supermarkets to see what Japanese people usually eat and compare prices. You might even find something unexpectedly good!
If you’re staying nearby or want to pick up a few things after exploring Asakusa, stop in and experience everyday life at a Japanese supermarket.
