Asakusa Shin Nakamise Shopping Street | Review by 王小鈞

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.

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.

Located in Asakusa, Daikokuya Tempura is known for its signature shrimp tempura rice bowl and always draws a big crowd at mealtimes. I came for dinner this time, and it was every bit as popular as expected. After waiting in line for about an hour, I finally got to try it!

When the tempura rice bowl arrived, it was covered with fried items piled over the rice. Just looking at it made my mouth water! The shrimp was fresh and springy, coated in a golden, crispy batter and topped with Daikokuya’s signature rich sauce. It had a savory, salty flavor with a distinctive taste, and paired with Japan’s sweet, delicious rice, every bite was satisfying.

Although there are quite a few other well-known tempura restaurants around Asakusa, each with its own character, I still especially like the traditional, unpretentious flavor of this long-established restaurant. There isn’t much flashy decoration; it leaves a lasting impression through its familiar, classic flavors.