Tokyo Disneyland & Disney Sea
Maihama, located in the city of Urayasu in the Chiba prefecture, is home to the Tokyo Disney Resort, comprising Tokyo Disneyland, Disney Sea, Ikspiari Shopping Center, the Disney Ambassador Hotel, Hotel MiraCosta, Bon Voyage and other hotels.
Tokyo Disneyland is a perfect replica of its American sister. The park opened on 15 April 1983 and has since welcomed well over 100 million visitors. The year 1996-97 received a record 16.7 million visitor. The park is divided in 7 sections : World Bazaar, Adventureland, Westernland, Critter Country, Fantasyland, Toontown and Tomorrowland.
Tokyo Disney Sea opened on 4 September 2001. The two parks have received 24.8 million visitors in 2002. It has less attractions than Disneyland and is geared more toward adults in search of romantic atmosphere and restaurants. The park is divided in 7 sections as well : Mediterranean Harbor, American Waterfront, Mysterious Land, Mermaid Lagoon, Arabian Coast, Long River Delta and Port Discovery.
Ikspiari is a large shopping mall resembling Downtown Disney shopping, dining, and entertainment area in California and Florida. The complex is built on four floors and is not unlike Odaiba's Venus Fort for its fanciful and extravagant decoration. Shops include famous names like Paul Smith, Rope, Gap, Diesel, Benetton and Tiffany, while gourmets will go for Godiva, Sembikiya, Pierre Hermé, Trattoria Sabatini, Segafredo or Planet Hollywood. There is plenty more, including a branch of Maruzen bookshop, Shinseido CDs, DVDs & Videos and even a pet shop.
The AMC Ikspiari 16 inside Ikspiari is a 16 screens, 3500 seats cinema-complex, one of the largest in Japan.
How to get there
Tokyo Disneyland, Disney Sea and Ikspiari are just opposite Maihama Station. It can be reached easily from Tokyo Station (16min, ¥210) on the JR Keiyō line or JR Musashino line.