Spend a Day at Disneyland in Tokyo Japan

July 8, 2025 Emma Jones

Spend a Day at Disneyland in Tokyo, Japan!

Hi Friends!

If you are planning a trip to Japan and are even a little bit of a Disney adult like Dustin and I and you're even thinking about not going to Tokyo Disneyland, let me stop you right now and say: YOU HAVE TO DO IT. Seriously, this place is pure magic and has a charm that’s totally unique compared to other Disney parks we've been to! The classic Disney vibes mixed with a fun Japanese twist make it such a special experience. When we were planning our trip to Tokyo, we knew both Disneyland Tokyo and Tokyo DisneySea had to be on our must-do list! As you probably know by now, we went in early April and it turned out to be the perfect time—great weather and manageable crowds. Dustin and I soaked up every bit of the magic, food, rides, and fun we could fit into our one day at the park!

🎟️ Getting There + Buying Tickets

We bought our tickets ahead of time through the official Tokyo Disney Resort website, and I definitely recommend doing that — they can sell out, especially during busy seasons or when there's a new attraction. If you want there are other options that you can also use third-party platforms like Klook if you prefer, but we found the official site worked just fine and then I didn't have to worry about transferring anything over or dealing with extra steps, it was just in the app.

Like I mentioned, for us getting to the park was very easy because we were staying at Grand Nikko Tokyo Bay Maihama (we loved our stay here so much) and it was a quick 5 minute walk to the Disney Resort Line! But if we weren’t staying right in the area it was also super and we could have taken the train to Maihama Station and then transferred to the Disney Resort Line. The Disney Resort Line feels like the first ride of the day because of the Mickey-shaped windows and handles, which are adorable)! We got there at about 8:15 AM and it opened at 9:00 AM. There was already such a long line forming and I recommend getting there about 45 minutes to an hour early to not be at the back of the line when the park opens. The gates opened a bit ahead of schedule (like at 8:50ish). Make sure you have your tickets on the app, it made things so much smoother!

🏰 How to Skip the Lines at Disneyland Tokyo

I am not an expert by any means, I just wanted to note what we did and noticed about the fast pass system when we were visiting. From what I understand, the classic paper FastPass system is gone much like other Disney parks, and Disneyland Tokyo now uses Disney Premier Access (paid) and Standby Passes for some attractions. We used the Tokyo Disney Resort app to keep track of wait times, reserve access to certain rides, and even order food — it’s a must. We bought the Disney Premier Access to be able to choose a ride right away when we got there and once we scanned into the ride we were able to look on the app again and choose another option from Disney Premier Access. We kept doing this throughout the day and adjusting our plan as we knew the next ride we were going on, it helped a ton with avoiding crazy lines!

One big tip: if there's something you must ride, go straight there at rope drop or pay for Premier Access.

Make the most of your visit with these handy tools available in the Tokyo Disney Resort app:

🎟️ 1. Disney Premier Access (Paid)

What it is: A paid reservation system that lets you skip the regular line at select popular attractions.
How to use it:
- Open the Tokyo Disney Resort app, link your park tickets, choose an attraction and select a time slot, pay directly through the app and show your QR code when it’s time to ride!

🆓 2. Standby Pass (Free)

What it is: A virtual queue system that gives you a time window to join the line—no payment required.
How to use it:
- Reserve your Standby Pass through the app (subject to availability), come back during your time window and join the physical line.

🎢 The Rides We Went On (And Which Were Totally Worth It)

Pirates of the Caribbean - This is another classic that is pretty much the same every park we have been to but we will always recommend for people to ride it because it is just so good, we loved it!
Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast - This was the cutest ride ever that reminded me of the Rattatouli ride at Epcot in Florida but done 10x better honestly! You get to ride in a teacup and feel like you are immersed into the Beauty and the Beast movie while watching animatronics and listening to music while moving around in the teacup. This ride was done so well and we loved it! This ride was really popular and is a must-see in my opinion! We bought a Premier Access to skip the long line!
The Happy Ride With Baymax - I would compare this ride to the Aliens ride at Hollywood Studios in Orlando! It was a fun ride, the energy from the cast members was amazing and we loved it! It was actually a little bit longer than I expected as well. Because we were trying to squeeze in as much as we could in the one day we were there, bought a Premier Access to skip the long line!
Pinoccios’s Daring Journey - We also really liked this ride, it was pretty nostalgic and just overall enjoyable. It would be great to take any member of your family on it!
Pooh’s Hunny Hunt - The cutest ride, we loved it! It is basically just a journey through the Hundred Acre Wood with cute scenes and getting to see the characters that are in Winnie the Pooh. There was really no wait and we loved it! Definitely a good ride for all ages.
Mark Twain Riverboat - We went on this around 3 in the afternoon because we needed a break from all of the walking that we were doing and it was the same ride as the one in Disney World. We liked going on it and it was a nice break from the crowd!
Haunted Mansion - This is always a classic and pretty much the same everywhere we have been but we will always ride it!
Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin - We didn’t even really know what we were getting ourselves into when we got in line for this ride but we wanted to go on something and we were in the area so we decided on this when we saw it only had like a 30 minute wait. It was a cute ride and was like no ride we have here in Orlando so that was a fun experience!

I know I have said this a few times but we were only there for one day so there were a few rides we didn’t have time to go on. We chose to skip Splash Mountain and Peter Pan’s Flight and then we were sad to realize that Big Thunder Mountain was down for refurbishment when we were there as well so we missed that one. We wanted to make sure that we got to go on rides that we wouldn’t be able to here at home. So yes we skipped out on some of the bigger rides but we were definitely okay with it because each of them seemed so similar to rides that we have here in Orlando at Disney World.

🍴 What We Ate

Okay, real talk: everything I watched about the food at Disneyland Tokyo was that it was so great and some of the best food they had ever had at a theme park and so on… guys, we weren’t fans of the food at the parks, like at all. There were some things that weren’t horrible but besides the food being really cute and themed well, it didn’t taste great. This is obviously just my opinion but I would lower the expectation of the taste of the food at Disney Sea and Disneyland Tokyo quite a bit before you visit! The second day we ate breakfast and dinner outside of the park and for “lunch” we just had a couple of snacks here and there!

🥐 Breakfast

We ate breakfast at our hotel, Grand Nikko Tokyo Bay Maihama! We weren’t sure if there were going to be a ton of options for breakfast in the park so we just ate before we went. I’m glad we did this because we were able to get right to going on the rides!

🥐 Lunch

We ate lunch at Huey, Dewey and Louie’s Good Time Cafe and we pretty much got one of everything and was mostly disappointed in the food with the exception of the Bacon and Basil Pizza. We got the Tariakyi Chicken on the Bao Bun which we would rate a 5/10. The last thing we ordered was the special breaded chicken sandwich on a bao bun, I can’t remember what it is called but it was probably a 6/10. Don’t get me wrong, the food was so cute- it just didn’t taste the best!

🍗 Snacks

Soy Sauce Popcorn – There were so many kinds of popcorn to try but the lines were seriously always so long. They had flavors like black pepper, caramel, and a curry flavor that smelled great! They had the option to buy popcorn in regular boxes or you could go all-in with a souvenir bucket — we saw people collecting them like trophies, they were so cute but I couldn’t bring myself to get one and then try to fit it in my suitcase on the way back to the states. We ended up trying the Soy Sauce popcorn because there was a short line during a parade that was happening and it made sense why the lines were always so long, it was delish!
Churros – The churros were really good, we had many and my favorite from Disneyland was the creme brûlée churro!

**🛍️ Souvenirs We Bought (Because You Have to)**

Shopping at Disneyland Tokyo and even DisneySea Tokyo was honestly in my top 5 favorite things that we did while we were there. Every store we went into there was SOMETHING that I couldn’t resist picking up. They had so many fun Mickey-shaped snacks that I felt that I couldn’t live without. The merch here is seriously next level, with tons of Japan-exclusive items you won’t find anywhere else—especially all things Duffy, which has a massive fan base here so if you are also a fan, prepare your wallet! Haha We tried to go into all of the stores, like the little kiosks near each land those had themed goodies that you might miss if you walked past. I also couldn’t leave without getting some of the themed plushies that I wouldn’t find here in the states as well as the iconic Mickey Mouse shaped sunglasses that I have seen everywhere! We definitely bought way more than we planned, but I have zero regrets! A little tip, shopping during parades or early morning was much less stressful because the crowds were preoccupied and not shopping, so I would shop during those times if you want to browse in peace!

💡 Tips for First-Timers

Download the Tokyo Disney Resort app before your trip and use it!
Make sure you log in and link your tickets before getting to the park, you will want to use the app with your linked tickets to get into the park!
Check availability for rides and make reservations right after park entry. Availability for the fast pass options can go fast—especially on weekends and holidays!
Make sure you bring a portable charger, you’ll be on your phone all day and it will come in handy, I promise!
Utilize mobile ordering when it is available at select quick-service locations in the app! It is great for skipping food lines!
Pack compact umbrella or raincoat — Tokyo weather can change quickly and again you will be happy you brought it.
Make sure you arrive early to the park to wait in line. I would aim to get there at least 30–45 minutes before park opening. The earlier you get in line the earlier you will get into the park and be able to get the fast passes that you want for the rides on your list.
I would have a plan going into the day but at the same time be flexible. It is smart to have a few rides on your list that are must-do attractions for you but also be ready to adjust the plan based on crowd levels and wait times for the day that you are at the park!

I can’t express enough how Disneyland Tokyo totally lived up to the hype and then some. Whether you're a Disney die-hard or just looking for a fun day while you're in Tokyo, this park is 100% worth the visit. From the park being so insanely detailed with theming, to the fun and unique rides and all the themed snacks and merchandise, it was such a magical day! If you're going to Japan and a Disney fan and you are on the fence about going, I promise it’s 100% worth it. We hope that someday we will be able to go back and experience it again! Until then, we’ll just be reliving the magic through our memories (and the snacks we brought home)! If you have any questions while planning your own trip or want to know more about anything that I mentioned above, feel free to reach out—I’m always happy to chat about anything Disney! You can comment below or you can send me an email at tarynintotravel@gmail.com and I will get back to you as soon as possible! ✨

Much Love,

Emma

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Where to Stay and Play in Tokyo, Japan

July 1, 2025 Emma Jones

Hi Friends!

Okay, so I had no idea what to expect when we got to Tokyo—but wow, this city was really, really cool! It’s one of those places that just pulls you in with something new around every corner without really knowing at all what you will stumble upon. One minute you're in the middle of the wild chaos at Shibuya Crossing, and the next you're walking through a peaceful garden or stumbling into the coziest ramen shop down a quiet alley. It’s got this perfect mix of super modern and totally traditional, and somehow it all just works. Whether you're into food, fashion, culture, or just aimlessly exploring, Tokyo had it all. I wanted to share where we stayed, some of our favorite spots that we ate at, and all the fun stuff we saw while we were there!

All blog posts for this Osaka and Tokyo Japan Trip

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Where to Eat, Stay and Play in Osaka, Japan

20 Tips to Know Before You Go to Japan

Spend a Day at Disney Sea in Japan

Spend a Day at Disneyland Tokyo

A Day Trip to Nara Park + Kyoto from Osaka, Japan

Where to Eat, Stay and Play at Disneyland Tokyo and Disney Sea

Spend a Day at Universal Studios Japan

Eat Ramen Around Japan with Dustin

Budget Breakdown of the entire 14 Day Japan Trip

Where to Stay and Play in Tokyo Japan | Taryn Into Travel | Japan Must Do List | Where to Stay When Visiting Japan | Fun Places to See in Japan

A Few Things to Have on Hand!

Rain jacket or an umbrella
Small backpack or a crossbody for purchases, we also carried this reusable compact bag for times when we had too many things to carry!
Camera or Phone for pictures
LAYERS! I was so thankful that I had a rain jacket, a sweatshirt and a t-shirt on because I shed and added layers all day long!
Passports - we needed to have our passports anytime we left the hotel!

Where to Stay in Tokyo, Japan

Remm Plus Ginza - We feel like we couldn’t have chosen a better place to stay in Tokyo than Remm Plus Ginza! The location was perfect it was right in the center of everything we wanted to do and just a short walk from great shopping, amazing restaurants, and the Tokyo Metro, which made it super easy to get around the city! Really that was the main reason that we chose it being so close to the train. We were able to explore spots like Tsukiji Nippon Fish Port Market, Imperial Palace Tokyo, and even took the train to the Skytree Tower with no problems. The hotel itself was modern and stylish, with compact but thoughtfully designed rooms that felt cozy and comfortable. The bed was super comfy, the rainfall shower was amazing, and the city views from the upper floors were a really nice bonus. There was a massage chain in our room which we felt like royalty after walking 10+ miles a day for 10 days straight. The hotel was clean, affordable, and was a nice place to come back to after busy days exploring Tokyo. The only thing we were disappointed with from the hotel was the breakfast. The food was not good and we were really glad that we only pre-booked one morning for breakfast at the hotel! Other than that we would definitely stay here again and/or recommend others to stay here as well!

Sites to See in Tokyo, Japan

Shibuya Crossing - One of the coolest and honestly one of the most overwhelming things we saw in Tokyo was Shibuya Crossing. I believe it is also called Scramble Square, I could be wrong though. I didn’t know what to expect but it’s this crazy busy intersection where (not exaggerating) hundreds of people cross from all directions all at once, but somehow it’s not chaotic — it’s like organized chaos! We went in the Starbucks at Shibuya Crossing and sat and watched the traffic crossing below a few times and to get some pictures and honestly, just standing there watching it happen felt like being in a movie. It was very cool! There was also a ton of shopping in the area! Here are some other things to do in the area:

Mario Kart Racing - This is such a cool and unique experience where you drive through neon-lit buildings and iconic landmarks dressed as your favorite Nintendo character. We were so freakin’ excited to do the Mario Kart experience in Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo. We weren’t able to do it so I want to make sure that I share everything you need to do for this so you don’t make the same mistakes that we did! The first thing that you will need to do the Mario Kart experience is to plan ahead. Before you even leave the states you will need to get an International Driving Permit (IDP) from AAA. You will need this because it is required to legally drive in Japan. Getting the International Driving Permit (IDP) from AAA was so easy, we just printed off the required paperwork and brought $20 with us to a store by us (make sure you check because not all locations do this). Once we got to AAA they took our passport photos for us and we were in and out in like 30 minutes max. The next important thing to note is that three days before your booked time slot you will get an email from the company and they will be asking for proof that you did get an International Driving Permit (IDP) from AAA. This is where we messed up, with being on vacation we weren’t checking our emails and so we never sent them proof and our appointment was canceled and we were refunded. Just make sure you do those two things if you are wanting to enjoy this experience!
Shopping -

Imperial Palace Tokyo - This was just such a beautiful spot to spend time at. It is the most peaceful contrast to the busy hustle and bustle just across the street. The gardens are beautiful and so well-kept, and even though you can't go inside the main palace buildings, just walking around the grounds made me feel like I stepped into another era. The mix of super modern and deep history in Tokyo is unreal, we definitely recommend stopping here to take some pictures and take it all in!

Tsukiji Nippon Fish Port Market - We went here on the second to last day we were in Tokyo and we loved it so much, it was such a fun spot! Dustin and I spent like 4 hours just wandering through all the little stalls and just seeing what there was (because there were SO many different things to look at). Tsukiji had tons to see and amazing street food. We started with some melt-in-your-mouth otoro (fatty tuna) sushi that was literally the freshest I’ve ever had, we get it when we are getting sushi here in the states but it was just SO fresh at this market, hands down a must try! They also had this thing called tamagoyaki which was like a sweet rolled omelet on a stick, that was super popular too! There was also no shortage of matcha soft serve for dessert if you are into that! One of the other things we had there were these little like pancake bears with filling inside and they were so good- I loved the chocolate filled bears! This spot is just such a cool mix of food, culture, and just a ton to look at and see! We left full and happy and would stop there if we were in Tokyo again.

Pokemon Center Tokyo DX - This was another really cool Pokémon Center. The Pokemon Center Tokyo DX is located on the 5th floor of the Nihonbashi Takashimaya S.C. main building in Tokyo. If you’re not staying in walking distance you can get to it via the Nihombashi Station. We visited this location on a casual evening and it wasn’t super busy which was nice because we were able to shop at our own pace. The front of the store had an adorable giant Snorlax and I think (at least in my opinion) there were the most kind of stuffed Pokemon to choose from!

Don Quijote Ginza - I mentioned this shopping spot in my Where to Eat, Stay and Play in Osaka, Japan blog post but I will share about it again here! This is a massive, 24-hour discount store that’s an experience all on its own, seriously a shopping experience I will never forget. Anything you could ever want or need was inside this store, beauty products, fun snacks, clothing, toys, kitchen stuff, like anything and everything that you could think of. There is this quirky song playing the whole time and when we were in there, suddenly like three hours had passed. I wish I would have taken photos or a video inside the store but if you look up Don Quijote on Tiktok or Instagram you will get a good idea as to what I am talking about haha!

Skytree Tower - When we were in Tokyo, Skytree Tower wasn’t initially on our must see list but we stumbled upon it while we were walking around and it was really cool to see! It’s this super tall tower—like, the tallest tower in Japan! We didn’t go up in it but you could and from up there, you get these incredible views of the whole city. The tower is crazy modern but also kind of has a cool traditional vibe in its design. If you have some extra time in your day and you are nearby, it is a cool thing to see!

Book-Off - This is a second hand store that had discounted items from all things Pokemon, Disney, collectors cards, books, Anime collectables, records and so many things! They also were mostly brand new and/or in great condition. We bought lots from these stores and some of the things we got were brand new with tags from the Pokemon Centers and Disneyland! I linked the website so you can find the location that is closest to you here depending on the area you are in the day you are looking!

Day Trip to Mt. Fuji - I might write a whole blog post about our day trip to Mt. Fuji at some point but I’m not completely sure so I will go into detail here! Unfortunately the day that we were scheduled to go to Mt. Fuji, it was pretty much raining the entire day which was honestly so freakin sad. Even though we didn’t get to see Mt. Fuji this day, the Mt. Fuji and Hakone 1-Day Tour turned out to still be fun for us. We really just had to make do with what we were given. We started early at like 7:15 from Matsuya Ginza. The tour bus was super comfortable, with air-conditioning and charging ports, which was nice. The tour was given in english but there were headphones with many other language options that were available. Our guide pretty much made the entire day. She was so nice and funny, she shared stories, history and just fun facts that you wouldn’t have gotten otherwise.

One of the highlights was the Hakone Ropeway. Even though the views of Mt. Fuji were mostly hidden behind the clouds, going up the misty mountains still felt magical. And the Lake Ashi cruise was pretty cool as well! The calm waters, the sound of soft rain, and a peaceful vibe almost made you forget about the weather entirely. Lunch was an actually really good. It was served buffet style with tons of options for different dietary restrictions. Everything was fresh and tasty, and it was a great chance to relax before heading to Odawara Station for the bullet train ride back to Tokyo. It was also nice to skip the bus on the way back and take a bullet train! It was so fast which I liked at the end of the tour.

Cost wise, the whole tour cost us $359.28 for two adults ($179.64 each). With all that was included from transportation to food to all the entrance fees—it felt well worth it, it would have been even more exciting if the weather cooperated but it was still a fun expereience. I can’t even imagine the views we would have seen on this tour if the weather was nicer. Even with the rain, the day was packed with memorable and new experiences and a well-organized schedule that made us feel taken care of from start to finish.

Using The Train in Japan

Trains in Japan can seem indimidating but were actually pretty easy once we did it a few times. I can’t recommend enough to add a Suica card onto your iPhone’s wallet before you go and load money onto that! We did this and literally just tapped our phones to pay for tickets when we entered and exited the stations. Having the Suica card in your Apple Wallet was so helpful and to do this, you need to add your Suica card to the Wallet app and then enable Express Mode. Enabling Express Mode was what allowed us to use the Suica card without having to unlocking our phones. It was so nice to not have to try and get tickets at each station and this made things so much easier! Most of the signs are really clear and have both Japanese and English. Keep in mind when you’re on the trains to be very respectful and quiet. The trains were always clean, quiet, and in great condition, so my recommendations are to never talk loud or be talking on the phone and also if you have a backpack on, put it on the front of you or place it in the overhead storage. Lastly, the trains were literally always on time so make sure you’re early or you will probably miss your train.

Bullet Train Info

We also used bullet trains to get from Tokyo to Osaka and also to get from Osaka back to Tokyo and we bought our tickets online and it was so easy. We used Klook to get these tickets, I will link that website for you guys here! We got first class tickets to make sure we had a nice seat that we were able to stretch out and be comfortable for the whole trip and that was really nice. I would suggest getting snacks at the train station before you get on the bullet train but they also have snacks and drinks that you can order to your seats which was pretty cool!

Honestly, Tokyo was so cool to experience, there is just so much to see, do, and eat that it felt like every day was a new adventure (and yes, I’m still dreaming about some of those meals)! If you are planning your first trip to Japan, I recommend adding a couple of days in Tokyo if you haven’t already. I hope some of the spots we checked out help you plan your own Tokyo adventure—or at least give you a few ideas to get excited about. If you’ve been before and have any favorite places, definitely let me know—I already can’t wait to go back! As always, if you have any questions at all, please comment below or send me an email at tarynintotravel@gmail.com and I will get back to you asap!

Much Love,

Emma

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A Perfect Day Trip from Osaka: Nara, Arashiyama, and Kyoto’s Cultural Gems

June 17, 2025 Emma Jones

Hi Friends!

We only did a couple of tours on our trip and I was happy that we limited them but the tours that we did do we loved! We did this tour when we were staying Osaka and it took us on a day trip to Nara Park to see the bowing deer, we saw temples and stunning views, we learned so much and it was incredible! As I said, we started our day in Osaka and had a day full of history, beauty, and unforgettable experiences. I would recommend this one-day adventure for people who want to see a ton of Japan’s history while indulging in iconic sights, culinary delights, and serene landscapes all packed into one day of an amazing itinerary! Below I am breaking down our day by the different chunks of activities we did that were in different parts of the day, happy reading!

Morning: Ancient Wonders in Nara

Our first destination was Nara, they told us that this is Japan’s ancient capital. We started at Nara Park which was one of the main reasons we booked this specific tour at first beucase we wanted to see the bowing deer that live here. This is a sanctuary where there are free-roaming deer that were there to greet us as we arrived but had their own motives of eating the crackers that were for sale that we could purchase when we arrived. The deer are considered sacred messengers in the Shinto religion and in Japan, these deer are a living symbol of Nara’s spiritual importance. We got to walk around, take pictures of the beautiful park covered in cherry blossoms and fed the deer those special crackers that the local vendors were selling to us! While they are friendly, they are also a little bit intense if you have crackers! Dustin and I both got nipped at (not painful at all) on our butts from deer that were jealous of whatever deer you were feeding at the moment. It was so fun, the deer were so cute and we literally couldn’t stop laughing when we were walking around this park! We didn’t do this part but it was an option to see the temple Todai-ji which was just a short walk from the park. This is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is the world's largest wooden building which houses the colossal 15-meter-tall bronze Great Buddha (Daibutsu) statue!

Lunch: A Taste of Japan’s Finest

We got the option for the tour where we get lunch which is Kobe Beef Shabu-Shabu at Kyoto Shokujidokoro Wasabi. This restaurant was nestled in a traditional townhouse on the historic grounds of Jurakudai and the food was so so yummy! They were telling us that kobe beef is one of the three major Wagyu breeds in Japan and it has a buttery texture and a ton of marbling. It was also just a really cool experience, we ate on the floor on pillows and it felt very traditional! I liked adding this part to the tour, it just meant that we had less time to explore Arashiyama which was kind of a bummer but I was happy to have that eating experience.

Afternoon: Serenity in Arashiyama

After lunch we were on our way to head to one of Kyoto’s most enchanting districts: Arashiyama. Whether you get the lunch option and have 60 minutes to explore or a full 2 hours here if you skipped the lunch option, you will be blown away with the stunning spots that are in Arashiyama! Our favorite part of this stop was the Bamboo Forest! Seriously the bamboo just towered over us and there was sun peeking through the stocks, the only word I can come up with is just stunning. There were small shops, local cafes and a stunning riverside view in this town as well!

Late Afternoon: Golden Beauty and Spiritual Majesty

The next destination we went to was the stunning Kinkaku-ji, also known as the Golden Pavilion. This is another UNESCO World Heritage site and the building is just stunning and covered in gold leaf that reflects on the pond in front of it just like a mirror! It is also surrounded by amazing well kept and pristine gardens! It was such a cool site and the perfect stop on our itinerary! Lastly, the final stop of our day was called Fushimi Inari Taisha. This was a famous spot and for good reason, it has a seemingly endless tunnel of vermilion torii gates, and our guide said that this Shinto shrine is a symbol of good fortune and spiritual journey. From what I understand, each gate that you see had been donated by individuals or businesses to help their businesses and lives succeed or do well. It was really cool to see it all!

Day Trip Cost Breakdown

This day trip from Osaka that was seriously jam packed including Nara Park, Arashiyama, and some of Kyoto’s top cultural gems, was such a great way to see a lot in one day without the stress of planning every detail ourselves. The cost was $94.53 per person, so $189.06 total for two adults. There weren’t any hidden costs really either! Anything that we paid for throughout the day was things like souvenirs and snacks that we wanted when we were on our own during free time. It felt like a really great value considering everything we got to see and experience this day!

Like I said and as you can probably see from reading this blog post, the day was packed with seeing ancient temples and sacred deer to bamboo groves and golden pavilions! We were so happy with the variety of experiences that we had in the one itinerary! It was the perfect combination of history, culture, and nature. Whether you’re excited to try the world-famous Kobe beef eating experience or looking forward to wandering through timeless shrines, I promise you that you will be impressed with each stop that is made throughout the day! If you have any questions you can comment below or as always you can send me an email at tarynintotravel@gmail.com and I will get back to you as soon as possible!

Much Love,

Emma

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Visit The Nagai Botanical Gardens in Osaka, Japan

June 10, 2025 Emma Jones

Hi Friends!

About a month ago now I shared a blog post of Where to Eat, Stay and Play in Osaka, Japan. In that post I shared about the Nagai Botanical Garden but we loved it so much I wanted to make sure I did a whole blog post sharing about our experience at Nagai Botanical Garden. I really feel like Osaka is one of those cities that know how to keep you on your toes — one minute you’re weaving through neon-lit streets in Dotonbori, the next you’re eating in takoyaki and laughter at a local market. But if you’re wanting a day that is just a bit a softer or quieter, I’ve got just the place: Nagai Botanical Garden! We went during the day and it was stunning but there was also a way to see the gardens after dark, during one of their Night Light Tours. Think things like lit up glowing trees, illuminated pathways, and a peaceful atmosphere that feels like you are a world away from the city — all without ever leaving Osaka!

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