Disneyland Tokyo, A Dream, Coming True

Disneyland Tokyo. We've always wanted to go there. When I first wrote Kintaholic circa 2006-2007, I envisioned myself being there. I wanted to go there so much that I created it as a setting for my two protagonists, where they are falling in love. Truth to tell I didn't really know which attractions to visit first. I just wanted to go there.

And finally, the dream became reality. Last year, my partner and I went to Disneyland with my best friend, Nina, and her husband, Non. From Maihama station, it was a short walk. You can see the castle and huge attractions from the distance. And the cute Mickey Mouse monorail! Too bad we didn't try that one. Maybe next time. Yes, I'm confident there will be a next time!

First stop: Pirates of the Caribbean! As you can see here, it's pretty empty. We didn't need to wait for a long time (usually, it might take hours) and we were in.

The special effects are grand and I am very impressed with the animated "people" and "animals" inside. They provide a glimpse of the life of pirates based on the movie. I find them hilarious and amusing.

There are at least three Jack Sparrows. I wish we were able to take some pictures. My only complain is that they narration is in Japanese. I wish they'd provide a translation. After this ride, the song "Yo Ho Ho Ho, A Pirate's Life for Me" kind of stuck in my mind.



Here you can see yours truly and my best friend, trying out the hats in a souvenir shop. The souvenirs are well made. If you're a kid or an adult, you're bound to find something interesting here. IIRC, I got the hat for my kid for 2,300 yen.

They're big on themes and all. Meaning, near Pirates of the Caribbean, you'll find pirate-related stuff. Near Pooh Hunny Hunt (my favorite ride!) you'll find items with characters from Winnie the Pooh. Near this ride, you can even smell honey! It made me hungry! If only they sold honey in jars. Honeyed drinks! I bet they'd be a hit.

I soon found out that the visitors love parades. Parades happen several times a day. During clear nights, they even shoot fireworks to complete the festivities. All parades feature Mickey Mouse. Mickey is very, very popular in Disneyland Tokyo. He is treated like a king and many are willing to queue for hours to shake his hand and take pictures with him.

If you're into watching parades, make sure you bring mats and umbrellas. Some prefer to sit near the roads where the parades go. Be sure to mark your sport in advance.

Here you can see Beauty and the Beast, two of my favorite Disney characters, on parade. I adore their outfits!

How should I book the tickets, one might ask, if I want to visit Disneyland/Disneysea Tokyo? Find the information here. PS: if you have enough time, I suggest that you book at least 2-day passport. That way, you will have enough time to explore both Disneyland and Disneysea.

First Snack in Japan

We landed in Haneda at around 11 PM. After dealing with immigration and baggage, we went to the hotel. The night was lovely and full of breeze. Tokyo at night, studded with beams and stars from tall buildings. The air was fresh with the scent of spring. Plenty of vehicles, but no traffic jams. Everything was orderly and neat.

"Yes, Angela dear, you're not in Bandung anymore," something whispered to my ears. I hoped it was not some gangly guy from The Wizard of Oz.

Right after we checked into our room, I told my partner, "I'm hungry! Let's go out and buy something." Off we went to a convenience store. (No. They don't hang around or chat or gossip or meet up with buds there, like in Indonesia. It is, after all, DUH!, a convenience store.)

We ended up with these: fruit jelly, Kit-Kat zunda mochi flavor and my favorite dumplings, mitarashi dango. Mitarashi dango tastes sweet and filling. (I simply had to buy the cute Kewpie mayo and shoyu. Impulsive buying!)

Have you been to Japan? If you have, what were your first snacks upon arriving? If you haven't, what would you like to have?

Souvenir Shopping in Asakusa

June 2011, my partner and I went to Asakusa. After visiting nearby temple, we were given some time to browse and shop.

So many shops to choose. So many cute products, screaming, "Look at me! Bring me home!"

The prices are fixed, no need to haggle. I think this is nice. Saves time. And the prices are reasonable. My partner got a yukata--casual kimono wear--for 1,780 yen. I got myself a cotton handkerchief with printed Japanese flowers for 120 yen.

Tips on shopping here:
- Bring enough cash. Most shops do not accept credit cards.
- If you are into buying small items from gashapon vending machines, stock yourself with 100 and 500 yen coins.
- Avoid haggling over the price, unless you're buying in bulk. However, sometimes the seller will reduce the price without you asking them to. (This happened to my partner, lucky him!)
- Bring a calculator with you and remember the exchange rate before you shop.
- Some shops are cheaper than the others. If you really like something and you're not certain you're getting the best price, look around first.
- Ask permission first before taking pictures of the wares. Some do not like people snapping pictures at their shops.
- Use comfortable shoes, since you'll be walking a lot in this area, trust me!

Sakuranbo (さくらんぼ)

"We're going to pick some さくらんぼ today! Are you guys excited or what?" asked the tour leader. My partner and I whooped in joy. I adore cherries. In fact, one of my characters in my books is named Cinnamon Cherry. It was fortunate that we got to pick sakuranbo by ourselves, since originally it was not on the itinerary. We were supposed to come in May. Most likely we'd be picking いちご (ichigo--strawberries). Strawberries are great, but sakuranbo is something else, of course. 


But in June, sakuranbo is abundant. Later on, my best friend (she is Japanese) told me that sakuranbo season is very short! We were fortunate to be able to enjoy sakuranbo.


Sakuranbo is Japanese cherries. Not as sweet as American varieties, the dark red and yellow ones. Sakuranbo is sweet with a tart aftertaste. In a souvenir shop in Katsunuma region, they are selling sakuranbo jam, cakes, cookies, sweets, juice and God knows what else.  My partner literally had to drag me out before I started drooling on them.


I swore I ate at least 1 kilogram of sakuranbo that day. And greedy lil' me bought 300 grams of sakuranbo for 500 yen to be eaten later inside a ryokan--Japanese inn. おいしい--oishii--delicious!

Paper Nabe in Arashiyama, Kyoto

Have you tried paper nabe? If you are into vegetables and Japanese food, you should. It's very light and delicious. It's filling and very healthy!

I tried this paper nabe in Arashiyama, Kyoto. Arashiyama is a small region in Tokyo full of culinary delights and cute souvenir shops. I could've spent days visiting the shops and cafes. I would've. Alas, we only had some hours to explore.

They put a special kind of paper on top of a small stove, added some water (with mild vegetable broth/dashi), vegetables, tofu, shrimp on it and let it boil until it was done. Worried that the paper might catch fire? Don't! The fire will extinguish itself when the ingredients are ready to be eaten.

After a long walk in Arashiyama region (it was quite windy and chilly then, spring time!), eating paper nabe for lunch was perfect. Oh, and they let us sprinkle furikake (rice toppings) liberally into our plates. Free flowing ocha! Even now, closing my eyes, I can imagine how I felt back then. How the sweet, savory broth invaded my senses and hooked me to sip it, again and again. How crunchy and sweet the shrimp was. How unaware I was, munching the vegetables loudly and exclaiming how delicious it was, not really realizing (and caring) that other patrons were looking at me as if I were insane or something...

Falling in Love with Fujisan

My partner and I have been dreaming of going to Japan for ages. It was like, "One day, one day" for us. Surely, it's too expensive? Maybe later, when we have accumulated enough knowledge of Japanese culture and language. Perhaps, in near future... and we kept on dreaming.

But one day, we found a tour package that tempted us. It's still pricey, but affordable. And we began to make plans. We planned to visit in May, perhaps we'd be able to see some blooming sakura and enjoy watching the spring flowers. Unfortunately, in March 2011, tragedy struck Japan. We were given the choice to either cancel it, or postpone it. We chose the latter.

We ended up visiting Japan in June 2011. I wrote about my experience there in Japan in June, you can buy it here (only in Indonesian, sorry). I'll share some highlights in this blog whenever I remember to. It's always fun, remembering, reminiscing.

Now, about Fujisan. To me, Fujisan is one of natural landmarks in Japan. I've read about it for-oh-so-many-times, in manga and novels. I've heard people talk and rave about it. I've seen it on movies and Japanese dorama. I've listened to songs depicting this mountain.

What is so special about it, you might ask? Sure, it's the highest mountain in Japan (approx. 3,776 m). The snowcapped mountain is iconic! For about 2 weeks in August, you can try climbing it (you can start from the 5th station, about 2,300 m). Fujisan has 10th station, motor vehicles can only reach the 5th station (1 being the lowest, 10 the highest). If you happen to visit Fujisan, make sure that you stay quiet when you see the G key. If you're with a guide, (s)he will ensure the driver to maintain a certain speed so you will be able to hear a song. Yes, a singing road.

A singing road? A fantastic view? That's it? I don't know. There is more. When I first saw this sight, I couldn't breathe. And when I did, the air felt sweeter and cleaner somehow. I could see distinct vapor emanating from one's breath. I gazed at the blue-white sky and sighed. And sighed. I got some kind of epiphany.

This. I love this. I'm falling in love with Fujisan. Maybe I've been in love most of my life, it took one trip to finally realize that the feelings are true.

Our tour leader told us how lucky we were, being able to see Fujisan two days in a row. Most of the time, it's covered with clouds and mists.

My partner and I exchanged glances, then we danced in joy in front of Fujisan, celebrating, laughing. We touched the snow and marveled at how exquisite it was. We trod the path and smiled seeing the gravels fly here and there. We stood in front of Fujisan, not saying anything. Just staring at the sight, feeling blessed and thankful for the chance to be there.