Author Topic: BigMike's 2013 Japanese Vacation [many pics!]  (Read 19622 times)

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BigMike

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BigMike's 2013 Japanese Vacation [many pics!]
« on: Jan 03, 2014, 03:34:58 PM »
BigMike's Japanese Trip Threads
Pages        Date
FirstBigMike's Big Japanese Vacation12+ (incomplete)    December 2005
Second     BigMike's Big Japanese Vacation II3 (haven't even uploaded a single picture)June-July 2006
ThirdBigMike's Big Mini Japanese Vacation4+ (incomplete)June 2010
FourthIt's Another BigMike's Japanese Vacation!4+ (incomplete)September 2011
FifthBigMike's 2013 Japanese Vacation  (currently viewing)    Just startedDecember 2013




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Page 1 / Day 1 - Left California, landed in Tokyo, checked into a hotel near Tokyo Disneyland, enjoyed Tokyo Disneyland (our 2nd time there)



I'm finally getting around to posting my pictures from my wife Misato and my recent trip back to Japan. This is I believe the sixth time I've been to Japan and we had a great time as always! I love this country and love it's people. Can't wait to go back! Note: This will take me a while as I have over 2,000 files to go through from my nine day stay. We'll see how long this takes me and if I can even finish the trip report as I've never been able to finish any of my other Japan vacation threads! :smack:

We haven't been back in two years so this trip was long overdue. On to the pictures!


Passport in hand, heading to our gate at the San Jose International Airport!


We flew in a very nice Boeing 787. It was the most modernized plane I've been in. They finally have USB charging ports (note the white wire plugged into the back of the 3rd seat)


We flew in a very nice Boeing 787. It was the most modernized plane I've been in. You can play multiplayer games with other passengers.


My "kosher" meal. Even though I don't expect much in terms of airline food, I was disappointed. It's like they don't like vegetarians. Next time I'm just gonna get some chicken dish (I'm not vegetarian but prefer the deliciousness of vegetables 100 to 1 over animals).


Check out this guy sleeping. Thought it was funny so I sneaked a picture. Also, check out the window. Notice how its blacked out? This is not a shade. Look at the window to the left. It is sunny outside. Now look at the electronic dial beneath the blacked out window. DIGITAL MULTISTEP DIMMERS.
« Last Edit: Jan 18, 2014, 04:49:33 PM by BigMike »
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BigMike [OP]

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Re: BigMike's 2013 Japanese Vacation
« Reply #1 on: Jan 03, 2014, 03:41:16 PM »

Here is the menu for carnivores. I'm eating off of this next time as they always had either a chicken or a beef option.


I took this picture of Misato's screen to show how the image is security filtered. I think this is not only nice for privacy, but also when you are trying to sleep you don't get blasted with your neighbor's bright display. Very smart.


Finally back in a Japanese airport!


Got our luggage and passed through customs! Those idiots let me back into Japan! ha ha j/k


Misato's first purchase! This is at a small store within the Narita/Tokyo International Airport
« Last Edit: Jan 03, 2014, 03:47:10 PM by BigMike »
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BigMike [OP]

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Re: BigMike's 2013 Japanese Vacation
« Reply #2 on: Jan 03, 2014, 03:44:49 PM »

While we were waiting for our bus ride to our hotel, we saw many Japanese police complete with Riot Control gear speed walking to different areas of the airport around us. To me this seemed pretty routine for an international airport but all of the Japanese people sitting around us were pretty freaked out. They don't experience much large scale crime.


Here we are checking into our Sheraton Hotel right next to Tokyo Disneyland. The bus ride we took from the airport to this hotel took about an hour. I was really impressed with this hotel, one of the nicest I've stayed in to date.


This shows three different levels within the lobby area. Pretty nice.


Check this out. While I was waiting for my wife to check in, I had sat down here to go over my belongings. When Misato returned we both left and proceeded to the 7th (or was it the 9th?) floor to our room. We took our shoes off, checked out the room, unloaded our suitcases, and were relaxing when I realized I didn't have my backpack!! I thought for a moment and then remembered I LEFT IT ON THIS CHAIR. Back down to the lobby I went and lo-and-behold there it was, right where I left it, with my passport, wallet, I.D., and money intact. This is of course a large reason why I like Japan. Every country has its downsides but there is a lot to like about Japan.


After we got settled in we went up to the Starwood floor for some complimentary dinner (my wife is a some super club member and lives like a queen at any Sheraton hotel). Here she found wine from California!
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BigMike [OP]

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Re: BigMike's 2013 Japanese Vacation
« Reply #3 on: Jan 03, 2014, 03:49:10 PM »

After we got settled in we went up to the Starwood floor for some complimentary dinner (my wife is a super club member and lives like a queen at any Sheraton hotel). Here she is getting her first Beer!


Here was my nice vegetable salad and my first Japanese Ice Tea of the trip. They call it ストレートティー or "Straight Tea". Unsweetened like all teas should be :)


Back in our hotel room I was happy to find an awesome Japanese toilet. The seat was heated and actually heated all the time. There is a lot of wasted electricity in this country.


Our view of Tokyo Bay from our room. This is looking South West towards Kawasaki and Yokohama. The heart of Tokyo would be to my right from this picture. This parcel of land we are on -- and Tokyo Disneyland is on -- is all man-made land that extends partially into the bay/ocean.


Zoomed in at 20x at Tokyo Bay Bridge!
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Re: BigMike's 2013 Japanese Vacation
« Reply #4 on: Jan 03, 2014, 03:55:57 PM »

Here is a shot from our balcony looking back into our room. This is a three bed suite with the beds and second bathroom located in the door to the left beyond the TV. We got a suite because at this very moment my sister-in-law 中島彩水 Ayami and her boyfriend Ryuji were at Tokyo Disney Sea! (their second theme park similar to how we have California Adventure in addition to Disneyland) So we were hanging out waiting for them to return to the room. They returned shortly hereafter but I forgot to get any pictures of them until the morning.


Here is a shot of Tokyo Bay the next morning, Thursday Dec 12. To be honest I had seen the bridges but never any ships. I had no idea we were this close to the ocean the entire time until the sun came up! Wow it was awesome


Furthermore, I had NO CLUE that Mount Fuji was visible from the Tokyo area!! Of all the times I've been to Tokyo -- even stayed there for three weeks once -- I never saw Fujisan! I was shocked and having a lot of fun





View out the hotel window
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Re: BigMike's 2013 Japanese Vacation
« Reply #5 on: Jan 03, 2014, 03:56:59 PM »

Finally I got a picture of my sister-in-law 中島彩水 Ayami-san and her boyfriend Ryuji-kun at right. This was my wife and my first time meeting him and he is a super great guy. They have been dating for almost 2 years now and we couldn't be happier for them!


Here we are walking out of the hotel on our way to Tokyo Disneyland when suddenly we saw something shocking out the window...


...buildings from Disneyland viewable from our hotel!


All along the walls were these seemingly very old pictures. I see the dates... but I wonder if these are original? At any rate they were really cool


Out the window was a Japanese Sand and Rock garden. Very nice. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_rock_garden
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Re: BigMike's 2013 Japanese Vacation
« Reply #6 on: Jan 03, 2014, 04:01:57 PM »

Walking through the lobby ... check out these gaming consoles they had, free to play! Pretty cool


Outside the hotel getting ready to board a "Disney Resort Cruiser"


Check this thing out. Had a little Mickey at top and the blinker and tail lights are arranged in Mickey Mouse shapes. A lot of attention to detail, on the inside as well.




Heading up the escalator to board the Disney Resort Monorail on our way to Disneyland!
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Re: BigMike's 2013 Japanese Vacation
« Reply #7 on: Jan 03, 2014, 06:52:49 PM »

Disney Christmas theme was in full effect even at the mono-rail station. My wife Misato at left and her sister at right


Disney Christmas theme was in full effect even at the mono-rail station. Me at left, Ayami's boyfriend Ryuji at right


The two Nakashima girls acting cute as always. Yes, it's the 30th year anniversary for Disneyland Japan. Ha. A few years ago when I first went to Tokyo Disneyland I didn't even know Japan had a Disneyland @_@


Here is the inside of the Monorail. Attention to detail everywhere


Here is the inside of the Monorail. Attention to detail everywhere. Check out the Mickey windows. Nice smile Ryujikun ha ha ha
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Re: BigMike's 2013 Japanese Vacation
« Reply #8 on: Jan 03, 2014, 06:54:11 PM »

Here is the inside of the Monorail. Attention to detail everywhere. Check out the Mickey Mouse Pants above the Mickey Mouse handles


They had a huge 30-year anniversary display in front of the entrance. This is beyond the ticket gate but before the main entrance to the park.


Deciding what to do first!





Welcome to Tokyo Disneyland!
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Re: BigMike's 2013 Japanese Vacation
« Reply #9 on: Jan 03, 2014, 06:56:01 PM »

Celebrating 30 years.


Massive Christmas tree within, um, I guess you could call this Main Street? I assume the glass roof is here due to how much rain this Island Nation receives.


Just past the entrance you walk out into a large area with the castle at center. The spaces, roads, and general layout of attractions seem to be larger or more spacious than the original Disneyland in California.


Here is an English version of a Tokyo Disneyland Map I found online. As you can see there are many similarities to our California park.
High res version: http://reedycreekradio.com/disney_park_maps/images/disneyland-tokyo-map.jpg


...and I wouldn't be doing my just service if I didn't also include a Japanese version of the map :gap:
High res version: http://s.tokyodisneyresort.jp/images/map/tdl_wholemap_l.jpg
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Wainiha

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Re: BigMike's 2013 Japanese Vacation
« Reply #10 on: Jan 03, 2014, 08:21:14 PM »
I sailed to Kobe with my dad at 18(1994).  First and only time I've been there.  Had great food and they even sell beer in vending machines at the park.


And yes shoes OFF before entering.  Same as here.  I can't stand wearing dirty outside shoes inside.

Any cool vehicles?

2000 3.4L xtra-cab Tacoma.
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Marlin short shifter
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Waiting on Marlin for the RA60 Short throw shifter...Hint Hint
FLOODED...GONE

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and Total Chaos UCAs

^ Who let Wainiha into the mainland?? :yikes: - Big Mike

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Re: BigMike's 2013 Japanese Vacation
« Reply #11 on: Jan 03, 2014, 08:31:20 PM »
BTW I went to a boarding school with lots of Japanese.  Freshman year my first girl friend's name was...........Cathy Toyoda
2000 3.4L xtra-cab Tacoma.
Icon C/Os
Marlin 1200lb. clutch
Marlin short shifter
FLOODED...GONE

2005 4.0L xtra-cab Tacoma
King Resi C/Os and Total Chaos UCAs
Waiting on Marlin for the RA60 Short throw shifter...Hint Hint
FLOODED...GONE

2012 4.0L xtra-cab 4x4 Tacoma
Automatic...Don't shoot...
 King resi C/O
and Total Chaos UCAs

^ Who let Wainiha into the mainland?? :yikes: - Big Mike

BigMike [OP]

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Re: BigMike's 2013 Japanese Vacation
« Reply #12 on: Jan 04, 2014, 08:50:57 PM »

Various pics walking around








This kiddy coaster was the first ride we did and it was pretty fun. I screamed like crazy the entire time and tried to be "as American as possible". People all around were laughing like crazy (Japanese people are pretty reserved and while they do scream when startled, I was intentionally screaming over-the-top crazy and having a great time). Misato and/or Ayami have some good pictures and maybe even video of this that I'll have to add once I get their files.
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Re: BigMike's 2013 Japanese Vacation
« Reply #13 on: Jan 04, 2014, 08:54:22 PM »

Roger Rabbit's Car Spin! I like this ride a lot so we waiting the 30 min line and rode it next.




Ha! "Certified Smog Making Station". I love it. Neat to see English signs here, well after-all this is an American company but it is easy to forgot that.


Which way?


Heading towards Tomorrowland. We have this same ride
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Re: BigMike's 2013 Japanese Vacation
« Reply #14 on: Jan 04, 2014, 08:55:47 PM »

Japanese people GO NUTS over parades! WOW






It's a Boring, whoops I mean Small World


Yes, its true. I rode It's a Small World. Here is Ayami and Ryuji excited for the gentle boring, I mean smooth boat ride
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Re: BigMike's 2013 Japanese Vacation
« Reply #15 on: Jan 04, 2014, 08:56:54 PM »

But you know what? This was really great! I'm not sure if I could capture it by camera, but they really had a lot more detail and things going on here! Someone spent a GREAT deal of work doing all this. I was really, really impressed. Much better than the one in Anaheim.








Here we are getting ready to eat lunch at the Queen of Hearts Banquet Hall
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Re: BigMike's 2013 Japanese Vacation
« Reply #16 on: Jan 04, 2014, 08:58:22 PM »

They had a lot of detail and things to look at for a restaurant.


Even this guy's mouth, nose, face, hoodie were heart shaped (I haven't seen the original Alice in Wonderland in a long time).


Inside Queen of Hearts Banquet Hall they had these cool pots hanging from above. They appeared to not be permanently attached: It looked like you could lift a pot up and unhook it. Further evidence supporting this was that they had many small cables attached to each pot for safety measures. I was intrigued so I took the pic.


Heart shaped cupcake!


Look at the line forming near the entrance! After we finished eating the line was waaaay out the door and around the side of the building.

And get this: Ayami left her wallet at our booth and we left. We walked all the way back to Tomorrow Land and were about to purchase some treats and she realized she had no wallet!! She went all the way back to our table and sure enough her wallet was still there ... and even with a new party at the table already enjoying their meal! They had just simply set her wallet off to the side assuming its owner would return to grab it. INCREDIBLE. This sort of community honor is very, very foreign to me.
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Re: BigMike's 2013 Japanese Vacation
« Reply #17 on: Jan 04, 2014, 09:01:42 PM »

Check out this cute photo or Ayami and Ryuji holding hands.


Check out this cute photo of some random kids dressed as a Duffy and a Chip holding hands


:thumbs:


They had a lot of Christmas themed displays setup. Here come some of them...

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Re: BigMike's 2013 Japanese Vacation
« Reply #18 on: Jan 04, 2014, 09:03:30 PM »



Here we are sitting down on the curb awaiting an afternoon parade. I saw this lil kid dancing around in a Sulley outfit and I had to snag a photo.


While waiting for the parade, I saw these "cool" Japanese guys all wearing Disney hats.


Special Christmas Mickey and Minnie cookies


I'm not one for a Parade, but the floats here were done really, really well. I am confident that their parade budget is larger than ours back in California. Misato took these photos and countless others. Here are just a few-
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Re: BigMike's 2013 Japanese Vacation
« Reply #19 on: Jan 04, 2014, 09:04:50 PM »







Yes I'm smiling. But you should have seen the picture she snagged when I wasn't looking ;)


Ayami is SUPER happy from the Parade! ...and her legs had fallen asleep from sitting so long :yupyup:
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"An informed question. But difficult to answer. I am what you see." -Nanaki

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Re: BigMike's 2013 Japanese Vacation
« Reply #20 on: Jan 04, 2014, 09:08:35 PM »





Japan's version of Western Land & Critter Country, my favorite parts of any Disneyland



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Re: BigMike's 2013 Japanese Vacation
« Reply #21 on: Jan 04, 2014, 09:11:37 PM »

We couldn't believe people were riding this ... it was in the 40s and pretty chilly!






Found some Churros!


Close up of the menu. Japanese Yen is basically equivalent to our penny. So just move left two decimal points and that is more-or-less the $USD equivalent (I think it's currently 95 Yen = 1 dollar = 100 pennies). So the Churro cost us 300 Yen which is roughly $3 (more precisely about $2.88).

To be honest, if I may talk about this, why do we have the dollar? It's just 100 pennies. Why don't we have a 100 penny bill? I can understand how inflation demanded larger units of currency measure, but why hasn't another 1st world country like Japan decided to "create" some "100 X" multiplier currency similar to the US dollar? For example, "This hamburger costs 100 pennies" is the same as, "This hamburger costs 1 dollar". Why do we have a 100 x rate multiplier of our penny, known as a dollar, and another country does not? Is it psychological to get American's to spend more money? Ie. "5 dollars" seems like a smaller quantity than "500 pennies"...
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Re: BigMike's 2013 Japanese Vacation [many pics!]
« Reply #22 on: Jan 05, 2014, 08:57:15 AM »
Nice beanie :turtle:
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Re: BigMike's 2013 Japanese Vacation [many pics!]
« Reply #23 on: Jan 05, 2014, 09:14:45 AM »
Nice beanie :turtle:
Oh you know it! Represent :turtle:!
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Re: BigMike's 2013 Japanese Vacation [many pics!]
« Reply #24 on: Jan 05, 2014, 09:50:28 AM »
Awesome pics, for a second I thought that bus was a regular airport shuttle, not a Disney shuttle lol
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Re: BigMike's 2013 Japanese Vacation [many pics!]
« Reply #25 on: Jan 05, 2014, 10:50:40 AM »
Nice pictures as always Mike.  As for all the mickey shapes, those are called "Hidden Mickey's."  Google it.  At Anaheim, there are alot of them that really are hidden.  For instance, on the Jungle Boat ride, they all have a frying pan as part of display, but one boat has a Hidden Mickey on one.  Some are more obvious, and some are harder to find.  Like if you look at wallpaper on a wall, there might be 10,000 images in a pattern, but one had has ears. 

Wife has been to Disney World in Orlando, and walkways are wider like the one in Japan and France.  Only Anaheim has the smaller walkways, and she says that Anaheim has that Magic feel, where Orlando has that commercial feel.  Both are awesome, but the original has the true feel of the magic of the mouse. 

I can understand that the Japan one has identical features as Anaheim, since the Japanese culture loves American culture.  Which is borderline creepy.  I had a Japanese roommate in college and watching him and his buddies was funny.  Especially, when they wanted to get drunk and couldn't find any vending machine.  And they kept getting denied at the quickie marts.   :joke:  And they just couldn't understand why.  I tried to explain to them why, but their English was very poor, and my roommate didn't know any English, but some of his friends had better knowledge of English, but it was still frustrating on both our parts.  I wanted to get to know them better.  Except their chain smoking ways made me not want to deal with them.  Our room stank of cigarette smoke even after he left. 



As for the California wine in Japan, we ship Tillamook Cheese to Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and South Korea!! 

« Last Edit: Jan 05, 2014, 10:56:53 AM by Cheesemaker »
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Re: BigMike's 2013 Japanese Vacation [many pics!]
« Reply #26 on: Jan 05, 2014, 12:41:00 PM »
Tiilamook is here too :yupyup:
2000 3.4L xtra-cab Tacoma.
Icon C/Os
Marlin 1200lb. clutch
Marlin short shifter
FLOODED...GONE

2005 4.0L xtra-cab Tacoma
King Resi C/Os and Total Chaos UCAs
Waiting on Marlin for the RA60 Short throw shifter...Hint Hint
FLOODED...GONE

2012 4.0L xtra-cab 4x4 Tacoma
Automatic...Don't shoot...
 King resi C/O
and Total Chaos UCAs

^ Who let Wainiha into the mainland?? :yikes: - Big Mike

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Re: BigMike's 2013 Japanese Vacation [many pics!]
« Reply #27 on: Jan 05, 2014, 03:31:23 PM »
Is the 'It's a small world' song in Japanese or English?
Me

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Re: BigMike's 2013 Japanese Vacation [many pics!]
« Reply #28 on: Jan 05, 2014, 05:09:47 PM »
Awesome pics, for a second I thought that bus was a regular airport shuttle, not a Disney shuttle lol
Ha ha yeah it was pretty cool. They did have other more modern buses but it was cool that we got to ride on this more retro styled one. Inside it looked/felt entirely modern. I'm sure it's only a few years old.

Nice pictures as always Mike.
Thanks buddy, I have to get through our first two days which are just of us in Disneyland, which is commercialized and many people probably aren't too excited because we can experience the "same" here. I have almost 2,000 pics to sort through but I am determined to finish this trip report this time :thumbs:

As for all the mickey shapes, those are called "Hidden Mickey's."
Yes! I am familiar with this because I have two female friends who are crazy obsessed with all the hidden Mickeys! It's crazy when you stop and just take a look around... They are everywhere.

Wife has been to Disney World in Orlando, and walkways are wider like the one in Japan and France.  Only Anaheim has the smaller walkways, and she says that Anaheim has that Magic feel, where Orlando has that commercial feel.  Both are awesome, but the original has the true feel of the magic of the mouse.
I've been to Disney World twice, visiting the Magic Kingdom (x2), Epcot (x2), the Animal Kingdom (x1), and Hollywood Studios (x1). I never thought about it until reading your reply, but I also agree that the walkways are larger in Florida. I did however still feel very much the same magic as in Anaheim.

I can understand that the Japan one has identical features as Anaheim, since the Japanese culture loves American culture.  Which is borderline creepy.
Hey, we are all crazy for the Japanese car culture. :yupyup: It's a two way street

their chain smoking ways made me not want to deal with them.  Our room stank of cigarette smoke even after he left.
I remember growing up with smoking around me in public places, but after they passed laws here in Commifornia for no smoking in most places, I forget what it was like until I return to Japan. Smoking is very much still alive over there. It's probably alive well in other states here in the great USA, but I can only speak for my experience in Calif. which has much less smoking than in Japan.

Tiilamook is here too :yupyup:
When I first read this reply, it was before I had read Cheesy's post above. I thought for a moment Cheesy had a nickname of his work. Ha ha I'm gonna start calling Ryan Tillamook from now on :_order:

Is the 'It's a small world' song in Japanese or English?
It's pretty much identical to ours except the Japanese section of the ride is longer and the song is played in Japanese, just like it is back home, however the song is played in Japanese for a longer duration. When my wife and I ride it in Anaheim she usually sings the song in Japanese because that is the first version she learned somehow. No, I haven't learned it yet :ack:

BigMike
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Re: BigMike's 2013 Japanese Vacation [many pics!]
« Reply #29 on: Jan 05, 2014, 05:12:30 PM »

Check out the Mickey Churro! The name wasn't kidding! Sorry the picture is blurry. It is a standard length churro -- looked to be the same length as those you'd buy in Anaheim -- but they were shaped/extruded as Mickey Mouse! Soo cool Japan, nice touch!! However, I believe there is less product here; I think you get less food for your money. Ha ha clever as they will increase sales while using less material resulting in a reduced cost. It's a product design team's dream come true!


There were some beavers all over this car so we tried our best to blend in.






Check it out, they even have the Mark Twain boat!
Check out our new Rock Crawling Videos!
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