Day 1 – Disneyland and Shibuya
We landed at Narita International Airport in the evening and kept things simple. Airport hotel. Early night. No hero moves.
After a long travel day that felt like the right decision. One of the first things you notice in Japan is how organized everything feels. Even something as basic as getting from the terminal to the hotel just works. Bags show up. The shuttle runs on time. Check in is quick. Nothing dramatic, which after travel is exactly what you want.
The slightly ambitious part came the next morning.
Disney first.
There’s a shuttle straight from the airport area to Tokyo Disneyland. It’s affordable, easy, and straightforward. That sense of ease ended up being the theme of the whole day.
Walking into the park was impressive right away. It’s spotless. Incredibly colourful. Almost everyone had some version of Mickey Mouse ears on, most of which I’d never seen before. Coordinated outfits everywhere. It felt like people had planned for this moment for weeks.
Lola’s eyes lit up as soon as we walked in. She wasn’t just smiling, she was smiling with her whole body. That was the confirmation. Starting the trip this way was a good plan.
Disney Japan is fascinating to watch from an operational standpoint. At one point a kid dropped a drink outside It’s a Small World, and within seconds staff seemed to appear out of nowhere, cleaned it up, and disappeared just as quickly. Every staff member, or cast member, I think they’re called, waved as rides left and waved again when they returned. Always polite. Always engaged. It’s consistent in a way that’s impressive.
And the cleanliness really stands out. No sticky ice cream underfoot. No messy tables sitting for long. Lines moved faster than the app said they would and faster than the posted boards suggested. It just ran well. If you go, download the app. It helps.
One lesson from the day: be careful filming on the Mad Hatter’s Tea Cups. I thought I’d be fine. I was not fine. I was dizzy for about an hour after. Still worth it, but fair warning.
By late afternoon we could have wrapped it up. Instead, we headed into the city.
We took the train from Disney to Shibuya and then back toward the airport later that night. It ended up being a long day, but navigating it was surprisingly simple. Japan makes moving around feel manageable, even when it’s busy.
We stepped out into Shibuya Crossing at dusk, which was perfect timing. You see it in daylight, and then within minutes the lights start to take over. Screens glow. Neon reflects off everything. The whole place shifts gears as the sun goes down.
We had planned to go up one of the towers for the overhead view. That didn’t happen; I made a rookie move. Tickets apparently sell out about two weeks in advance. Lesson learned for next time. Even so, being down at street level in the middle of it all was great.
The ramen that night may have been the highlight. Small place. Long line. Absolutely worth it. There’s something about a hot bowl of ramen after a full day on your feet that just resets everything.
By the time we made it back to the airport hotel, it had been a full travel day: an early start at Disney, Tokyo at night, and a few train rides in between. Lola was exhausted in that good way that comes from a full day. The kind that turns into a lifelong memory. I was a bit tired and a bit wired at the same time.
Day one in Japan and we hadn’t even seen snow yet.
And that’s kind of the point.
Trips here aren’t just about skiing. If you want people to keep coming back, it has to be more than lifts and powder. It’s the culture. The small details. The way things feel organized without feeling rushed.
Hakuba comes next.
