Tokyo DisneySea is the most beautiful theme park I’ve ever had the privilege of visiting. There’s a reason why it’s regularly chosen as the best theme park in the world!

The Disney parks in Tokyo aren’t actually owned by the Walt Disney Corporation but by the Oriental Land Company, which is explains why there are key differences between the parks in Japan and the parks in the USA and Europe. It also explains why no money was spared in the creation of the themed parks here: and it especially shows in the Tokyo DisneySea park.

From the near-perfect replica of a Venetian Canal to the volcano that sits smack bang in the middle of the park, it’s just wow moment after wow moment from the minute you walk into the park.

Note! There are two Disney parks in Tokyo. This post is all about Tokyo DisneySea. If you want to visit Tokyo Disneyland then you can read my post all about that park here.

Are you planning to visit Tokyo DisneySea on your next trip to Japan? (And I strongly recommend that you do!) Then here’s everything you need to know:

Before You Go

Visiting the Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea parks is a little different to visiting the other Disney Parks around the world. You’ll need to arrive a little earlier and be a little organised on the day to make it as special as possible.

To help make it the most enjoyable possible experience for you, there are some things you should know or should prepare before you go. They tips for both of the Tokyo Disney parks are the same, so I’ve copied my Disneyland top tips here:

• Arrive at the park early! The park officially opens at 9am (but this is subject to change, so do check for your specific dates) and the gates are often opened earlier. Queues to get in start to form for 7am and they can be LONG! Arriving early means you’ll get in faster and are more likely to get the passes you want/need)
• Link your park entry tickets to your Tokyo Disneyland app. You need these to book standby passes or priority passes, this can only be done in the app. Standby passes are free passes that give you access to rides that might otherwise have closed their queue due to high crowd levels. Priority passes are paid passes that act like fast passes, giving you faster access to rides.
• Get in the queue for one ride while getting a standby pass for your next ride. We got in the queue for the Monsters Inc ride, as this was the closest ride to the park entry. Get your standby pass fast – they run out so quickly.
• Priority passes can be expensive (between £30-40 for our family of 4 for ONE ride) but you’ve already spent a small fortune to get to Japan. If there’s a ride you REALLY don’t want to miss, it’s worth getting the pass. We regretted not doing this last time, and will be learning from our mistake this trip.

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Getting Tickets For Tokyo DisneySea

There are 2 ways to get tickets for Tokyo DisneySea. You can either buy directly from the Tokyo Disneyland website OR you can buy from a 3rd party site such as Klook (aff. link). We used Klook for several reasons. The Tokyo Disneyland website wouldn’t accept our UK-based credit card, they sent the tickets straight to your phone, and the prices were exactly the same as buying direct but with less hassle.

Ticket prices vary slightly depending on how far in advance you book, and whether you book a weekend or weekday.

A 1 day entry ticket to Tokyo DisneySea on a weekday next month will cost £43.65 per adult, £36.39 for a junior aged between 12-17, £25.99 for a child aged between 4-11. Children younger than that can enter for free. The tickets for Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea are both the same price, so price isn’t a factor in which park you choose.

If you do choose to buy from Klook then use code THATMUMTRAVEL5KLOOK to get an extra 5% off those prices (every little helps!) The booking link is here.

AN IMPORTANT NOTE ON BOOKING TICKETS: You can only buy tickets up to 2 months in advance, so if visiting on a specific day is important to you then be prepared! Tickets for April 1 will go on sale on February 1. Tickets for May 16 will go on sale on March 16. And so on. Book the tickets you want as soon as the sale window is open to avoid disappointment, especially in peak periods.

The Rides in Tokyo DisneySea

I’ve never been so engaged by the rides in a theme park. Journey to the Center of the Earth is an excellent ride with a great backstory. And even rides that you will find in other Disney parks are better in Disney Sea. Tower of Terror is a great example of this: It’s like a whole new ride with a richer and more interesting theme.

If you’re travelling with kids (or even if you’re not!) then you have to go on the Sinbad ride and meet Chandu: The cutest tiger and unofficial park mascot.

Another great section of the park if you’re travelling with kids is Mermaid Lagoon which is incredibly well themed and the indoor rides seemingly blend in with the Mermaid background

We loved the Toy Story Mania! ride which is a family friendly 4D ride where you shoot targets to help Woody and Buzz light up targets. We are seriously competitive so anything where we have a chance to beat each other is a big hit with us!

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is another incredible and unique family-friendly dark ride that takes you on an underwater adventure.

If you’re travelling with older kids or travelling without kids then what makes Tokyo DisneySea stand out from the crowd is its thrill rides. Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Crystal Skull and Raging Spirits are thrilling high-speed roller coaster rides that have long queues worth standing in!

The Food in Tokyo DisneySea

Theme park food is generally mediocre at best. But this isn’t true when it comes to Tokyo DisneySea! The themed food at Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Sea is so exceptional and so beautifully presented that many consider it a highlight of your visit.

And so incredibly affordable too! We’re talking buckets full of flavoured popcorns and themed ice creams and lollies for around £3. If I could only eat one snack in Tokyo DisneySea then it would be the green alien mochi. Delicious gooey, chewy themed mochi filled with custard, strawberry, and chocolate.

But it’s not just snacks that Tokyo DisneySea excels at. Whether you want a quick service meal or a fine dining experience, you can enjoy both here. We also liked that there was a good miss between Japanese food and dishes with Asian influence alongside Western theme park fair like burgers.

This made travelling with kids so easy, and helped to stem the culinary culture shock that they experienced when we first landed in Japan. Even the fussiest eaters can find something to love.

Snack monsters will find my list of the five best snacks in Tokyo Disneyland here.

Some of the restaurants in the park that are well worth checking out are listed below, with links to their menus so you can see if they’ll work for you and your family:

• Magellen’s (The most premium restaurant in the park). The menu is here.
• Vulcania (An Asian themed restaurant underneath the volcano). The menu is here.
• The New York Deli (You can get the green alien mochi here). The menu is here.
• The SS Columbia Dining Room (Also has a great premium cocktail menu). The menu is here.

Other Things To Do in Tokyo DisneySea

Tokyo DisneySea has great rides and amazing snacks, but it’s the other things in the park, many of them thoughtful little details, that took this park from great to amazing.

One of the details that we especially loved was that Tokyo Disney Sea have photo shoot spots for teddy bears (Duffy Bear specifically). You can pop your bear in the little photo shoot chairs around the park and take photos of your favourite Disney bear from the perfect angle.

This same attention to detail is even reflected in the merchandise throughout the park. Which is abundant, cleverly designed, and exceptionally affordable. A pair of Mickey Ears will set you back less than £10, which is insane when you think what you would pay for these anywhere else.

On the subject of Duffy Bear, he is really celebrated in this park which is a big plus for fans of the Disney bear (who has been quietly sidelined in the US and European parks). Duffy will be celebrating his 20th anniversary this year with an event called “Duffy and Friends 20th: Colourful Happiness” that will last a full year from April 2025 and involve a special water-based parade, special food, decorations, and merchandise.

Just like in Tokyo Disneyland there ae characters EVERYWHERE in this park! In the square outside the Tower of Terror at regular intervals you’ll find characters taking a walk and you can meet them and take selfies with them. We loved this system which was much more casual and less stressful than the queues and booking systems for characters in other parks.

We also loved the Believe! Sea of Dreams show. If you only see one Disney show then make it this one. It took place on the water in front of the volcano and featured moving barges, fireworks, lasers and water fountains on the water in front of you while 3D projections are put on the buildings all around the square. It’s incredible!

Have you visited Tokyo DisneySea? What did you think of the park? And do you have any other hints and tips for making the most of your visit to share? I’d love to hear them!

This post contains some affiliate links: you won’t be charged for using these, but I will get a (very small) commission if you find them useful. I never promote products that I haven’t used myself! Not all the links in this post are affiliate links.

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