So my wife and I, 56M&F from Hawaii, are traveling to Tokyo in mid December. We have one free day and we’re thinking about visiting Edo Wonderland. Seems like reviews are mixed on whether it is worth it or not. Thinking about leaving from Tokyo station, Shinkansen to Utsunomiya, then train to Nikko and then taxi to Edo Wonderland to save time…then slow train back to ginza after we’re done.
We are already going to Tokyo Disney and Tokyo Disney sea earlier in the week. We are also staying at a ryokan in Gunma. We also have shopping and visiting Tsukiji outer market, asakusa,etc. So basically we have the one open day to do something else. On our last trip earlier in the year we did the Mt. Fuji day trip and visited various onsen ( difficult for my wife who has several tattoos) as well as many temples. So looking for something fun and light…
Is Edo Wonderland good or should we look for something else?
Thanks in advance…
3 comments
It all comes down to your interests. Are you interested in seeing more about Edo history?
My husband and I really enjoyed it. We rented costumes, walked around, and enjoyed street food. The yakitori looks bland but it’s actually really good. The staff also does small skits every now and then involving the guests. The scenery is really great and you really feel like you’ve been transported to a different time in the past.
Btw, if you do decide to go, there’s a free shuttle bus to and from Edo wonderland. Just check the bus schedule on their website.
Depends on your interests. I had serious doubts, but as a history buff, Edo Wonderland is absolutely worth it and actually surprisingly very well done.
However, if you are expecting “rides”, be ready to be severely disappointed. It’s mostly a real size reproduction of an Edo-era district with a couple shows.
Note that some of the shows require a fairly decent command of Japanese if you want to enjoy what is being shown (some are nonetheless mostly visual, e.g. the water tricks). The comedy skits in Minami Offices are funny but completely in Japanese. There aren’t any “parades” like Disney, the only “parade” I can think of is a reproduction of the procession of a high-ranked prostitute, a spectacle in itself but quite different from what you’d see in Disney.
An experience, for sure, but greatly depending on what you are expecting.
We live in Japan, but it looks like a place we’d enjoy. I think I’d try it, but I’d do the bus tour from Tokyo instead of riding the trains and using money for a taxi. Come to think of it, maybe we *will* do a bus tour next year.