Lava letters run down a rock, spelling out the name of the attraction, outside Journey to the Center of the Earth in Mysterious Island at Tokyo DisneySea.

Journey to the Center of the Earth: Guided Photo Tour

November 30, 2016

It spits you out of a volcano. Park experts have called it "the flagship attraction" at Tokyo DisneySea. And while the actual ride is a fleeting, two-minute affair, half dark ride, half rollercoaster, the intricacy on display in Journey to the Center of the Earth—one of two Jules-Verne-inspired attractions in Mysterious Island—makes for a truly immersive, one-of-a-kind theme park experience.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks onstage between acting legend Meryl Streep and other VIPs at the Tokyo International Film Festival on October 25, 2016.

The Tokyo International Film Festival: 2015–2016 Photo Tour

November 3, 2016

Every year in late October, the Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF-JP) kicks off in the Roppongi Hills complex, located in the affluent ward of Minato. 2015 and 2016 were no different; the 45 images in this post relate to those years, when globally renowned actors and directors like Koji Yakusho, Helen Mirren, Robert Zemeckis, and Meryl Streep made appearances. The focus here is the festival’s opening day, where you’ll see what it’s like to attend a screening, and then engage in a bit of people-watching from the public viewing area during the red carpet ceremony.

Clockwise, from top left: chef's head at the southern tip of Kappabashi, statue of the mythical kappa in front of a store, and shelves of plastic sushi and other fake food. — Clockwise, from top left: chef's head at the southern tip of Kappabashi, statue of the mythical *kappa* in front of a store, and shelves of plastic sushi and other fake food.

Photo Tour of Kappabashi Kitchen Town

October 19, 2016

Kappabashi is the kitchenware corner of Tokyo, hence its nickname, "Kitchen Town." A colossal chef's head marks the southern entrance to this offbeat neighborhood, which bears a certain novelty as a place to go window-shopping.

Around the time of StormRider's closure at Tokyo DisneySea, the hashtag #StormRider_Forever was trending on Twitter, as fans sought to immortalize the attraction with tributes.

A Brief History of StormRider/SeaRider at Tokyo DisneySea

September 1, 2016

Once the centerpiece of Port Discovery at Tokyo DisneySea, the StormRider attraction flew its last flight on May 16th, 2016. This post serves as a scrapbook for the ride, with a brief write-up and 25 photos chronicling its history.