Toshimaen: Tokyo's Center for Watery Summer Fun

Toshimaen has the best combined features of waterpark swimming, thrill rides/slides, and location!

When the blistering, humid days of summer hit Tokyo, Toshimaen is arguably must-visit stuff when other outdoor activities become borderline miserable during the hot summer day.

The water park is actually within the Toshimaen Amusement Park (in Nerima, cloes to Ikebukuro), so for those living/lodging in and around Tokyo, Toshimaen is likely the best located water park option during the summer.

Water slides at Toshimaen: The Big Thrill Leading to the Big Spill!

The best part of Toshimaen water park is the abundance of water slides.  From flume/tunnel types that curve around, to straightaway speed slides, and even a slide you can ride down on an inflatable innertube, there's lots of variety of thrill to be had if that it what you're looking for.

There's also a wave pool (called the Surf Pool here), for simulated floating/swimming with a current of sorts.  I haven't seen anyone with a surfboard here yet, but it's still a fun part of the water park to be at.



And, the lazy river: probably best experienced with a floater (available for rent) so that you can watch the scenery and the Toshimaen scene pass by as the river takes you for a relaxing water ride with everyone else.

Besides the slides and the Surf Pool, there are other water based attractions in the park that are worth a look.  Pools, watery playgrounds, and waterfalls can make for some fun as well as nice photos.

On one occasion, there was a soap bubble party!  It was a lot of fun, so indescribable that I can't even begin to find the words to do it justice, so...

The water park operates on a pre-paid wristband system; put as much money you think you'll be spending on the wristband and just use the wristband for food/drink/rentals while you're in the water park.  Pretty handy (no pun intended) when you're just wearing swimwear and would have some challenges holding coins and/or keeping yen bills dry.



Toshimaen my favorite among all other water park experiences in and around the Tokyo summer.  It's my preferred destination and highly recommend it to you as well.  Splash down at Toshimaen water park, by all means!



Recommendations:
- Go with friend(s)!  Though I haven't tried going alone, I imagine it would not be as fun as having someone else to chat with and share the thrills and spills of the day.
- Footwear at the water park: optional.  Most of the walking surfaces are not too rough/hot, and most are wet from the water, but if you have sensitive feet that might be in pain at the slightest barefoot contact on hot surfaces... bring flip flops or sandals, etc, to use inside of the water park.
- "Must bring" stuff: towel, sunblock (if needed), and a bag/container to hold your wet swimwear in after the day/night fun.

Specifics:
Toshimaen Water Park
Duration: Late Jun to early September
Admission: Adults 4000 yen, Children taller than 110cm 3000 yen, Children shorter than 110cm 2000 yen
Location:

The Beautiful Game in Japan: J-League

Football (or soccer as it's known in some countries) is truly the world's game.  Though baseball reigns supreme among spectator sports in Japan, football is probably a solid third behind sumo.

With my buddies and fellow enthusiasts at Saitama Stadium

Japan League (known as J-League) is the highest level of professional football in the country, with teams situated in many part of the country throughout its top tied and lower tier leagues.  From as high north as Hokkaido down to the Ryukyu team in Okinawa, professional teams have their strongholds with fervent fan support.  In the Kanto Plains, there are more than a handful of teams with support divided somewhat along city lines.

Fernando Torres with his Sagan Tosu teammates just after the match at Urawa Reds

In recent years, with more international players and some very well known international stars making their way to J-League such as Lukas Podolski, Andres Iniesta, and Fernando Torres, not to mention the Japanese National Teams making impact on the World Cup and Olympic stages, the beautiful game is very much alive and well in the Land of the Rising Sun.

So, you'd like to attend a game in person, you say?  Check online at each respective team's website for specific info on tickets.  J-League has its own ticket website (English language) so this helps tremendously for us Gaijin; we simply purchase ticket(s) online and present the email proof of purchase at the stadium on game day/night to receive the tickets.

Once you get there... for the seasoned football/soccer game enthusiast, you'll find the atmosphere, crowd, and stadium experience just as good as that you'll find anywhere else in the world where the sport is a passion among its fans.  Songs, chants, fans dressed in team jerseys/colors, all of it.

If you're a sports enthusiast of any kind, JLeague soccer is worth seeing at least once.  Whether you have an interest in any team or player, or if a specific team's home games are more convenient to attend, perhaps that should dictate the route you take towards the beautiful game in Japan.

Recommendations:

- Purchase tickets in advance

- Understand the seating arrangement: some tickets are reserved seats (specific row and seat number), while others give you unreserved seats in a particular section of the stadium.  For the unreserved ones, you could get really close to the action but need to arrive hours early.

- Find out where the game will be played, and find out what train station is closest to the stadium... which is usually the best for getting to the game.

Tokyo Drift at Odaiba: Part Cinematic, Part Motor Show, All Awesome!

Tokyo Drift event at Odaiba: Part Cinematic, Part Motor Show, All Awesome!

Japan, and Tokyo specifically, have always had the image of automobiles associated with the geographic location.  Also, thanks to a certain 2006 movie, "drifting" is associated with Japan as well, also in specific, Tokyo.  One doesn't necessarily need to be a fan of the entire Fast and Furious movie saga, though, to become fascinated with the art of drifting cars.

Drifting originated in Japan, so one can easily argue that taking part in the sport is as traditional as kimonos or samurai.  Or maybe not... 

There is a professional "league" that hold events for drifting: the D1 Grand Prix (D1GP for short), which has each round of its competition staged at various courses around Japan, and sometimes even outside of the drifting motherland.

The focus on this webpage will be on the round held at Odaiba, Tokyo, near DiverCity (actually, in its parking lot as it appears).  The area is easily accessible by train for tourists, or even by car for anyone who drives... though I'm sure you're not allowed to drift your way there.

Unlike the typical auto/motor show in Tokyo, the drift event at Odaiba is well spaced out and thus not too crowded/suffocating for the attendees.  Though the seating area is a bit tight, you can always get up and walk around the food/exhibit areas just outside of the track and bleachers area.

And about those exhibits...cars, and race queens.  Though on a much smaller scale, it's just like Tokyo Auto Salon, but outdoors and with less crowds!  Definitely worth a look.







But, you came here to see drifting, right?  Seeing it on the big screen or on your phone/computer screen is one thing, but seeing it in person is a whole different experience.

The sight is one thing, that you can kind of see online already.  But the sounds of roaring engines and the screech of too-strained tires... combined with the feeling of the asphalt vibrating from the mechanical stress transferred from those metal beasts, and the smell of burning rubber... all of it wrapped in a neat Tokyo package is quite an experience.

Also, in between car drift segments of the event, there are pretty extreme Motocross performers, which are pretty awesome/exciting to see and photograph as well!

The Drift event at Odaiba is definitely worth seeing in person at least once, whether you're a motorhead or not.  Cars are everywhere but drifting is not... so why not see it at its best, in its motherland of Japan?

Recommendations:

- Buy tickets online in advance.  Though not mandatory (tickets/seats seem to be available onsite even during the event), buying in advance ensures that you and your companion(s) get seated at the location/price you want, as there are different seating areas at different prices.

Specifics:

Tokyo Drift at Odaiba
Location: