Robb & Elissa in Japan - 2015!

^ This might sound crazy, but it a way it's hard to even classify Falcon's as a "Drop Tower" as it feels so much different. You actually don't get as much feeling of "falling" as you do on a traditional tower like Blue Fall (Which I still think has one of the best OMFG moments when you hit the bottom.) But what Falcon's does do, is just so insanely cool, awesome, and fun, that it's hard not to call it the best drop tower in the world just because it's so screwed up in the best way possible! lol

I actually prefer the traditional Intamin Giant Drops to the larger seat versions like Zumanjaro and Lex Luthor. Those are a hell of a lot of fun too, but the is just a "moment" on Blue Fall where you are seriously like "OH CRAP!!!!" that I don't get on those others...

I have never been to Japan so pardon if this is a stupid question.

Is most signage in Japan in both English and Japanese? Is there a large enough population/tourist economy for them to put it in English, too?

I find all of this fascinating. Thanks again for sharing, Robb.

Is most signage in Japan in both English and Japanese? Is there a large enough population/tourist economy for them to put it in English, too?

In bigger, more popular areas like Tokyo or Osaka, yes. Once you get out of those areas though, like down in Fukuoka, you'll start seeing a lot less English on signage.

"We will end this update with some Japanese porn...because shouldn't all updates end up with a bit of Japanese porn???"

Pure logic that just can't be argued with.

I have never been to Japan so pardon if this is a stupid question.

 

Is most signage in Japan in both English and Japanese? Is there a large enough population/tourist economy for them to put it in English, too?

 

I find all of this fascinating. Thanks again for sharing, Robb.

I found a lot more English in Tokyo than other places. After being spoiled in Korea with multiple language options everywhere, I started my trip in Osaka and was quite surprised when I left the airport to find the airports subway station's machines had no English (this was a few years ago though). Luckily some-one showed me how to just put in the minimum cash without a destination and then you just pay the extra once you get off at a fare adjustment machine. Although it didn't help that I wrote down the tiny airport by mistake in my notebook and not the main one so the hotel I'd booked next to Universal was not a few stops away lol.

There was a great website Robb or Elissa posted somewhere on an old TR that was really really helpful that would tell you train times, routes, transfers etc (I think it was a guide to getting around in Japan) that I used to note down routes and transfers before I left when I knew I'd be going out to smaller and rural areas in case there was no English but again this was a few years ago.

Is anyone a wear of any other Togo paratrooper ride? Like possibly in the U.S. ? It looks amazing!

They just opened a ride a lot like it in Luna Park.

The next day of our trip was an easy, more relaxing day. We just had to make our way from Fukuoka to Nagoya by bullet train, and then once we were there, we had some time to hang out and do whatever we wanted. We opted to visit a small park in the area called "Higashiyama Zoo" which has one of the more bizarre rides I've seen - the "Slope Shooter." I don't think I can consider this a "roller coaster" but it is most certainly fun, and the park also has a medium sized "Jet Coaster" as well as a few funky flat rides. This is one of those parks that is more than just a credit stop, but it actually has some unique and weird things I've not seen at any other parks.

Our day starts out at... Mister Donut! Yes, this is the US chain that is long gone, but still lives on in Japan!

Hello Mr. Bullet train! So happy to see you today!

This might be my favorite train car in Japan!

We have arrived in Nagoya and at Higashiyama zoo.

As you can see, the entire property is HUGE!

But we are just here for some amusements, so we're heading to that tiny corner on the bottom.

This way, please!

I think we have found our destination!

The first ride making it up the hill to the amusement area is the "Slope Shooter" and this is one really bizarre, but totally fun ride!

The car mostly glides on concrete through the turns...

But the "slope" parts are this flume-like trough that you "shoot" through (I guess there is where it gets it's name from!) Watch this video...

The girls about to take their ride...

Each car is manually pushed out of the station and onto the lift hill.

"WOAH! We have a live one here!" Thad was coming in pretty fast!

The weirdness of Slope Shooter gets a thumbs up from all of us!

Making our way up the hill more we find the "Jet Coaster" and a bunch of other rides.

Your typical Japanese "Jet Coaster" is a fairly tame, but fun ride. Much like a mine train coaster, but not usually themed to anything.

This one is most certainly fun and had a couple of mild pops of airtime.

Statue of Liberty says "YOU MUST LIKE JET COASTER!!!"

(Photo by Hanno Roos)

IMO, this ride is kind of the weird hidden gem of the park. The best way to describe it is like a "Paratrooper had a love child with a Scrambler!"

(Photo by Hanno Roos)

The girls look a little nervous.

(Photo by Hanno Roos)

The legroom is a bit tight! Lift up those legs or you might find yourself smacking the arm of the ride!

(Photo by Hanno Roos)

It really is a Para-Scrambler!

It's cool though. And I've never seen another one anywhere else.

Yay! Kiddie Powered Coaster!

Joe and the other credit whores rejoice!

Some of the other rides in the park...

And this wacky looking thing that is what nightmares are made of.

Yay! Monorail fans can go here too and get a credit!

For dinner we went to Din Tai Fung in Nagoya.

Famous in Asia for their amazing "Soup Dumplings" and if you remember from other trip reports, this is like Elissa's favorite restaurant in the world!

Each dumpling is made under a clean environment, with the perfect amount of folds and a specific process. They take their dumplings VERY SERIOUSLY!!!

But the end result is OMG, soooooo goood!

After dinner we hit up the marketplace! Check out all these crazy flavored Macaroons!

Yummy!

We didn't have Yakitori tonight, but we could have bought some and cooked our own!

Then of course we felt the need to go to the toy store....Animal Crossing stuff!

Baymax!!!

More Animal Crossing!

We found this interesting shop where you rent random costumes for about 15-20 minutes...

and then you go get pictures with them taken in the photo booths! Oh, Japan!

Whatever they are selling in here...I WANT IT!!!

Actually, I'm pretty sure they are selling girls doing all sorts of amazing things to you!

"I've seen one before, but never one that high up or that big!"

Awesome building in Nagoya!

Ahh, Nagoya...home to the animatronic crab restaurant!

It's a pretty town...we'll explore a bit more tomorrow!

Always so much fun to read these trip reports from Japan. There is always something interesting. I'm intrigued by the paratrooper/scrambler ride, any video of it in action?

We found this interesting shop where you rent random costumes for about 15-20 minutes...

I assume you went for the Anna dress...

(Olaf looks like he's melting btw)

The legroom is a bit tight! Lift up those legs or you might find yourself smacking the arm of the ride!

A BIT?! That thing tried to amputate my legs four times! It was awesome, but holy crap!

That's a great little amusement park in Higashiyama Zoo.

And yes, that paratrooper hybrid was a fun and totally wierd ride.

The Slope Shooter is cool too, although it's "coaster" authenticity

will be argued for a few more years I'm sure, lol.

And what the heck flavour is YUZU in the macaroons? I tried to

translate it, but nothing came up for me. Did anybody ask or buy one?

And THANK YOU for taking a pic of the Haunted Swing ride! It was another little gem in the park for myself,

back on the TPR 2007 Japan Tour. But I forgot to take a pic of it back then, so this is great! (I have a folder

on Haunted Swings and Mad Houses) (o:

The Slope Coaster is unique--not to mention fun. But it's not a coaster--unless rolling down a hill in a shopping cart is considered a "coaster."

Bring on the dumplings and macaroons!

--unless rolling down a hill in a shopping cart is considered a "coaster."...

Well... isn't it?

Ding Tai Fung!!!

That's a great little amusement park in Higashiyama Zoo.

And yes, that paratrooper hybrid was a fun and totally wierd ride.

The Slope Shooter is cool too, although it's "coaster" authenticity

will be argued for a few more years I'm sure, lol.

 

And what the heck flavour is YUZU in the macaroons? I tried to

translate it, but nothing came up for me. Did anybody ask or buy one?

If the name is the same as in Korea, it's an Asian citrus fruit. Though it was already used for teas and other things, they just started making flavored soju and Yuzu is one of the flavors. Most other foreigners here just end up calling it the lemon soju lol.

^That works for me, thanks!

(And Mister Donut Forever!)

That is a lot of pink and food in two updates...Awesome!

Funny side story to yet another amazing trip report from you guys...

In one of your reports, you posted this picture:

I instantly wanted it! So I shared it on facebook explaining that you guys saw this during your escapades in Japan, and I exclaimed "MUST. HAVE. TAKE. MONEY." or something to that effect.

Low and behold, the next day, a friend of mine was riding a tour bus passing Fuji Q park, takes a picture of it and says "We're in Japan, check out this cool park. We're not stopping, but we will find that pizza cutter!"

Guess what I got?

Rocket Pizza Cutter

AND THEN, another local friend went through a Japanese online store, was forwarded to a Chinese store, and the product was sent from Australia! We met for coffee on Sunday. Pizza cutter number 2

Thanks TPR for sharing your amazing trips! So love them!

Dennis

^ That's awesome!

New, complete 4K video of Journey to the Center of the Earth at Tokyo DisneySea!

It's my soul mate. Sorry Outlaw Run.

I loved Journey, although my expectations were probably ridiculously too high for it.

New, complete 4K video of Journey to the Center of the Earth at Tokyo DisneySea!

 

I bought the CD Soundtrack back in 2001 when the park first opened, and although beautiful, it was hard get a feel for the ride experience. Watching old videos - the lighting was too dark and would only capture certain scenes. This is definitely the best video I've seen for this ride. Thanks so much for creating and posting this!! The colors in this ride are gorgeous in the video, and I bet they're even more stunning in person.

Once you have journeyed to the center of the earth...

...nothing else matters.

I rode this for the first time in 2011 on my first TPR trip. I was tired and jetlagged and could barely stand, but still one of the most memorable experiences EVER.

Awesome video, the best of this ride I've seen yet.

I can't help but wonder that the experience on this ride really needs to be done in person, because even after all the videos I've seen, the ride seems more like a lot of slow crawl through the very detailed animatronic scenes for a good length of time, with only about 20 seconds of speed and thrills. While I do think the theming on this ride and in the entire park is fantastic, it just seems like there should be more to this ride.

I know that there's plenty of other things to do in the park, I'm just not sure I'd take a trip out to this park just to get on this ride.