Japan Trip 2025

@SeaOtterHQ Thanks for your reply. I'm going to travel Japan on my own. However, as stated previously, I'm only going to stay in Tokyo this time.

I like sea otters, actually worked with one many years ago and have seen them in the wild as well. Therefore, they are not that much of a "must-see" attraction to me. The different pufferfish species at Tokyo Sea Life Park, however...:D
 
Toki said:
Ghibli Museum MItaka
You can buy tickets online from here
https://l-tike.com/st1/ghibli-en/sitetop

You can also buy tickets after arriving in Japan from a nearby LAWSON (Convinience Store)

Feel free to ask anything if you need more help!
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Thank you very much for your obligingness.
The LAWSON option is new to me. I was told that as a foreigner, you can only get a very limited number of tickets via the website you mentioned, and only on one day one month in advance in an online process as annoying as getting Taylor Swift tickets for your prepubescent daughter.
Apparently, you can only buy tickets on site in Japan at LAWSON if you have a Japanese mobile phone number.
 
Batto said:
Thanks @Dr. Wolverine , but for this trip, I intend to stay within Tokyo.
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Maxell Aquapark Shinagawa is in Tokyo, in the Shinagawa ward, between Haneda and Tokyo central station. It's pretty easy to get to, has long opening hours, and I'd recommend if you like fish and cetaceans (Namely the Pseudorca), although the spaces for marine mammals are a bit cramped as is typical in the rest of the country. I enjoyed my visit there and at the nearby Shinagawa Aquarium, but your enjoyment at both and especially the latter will probably be directly proportional to how much you are a fish enthusiast. I didn't get to it, but Sunshine Aquarium in Toshima city also looks interesting.

Ueno is a nice old zoo, with some pretty outdated areas, but with many very nice species, and the reptile house and native birds section was pretty good.

Given that you are a herp enthusiast, I think I would be remiss to not mention iZoo and KawaZoo on the Izu peninsula, a reptile and anuran zoo each, that both have interesting (but dubiously sourced) collections, even if it's a bit away from Tokyo.

I hope you enjoy your trip! I found Tokyo was a wonderful place that was very easy to get around with its fast and efficient public transit system in the day I was there.
 
Batto said:
@SeaOtterHQ Thanks for your reply. I'm going to travel Japan on my own. However, as stated previously, I'm only going to stay in Tokyo this time.

I like sea otters, actually worked with one many years ago and have seen them in the wild as well. Therefore, they are not that much of a "must-see" attraction to me. The different pufferfish species at Tokyo Sea Life Park, however...:D
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Your penchant for toxicity is showing!
 
CMP said:
Maxell Aquapark Shinagawa is in Tokyo, in the Shinagawa ward, between Haneda and Tokyo central station. It's pretty easy to get to, has long opening hours, and I'd recommend if you like fish and cetaceans (Namely the Pseudorca), although the spaces for marine mammals are a bit cramped as is typical in the rest of the country. I enjoyed my visit there and at the nearby Shinagawa Aquarium, but your enjoyment at both and especially the latter will probably be directly proportional to how much you are a fish enthusiast. I didn't get to it, but Sunshine Aquarium in Toshima city also looks interesting.

Ueno is a nice old zoo, with some pretty outdated areas, but with many very nice species, and the reptile house and native birds section was pretty good.

Given that you are a herp enthusiast, I think I would be remiss to not mention iZoo and KawaZoo on the Izu peninsula, a reptile and anuran zoo each, that both have interesting (but dubiously sourced) collections, even if it's a bit away from Tokyo.

I hope you enjoy your trip! I found Tokyo was a wonderful place that was very easy to get around with its fast and efficient public transit system in the day I was there.
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Hmmm...tempting. I might be able to squeeze in the Aquapark on the way to the Parasitology Museum and the TOC Building.
 
CMP said:
Given that you are a herp enthusiast, I think I would be remiss to not mention iZoo and KawaZoo on the Izu peninsula, a reptile and anuran zoo each, that both have interesting (but dubiously sourced) collections, even if it's a bit away from Tokyo.
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They're already on the list for the next trip. Just as Toba Aquarium.
 
Batto said:
nice venomous/poisonous (animal/plant) merchandise that I can sell at the WdG gift shop for a profit.
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There is a store in the JR Ueno station that’s named “the study room” which sells merchandise based on nature and natural sciences. While I can’t guarantee that you will find exactly what you have in mind, there are at least some mushroom merch.

Here’s a link to their instagram page, just in case.
 
PossumRoach said:
There is a store in the JR Ueno station that’s named “the study room” which sells merchandise based on nature and natural sciences. While I can’t guarantee that you will find exactly what you have in mind, there are at least some mushroom merch.

Here’s a link to their instagram page, just in case.
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Given how much money I'm SO going to spend there, I'm not sure whether I should praise or curse you for such a splendid recommendation...:D
 
My current itinerary:
19.11. Arrival at Narita Airport, accommodation in Ueno, first scouting of Akihabara & The Study Room (@PossumRoach ;) )
20.11. Ueno Zoo & Museum of Natural Sciences
21.11. Tama Zoo, Shibuya
22.11. Kappabashi Street + Ueno area (Ameyoko), dinner at fugu restaurant (thanks to a very kind Japanese ZooChatter!)
23.11. Studio Ghibli Museum, Inokashira Park Zoo, Mushida beetle store, Shinjuku, Harukor Ainu Restaurant
24.11. Tokyo Sealife Park, Yumenoshima Tropical Greenhouse Dome, Museum of Parasitology; optional: Aqua Park Shinagawa
25.11. Institute for Nature Study, Tokyo National Museum, final souvenir shopping; departure from Haneda Airport at night
 
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Batto said:
19.11. Arrival at Narita Airport, accommodation in Ueno, first scouting of Akihabara & The Study Room (@PossumRoach ;) )
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Wow will you look at that, time sure does fly fast! Were you able to find the store without a problem? I hope you were able to find some great stuff for your institution and your loved ones.
 
PossumRoach said:
Wow will you look at that, time sure does fly fast! Were you able to find the store without a problem? I hope you were able to find some great stuff for your institution and your loved ones.
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Sorry for not writing any sooner, but I have been on the move since arriving on Wednesday.
I went to Ueno Zoo & the Museum of Natural Sciences yesterday and had a lovely time at the Mushisha beetle store. Next on the list is today's visit of Tama Zoo; maybe I can squeeze in the Intermediatheque and the Museum of Parasitology as well today.
As for The Study Room (thanks again for the suggestion): I already went there on my first day in Tokyo. Unfortunately, they are pretty much out of stock of anything related to poisons and venoms; the current dinosaur theme kinda overshadows anything else. :(Luckily, the NHM gift shop had a bit more to offer. Many thanks again, though!
The search for animal models to be featured at WdG is way more frustrating than I expected. Kaiyodo's RevoGeo Giant Asian hornet, Giant water bug, Emperor Scorpion etc. are nowhere to be found, and neither are any realistic Gashapon animal models. Akihabara, Nakano Broadway etc. - I have tried them all, and all in all, I have failed to acquire any of the models I was looking for.
To add insult to injury: There were actually three stores that had a few examples of these very products on display. But do they sell them or are they willing to order them? Nope. Which makes you wonder why they display them to the public in the first place...Weirdly enough, I also appear to be unable to get any decent Poison Ivy figurine for the "Poison in Popular Culture" showcase at WdG.
So if any of you reading this knows any other option I could try to acquire at least something like a RevoGeo Giant hornet model during my stay, then please let me know; I'd really appreciate it. Many thanks in advance!
Thanks to the very friendly and forthcoming staff at Mushisha, I was at least able to quench my thirst for Hymenoptera displays. ;)

I'm looking forward to my upcoming Fugu tasting date, the Studio Ghibli Museum as well as visiting the other attractions on my list. Maybe I will be able to make it to the Shinagawa Aquarium, just to see the False killer whale.
Would love to add a visit of the public aquarium of Nagoya (emperor penguins), iZoo or Kawa Zoo as well as Atagawa Tropical & Alligator Park for the ancient Amazonian manatee to the intinerary, but I think that would be overreaching myself. All in all, I'm having a pleasant time in Tokyo.
 
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Batto said:
Sorry for not writing any sooner, but I have been on the move since arriving on Wednesday.
I went to Ueno Zoo & the Museum of Natural Sciences yesterday and had a lovely time at the Mushisha beetle store. Next on the list is today's visit of Tama Zoo; maybe I can squeeze in the Intermediatheque and the Museum of Parasitology as well today.
As for The Study Room (thanks again for the suggestion): I already went there on my first day in Tokyo. Unfortunately, they are pretty much out of stock of anything related to poisons and venoms; the current dinosaur theme kinda overshadows anything else. :(Luckily, the NHM gift shop had a bit more to offer. Many thanks again, though!
The search for animal models to be featured at WdG is way more frustrating than I expected. Kaiyodo's RevoGeo Giant Asian hornet, Giant water bug, Emperor Scorpion etc. are nowhere to be found, and neither are any realistic Gashapon animal models. Akihabara, Nakano Broadway etc. - I have tried them all, and all in all, I have failed to acquire any of the models I was looking for.
To add insult to injury: There were actually three stores that had a few examples of these very products on display. But do they sell them or are they willing to order them? Nope. Which makes you wonder why they display them to the public in the first place...Weirdly enough, I also appear to be unable to get any decent Poison Ivy figurine for the "Poison in Popular Culture" showcase at WdG.
So if any of you reading this knows any other option I could try to acquire at least something like a RevoGeo Giant hornet model during my stay, then please let me know; I'd really appreciate it. Many thanks in advance!
Thanks to the very friendly and forthcoming staff at Mushisha, I was at least able to quench my thirst for Hymenoptera displays. ;)

I'm looking forward to my upcoming Fugu tasting date, the Studio Ghibli Museum as well as visiting the other attractions on my list. Maybe I will be able to make it to the Shinagawa Aquarium, just to see the False killer whale.
Would love to add a visit of the public aquarium of Nagoya (emperor penguins), iZoo or Kawa Zoo as well as Atagawa Tropical & Alligator Park for the ancient Amazonian manatee to the intinerary, but I think that would be overreaching myself. All in all, I'm having a pleasant time in Tokyo.
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Hi!
Glad to hear you're enjoying Japan!

Just one quick note. There are 2 aquariums around Shinagawa area. The False Killer Whale is at "Aqua Park Shinagawa", not "Shinagawa Aquarium".

Enjoy the rest of your trip!
 
Back home again. I truly enjoyed my stay, up to the point that I'm going to travel to Japan again next February, this time with my family.
As for my itinerary: I managed to do everything and more, except for the National Museum. In regard to non-zoo attractions, the Studio Ghibli Museum was the biggest let-down.
 
Batto said:
the Studio Ghibli Museum was the biggest let-down
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If you don't mind giving you review, what was your experience of the Studio Ghibli Museum? It's something that I have considered building into a Japan trip someday (not any time soon), and would appreciate hearing what your experience of it was.
 
DavidBrown said:
If you don't mind giving you review, what was your experience of the Studio Ghibli Museum? It's something that I have considered building into a Japan trip someday (not any time soon), and would appreciate hearing what your experience of it was.
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Let me quote my Google review that I wrote right after the visit:

Unfortunately, I wasn't really impressed by the museum. As an adult, you don't get enough for the organisational effort involved in registering and the friendly but ultimately annoying organisational restrictions on site. One gets the impression that the ban on filming and photography was introduced primarily to hide the ultimate insignificance of the exhibition and not to deter potential customers in advance. The film projectors and displays are nice, but also seem a bit outdated. The Pseudo- Hundertwasserhaus look, with its indoor dark wood aesthetic and focus on more childish films, does not justify a visit on its own. The concept drawings and documentation on film productions are difficult to view when the exhibition is crowded. I couldn't get much out of the short film about kindergarten children and a laughing whale in the style of a preschool children's book, partly because of the lack of subtitles.

In general, as a foreign visitor, you feel like a second-class citizen. While Japanese people can buy a ticket at LAWSON at any time and then happily come whenever they want, as a foreigner you have to jump through hoops. As a ‘thank you’, you are expected to spend as much as possible in the souvenir shop and restaurants. No, thank you, I don't need to return any time soon.
 
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Batto said:
I truly enjoyed my stay, up to the point that I'm going to travel to Japan again next February, this time with my family.
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I can imagine the chaos if you give the Study Room a second chance, this time with your family…
 
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