Nara Dreamland


Nara Dreamland is very much an imitation of the Disneyland in Anaheim.


Things are very familiar, yet not quite right.


Train station entrance.
View from the train station, the castle can barely be seen through the trees.

This was apparently built after the park was built, it is raised over what may have been trolley tracks (lighter pink area).
The newer building forms a gateway arch, something like at Tokyo Disneyland.

The main street into the park.

A side street that is more like an alley.
Looking back down the main street.

The hub is familiar, but sort of like a Disneyland if run by Six Flags.
A fountain where a statue of Walt and Mickey normally are.


Let's hope that Coke doesn't ask to have a vending machine in Cinderella Castle!

Yes, I did run through this castle, as if running a marathon or half marathon at the Disney parks.


The equivalent of Fantasyland.

The big attraction for our group was Aska, a very good Cyclone-type coaster!
For me, the best wooden coaster so far on the trip.

This was a fast ride with plenty of negative G's.
With so many of us coaster experts here, this will surely rise into the annual top coaster lists next year.

Nara also has an imitation Matterhorn mountain coaster.
Just like the rest of the park, it's familiar looking, but not quite right.

Just like Disneyland's Matterhorn, trains are lifted up to the top, and then spiral down to a final circuit on the exterior.
The monorail is no longer operating. It has a figure-8 track, like Disneyland's did until the track was extended to the Disneyland Hotel.

Part of the beamway is covered with vines.
The train is rusting away.

Also covered with some vines, but operating, is a kiddy train coaster.
Some worrisome amounts of rust are on the standard corkscrew coaster.

I normally don't ride these.
The early corkscrews have hurtful shoulder bars and some harsh transitions into the curves. They hurt to ride, so I avoid riding them. I rode this one, however.

Friends tell me the Jungle Cruise was similar to Disney's original
The swinging cages were fun. You used your body weight to get enough momentum to spin completely around.

This silver trash can look like it came directly from Walt Disney World!
A new soft drink to try, Sangria flavored, in an aluminum bottle. Yes, a friend is taking a picture of me taking a picture of the bottle.

Rice dish I decided to try, as displayed.
Rice as it was served. It came with shrimp and mushrooms, and a good side order of spicy red peppers. Very good!