Category Archives: 2018 Travels

East Meets ACE – Part 11: Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens / 東山動植物園 On Saturday, September 29 we boarded the busses and headed out for a short drive to Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens Nagoya, Aichi, Japan. Rain was beginning to fall lightly as the beginning waves of the typhoon began to be felt. WeContinue reading “East Meets ACE – Part 11: Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens”

East Meets ACE – Part 10: Sea Paradise / シーパラダイス Our final park of the day was Sea Paradise in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. Operating since 1993, this is a marine park with a few rides spread out over a very large space, somewhat reminiscent of Marineland in Canada. We had about an hour and aContinue reading “East Meets ACE – Part 10: Sea Paradise”

East Meets ACE – Part 9: Yokohama Cosmoworld Our next stop was Yokohama Cosmoworld in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. An interesting park that straddles a river, we had about two and half hours to sample their attractions. We presented a plaque to the park when we arrived.   Diving Coaster: Vanish (Senyo Kogyo Co., Ltd., SteelContinue reading “East Meets ACE – Part 9: Yokohama Cosmoworld”

East Meets ACE – Part 8: Tokyo Joypolis / 東京ジョイポリス On Friday, September 28 we left Keio Plaza Hotel for the last time. This was a very nice hotel, and of particular note they offered three breakfast options: Western, Mixed and Japanese. The first morning we had gone to the Western Breakfast, which was veryContinue reading “East Meets ACE – Part 8: Tokyo Joypolis”

East Meets ACE – Part 5: Fuji-Q Highland / 富士急ハイランド As we looked at the weather forecast for our trip it quickly became apparent that Tuesday, September 25 was going to be problematic in terms of rain. This was our day to visit Fuji-Q Highland in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, Japan. Operating since 1961, it was formerlyContinue reading “East Meets ACE – Part 5: Fuji-Q Highland”

East Meets ACE – Part 4: Yomiuriland / よみうりランド Our second park of the day was Yomiuriland in Inagi, Tokyo, Japan. Operating since 1964, this park is somewhat larger than the previous one we visited that day. We had about four and a half hours there and it was fairly busy. We presented a plaqueContinue reading “East Meets ACE – Part 4: Yomiuriland”

East Meets ACE – Part 3: Toshimaen/としまえん On Monday, September 24 we continued our journey with Toshimaen in Nerima, Tokyo, Japan. We began the day with a plaque presentation and almost an hour of ERT on the park’s coasters. We had about three hours in the park.   Cyclone (Togo, Steel, 1965) I was veryContinue reading “East Meets ACE – Part 3: Toshimaen”

East Meets ACE – Part 2: Tokyo Dome City / 東京ドームシティ After a bit of a drive we arrived at Tokyo Dome City in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan Sunday afternoon. Operating since 1958, this park is part of the huge Tokyo Dome development where Vanessa had gone to see the Tokyo Giants baseball team play theContinue reading “East Meets ACE – Part 2: Tokyo Dome City”