How To [vil-helm] #162: 02-22-2026

Disneyland, but Make It Japan

We loved Japan. We really did. The order. The people. The quiet respect that somehow makes everything feel calmer and more intentional. The food that tastes like it was prepared by someone who truly cares about your emotional well-being. But then… we also loved Disneyland Sea.

While in Tokyo, we visited Tokyo DisneySea, which turned out to be one of the most magical and unexpected highlights of our trip. Damian had never been to a Disneyland park before — shocking, I know — and for Christmas, he gifted Alyce and me tickets. Each Disneyland park around the world carries its familiar magic, but Tokyo’s DisneySea offers something different. It feels more immersive, more detailed, more intentional. If we were going to do Disney, we were going to do it à la Japan.

It was also perfect for Alyce. Plenty of toddler-friendly rides, bright colors, gentle adventures, and just enough excitement to make her feel like she was at the center of something extraordinary. And yes, at two years old, she went on her very first rollercoaster. She screamed — not in fear, but in pure delight — while I briefly questioned whether we had created a thrill-seeking monster.

But before any rides, Damian had his own discovery to make. From his festival days, Damian owns boxes full of costumes and accessories, and when we stood in line and saw how everyone in Japan fully commits to Disney style, his eyes lit up. And then immediately dimmed when he realized he had brought nothing. This was quickly corrected. Our first stop inside the park was the merch shop, where he tried on hat after hat before settling on a green bob that somehow made him look both adventurous and deeply pleased with himself. I joined him with a Mickey-ear bob, and Alyce, naturally, received cat ears, which she wore like a tiny, confident ruler of the park.

But the true turning point came when Damian found the Baymax bag. Soft, round, impossibly cute, and most importantly, spacious. He bought it “just for the day.” Within minutes, the first plushie went in. Then another. Then another. Every time we passed a shop, he would spot one and say, “This one has personality.” Soon, the Baymax bag began to swell, slowly transforming from accessory to responsibility. At one point, he looked at it, laughed, and said, “One day in Japan and I already have a Baymax bag full of plushies.” There was pride in his voice. And absolutely no intention of stopping. By mid-afternoon, Baymax himself appeared emotionally burdened by the weight of his new plushie family.

Somewhere between plushie acquisitions, we also discovered one of the most viral desserts in the park — the famous green mochis, shaped like tiny aliens and filled with coffee cream, strawberry, or chocolate. Naturally, I ordered some. And by “some,” I mean enough to feed a small delegation. They were soft, delicate, and absolutely delicious. We ate them slowly, sitting down for a rare quiet moment while Alyce inspected each one with scientific seriousness before approving it.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of rides, laughter, snacks, and small magical moments. Alyce explored Mermaid Lagoon like it had been designed exclusively for her. Damian continued expanding Baymax’s emotional support circle. And I watched it all unfold, grateful for this unexpected pocket of joy in the middle of Japan.

By the end of the day, we were exhausted. The kind of exhaustion that comes from walking all day, carrying a toddler, managing plushie logistics, and fully committing to the experience. But we loved every second of it. Japan had already given us so much — beauty, calm, wonder — and DisneySea simply added another layer to the story.

Disneyland… à la Japan.