T O K Y O C I T Y G U I D E
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SHORT CUTS
CAT AND MOUSE: Disneyland Tokyo is celebrating its 15th birthday this year by adding another member to its Japanese family. Construction began last month on Tokyo DisneySea, an ocean theme park slated to open in 2001. More than 2.6 million well-wishers paid Mickey a 75th birthday visit at his Tokyo home in July and August, boosting attendance figures over the previous summer's. Another cartoon cutie began nipping at Mickey & Co.'s heels in 1990, when Sanrio, the creators of Hello Kitty, built a rival theme park for the mouthless feline and her friends. Sanrio Puroland, an indoor park with a medieval castle, a forest and river boats, has been a hit with both locals and tourists (particularly those coming from China and Taiwan). The company now plans a Hello Kitty hotel to cater to the "Kittyra." Meanwhile, the competitors in Tokyo's family fun sweepstakes are keeping an eye on another upstart, joining their ranks next year. Toyota is hoping that big kids will be driven to head to its new 7.3-hectare park, featuring virtual reality exhibits and areas to test-drive new model cars.
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OFF THE SHELF
Purist that he is, the American-born writer Alex Kerr was reluctant to translate his original Japanese version of Lost Japan into English
WEB CR@WLING
Just click on the icons to navigate this user-friendly directory of what to see, what to eat and where to sleep in Tokyo
SHORT CUTS
Disneyland Tokyo is celebrating its 15th birthday this year by adding another member to its Japanese family, Tokyo DisneySea
DETOURS
Fuji National Park is a memorable side-trip from Tokyo
HOT TIP
There's more to Tokyo than what's new--the city is a treasure trove for those who love searching for second-hand bargains
MAIN FEATURE
Tokyo is still perceived as a pricey and potentially overwhelming destination by prospective visitors. Put those fears to rest--Japan's capital has much to offer outsiders
SEARCH TRAVEL WATCH
For previous articles on Japan
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