Tokugawa Village
Located on a massive “V”-shaped section of newly-reclaimed land next to Tokyo DisneySea is the newest addition to the Tokyo Disneyland Resort, Tokugawa Village. With direct covered pedestrian and moving sidewalk access from two multistory parking facilities and the Tokyo DisneySea Monorail Station, Tokugawa Village joins the family of Disney shopping and entertainment family as the most distinctive such facility anywhere. Replacing the Ikspiari Shopping Mall. Tokugawa Village succeeds in answering a debate that is often held when discussing these shopping and entertainment areas in Disney Resorts- are they shopping complexes or actually a form of theme park?
Tokugawa Village is both.
Tokugawa Village is inspired by the rich culture and heritage of the Japanese people and Japanese nation. It is what its name implies- a village, a traditional sixteenth-century Japanese fishing village surrounding Tokugawa Castle, which in itself is inspired by Edo Castle, the foundations of which still stand on the grounds of the Imperial Palace. Classic Japanese architectural facilities, homes and shops featuring structures of clean, simple design, appear to grow organically from the earth. Tranquil canals weave through the village and its gardens, offering peaceful boat rides and pleasant paths for strolling. Classically-designed Japanese gardens for peaceful relaxation and family-oriented amusements make Tokugawa Village easily the most beautiful shopping and entertainment complex ever created by the Disney Imagineers.
Tokugawa Village celebrates both the Japanese people and the four seasons that Japan not only enjoys but revels in. The village is divided into four areas, each themed around one of the four seasons that the Japanese people have learned to appreciate and treasure. A festival is being held in each part of the village, some outdoors to enjoy the natural beauty that Japan has been blessed with, while others are held in large indoor facilities to help create the perfect locations for a complete immersion of visitors into the celebrations.
When it came to building this new complex, several properties were discussed as shown on the map below. The Green Box is the upcoming DisneySea expansion, the upper Pink the current Ikispari location, and the rest potential locations. Ultimately the yellow plot was chosen, as it has the most land to develop into a must-do Tokyo item!
This is a general idea of Tokugawa Village. In the center lies Tokugawa Castle, and around it the four seasons: Spring (Green), Summer (Orange), Autumn (Yellow), and Winter (Blue). Summer and Winter are indoor lands to create a proper atmosphere in other seasons, while Spring and Autumn are outside relying on fake trees to create an eternal season.
This pedestrian bridge currently connects a large parking lot to the DisneySea gate. It will be expanded with this expansion to become a proper entryway to Tokugawa Village! Guests may rest at the village after a long, exhausting day at DisneySea. The primary entrance leads into the Spring area, around the enclosed Winter pavilion. The Autumn region also has an entrance.
This village is not locked into the past, though. While the physical design is aimed at creating the idea Japanese village of the sixteenth century, the shops and entertainments found inside are the perfect blend of traditional Japanese arts and crafts and the most modern state-of-the-art Japanese culture of the twenty-first century. Shops selling hand-made kimonos stand comfortably next to shops selling the latest smart phones and cutting-edge electronics. Hand-carved jade and hand-forged steel swords can be found in shops directly connected to those offering the latest fashions from some of Japan’s most popular fashion designers.
Tokugawa Village is Japan today. It is a carefully-crafted mix of the past, present and future. It is the grace and elegance of Japan’s past, the excitement of Japanese life today and the prospect of the Japanese people’s bright and innovative future. Tokugawa Castle, in the center of the village, stands as the anchor, the centerpiece of this vibrant, exciting yet comfortable village, a symbol of Japan’s rich heritage, a guardian of its artistic culture and a tribute to Japan’s reverence of where it came from and where it is headed into the future.
As you discover Tokugawa Village, take the time to slow down, stroll its streets, boat on its canals, smell the scents coming from the perfume shops and floral gardens, taste the treats being sold by street vendors and the classic Japanese cuisine found in its many restaurants. Look for the carefully-designed touches that make Tokugawa Village not a manufactured place, but a place that grew from the rich soil and rich heritage of Japan and its people. Look up at the breathtaking architecture of its castle and down at the carefully-created patterns in the pebbles found in the gardens.
Welcome to Tokugawa!
