What’s Edo Wonderland Like? 🇯🇵 Tokyo Day Trip with Japanese Locals

What’s Edo Wonderland Like? 🇯🇵 Tokyo Day Trip with Japanese Locals

Right now, I’m in Nikko. Starting today, I’ll be here for one night and two days. I’m here with Misa-chan and one of her followers—just the three of us. We’re doing a little tour in Nikko, so we’re staying overnight. Right now it’s 4:55 PM on Sunday. Tomorrow, the three of us are going to Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura, and we plan to try on various costumes! So for today, I’m heading to the hotel, where I’ll meet up with Misa-chan, and I think we’ll probably do something together after that. That’s the plan— this is going to be a collab video with Misa-chan. Yup! So with Misa-chan… How long has it been? The last time I saw her was probably… Eh!? We didn’t film it, but actually— we just saw each other two days ago! So it’s only been two days! Still, I’m really looking forward to seeing her again. Anyway, I’m in Nikko now, and it’s actually quite cool here. Maybe it’s because it’s more mountainous than the Kanto area— the humidity is lower too, so it feels really nice and cool. Right now, I’m walking around looking for a good spot to film some trains. I’m going to go scout one out! On the right here, you can see the Nikko Station Hotel Classic— that’s the hotel Misa-chan and I are staying at tonight. I’ll go inside later and show you around, but for now I’m focused on finding a good train spot, so I’m going to walk past for the time being. A moment ago I was at the Tobu Nikko Station, but— this here is the JR Nikko Station. Heave-ho… It has such an old-fashioned exterior! I have no idea where the good train photo spots are— seriously, no clue, but I’m just walking this way and hoping I’ll find one. That’s what I’m doing now. So actually— I already took a bath and feel totally refreshed. Let me show you a quick room tour. Misa-chan hasn’t arrived yet—she’ll be here in about an hour. I got super sweaty and thought there’s no way I can meet her like this, so— I took a bath… Well, not just a bath—a hot spring! The hotel has one, so I used it. Now I feel amazing! So let me give you a little tour of the room. Ta-da! And the bed is… a double bed, which I’ll be sharing with Misa-chan! We’ll be sleeping together tonight—yay! Yaaay! I feel so lucky! And also— the view from here is amazing. Well… actually, wait—I can’t… I can’t show you very well, but there are mountains in the distance. Really, this… Station Hotel Classic is such a nice place— it’s right in front of the station, quiet, and really lovely. But the best part, honestly, is that it has a hot spring. And— they gave me this little voucher thing. So this time— my follower actually booked us a plan with breakfast included, so tomorrow morning we can have breakfast at the restaurant on the first floor. Also, there’s a lounge here, so I want to check it out before Misa-chan arrives. The lounge is open from 3 PM to 10 PM, and they have tea, coffee, and more— just some light drinks, I think. So while I wait for Misa-chan, I think I’ll go relax there for a bit. And also— here are the slippers, yep. And this is the room loungewear. This is the bathroom area. It feels really clean and neat. It looks like this. What I’m most excited about— is definitely the hot spring. I mean, the in-room bath— honestly, I don’t care much about that. But having a public hot spring to soak in is just the best. And since it felt almost like a private bath— it really was perfect. Absolutely perfect! So now I’m going to head over to the lounge and take a little break. I think I haven’t had anything to drink for like two hours, so I need something—seriously! I’ve made it to the lounge—wow! This lounge is on the first floor of the hotel. There’s no one else here, it’s all mine. There are big windows, so it feels really open and airy♪ It’s a pretty big restaurant, actually—the lounge is next to the breakfast dining area. Hmm, what should I get? Green tea, coffee, black tea, oolong tea… They also have cold water. I think I’ll start with some cold water. I was so thirsty—I just chugged it! I think I’ll have one more cup. Next up, I’ll go for green tea. Drinking green tea right after a bath—it’s the absolute best. The sky is insanely beautiful right now, so I want to show you all. I just realized something—since I just took a bath, I’m basically not wearing any makeup. Uhh, what do I do!? I’ve got to fix myself up before Misa-chan gets here. It’s so beautiful. Look at that—so stunning. Being surrounded by nature like this… It’s really healing. It’s so different from Kamakura in a way. Kamakura has nature too, but Nikko has so much more. I’m honestly blown away by the beauty of Nikko’s nature. Alright, I’m going to head back to the room and just chill out for a bit. We’ve come down for breakfast~ And finally, Misa-chan makes her first appearance in this video! (lol) Itadakimasu~ What’s that, Misa-chan? YouTube? YouTube? Nooo lol Oh, this!? This. Uhh… apple cider vinegar? With mango? And curry rice. Salad. Yogurt. Soup. Yay! And coffee. Looks delicious! Yay! Let’s enjoy it! We kinda have to eat quickly—we’re running a little late! Itadakimasu! That timing was perfect. Right on time! And today’s special guests— Karl-san, and Misa-chan! From Nikko Station, it took about 30 minutes by taxi to get to Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura! (There’s also a free shuttle bus, so we recommend that!) Good morning~ Good morning~ Thank you for the warm welcome! At Edo Wonderland, the cast members play the roles of townspeople from the Edo period and interact with you in character. It was so realistic—I was amazed by how authentic it felt. Now, at Edo Wonderland, you can dress up in Edo-era costumes, and we were trying to decide which costume to wear. Besides regular kimono, there are options like samurai and townswomen— lots of fun costumes you don’t get to wear in everyday life! We’ll show you what we chose to wear a little later—stay tuned! There’s also an Edo-style photo studio here, where you can have commemorative photos taken. The camera looked so old-fashioned, like something straight from the Edo period. You can take the photos home with you if you pay a little extra. We talked about taking a “before” shot in our regular clothes, and an “after” shot in costume. Such a nice photo ☺️ (Staff) That will be 1,600 ryō for one print. Wow, look at that calculator! (It’s made of wood!) (Staff) This is the envelope for your photo. Looks so old-fashioned! Just like the Edo period. It wasn’t an abacus after all! lol (Staff) Some people don’t know how to use an abacus, so… So, after buying our photo— we kept walking and came across a costume shop. (Staff) Here’s our costume list—please take a look. Wow, there are so many choices! It’s hard to pick. (Staff) Please be careful on patrol! Okay, thank you! (Staff) Stay safe! The three of us dressed up as the Shinsengumi! Yay! Draw your swords! Shing! So cool. Now, for those of you unfamiliar with the Shinsengumi— they were a special police force during the final years of the Edo period, maintaining peace in Kyoto on behalf of the shogunate. Shall we patrol Edo now? Yes, let’s go on patrol! Thank you for your service! Much appreciated. What should I say back? He said “Thanks for your service,” so… Say “Mmm!” Mmm!! Anything suspicious? Ah—uh oh! Nope, thanks to you, everything’s safe and sound. Glad to hear it. No thieves around? All clear! Not really anything here that would be worth stealing, honestly. Hey, rude! The shop on the left is Echi-goya, known for scamming people. It’s run by one of Japan’s worst villains. So be on your guard! When you’re dressed like the Shinsengumi like this, people around town will greet you with a friendly “Thanks for your service!” It’s so funny! LOL Ah! It’s the Shinsengumi! Comrades! Ohhhh!! Amazing. We found our crew! We found fellow warriors! LOL Good morning to you! Good morning to you too! This is so much fun. (Shinsengumi) The water performance will begin soon! (Misa-chan) I want to see the water performance, for sure! Wow! (Misa-chan) Do you think we’ll make it? (Shinsengumi) You’ve still got time! (Shinsengumi) It won’t start for another five minutes or so. Let’s hurry! Thank you so much! Enjoy the show! So cool! (Shinsengumi) We’re searching for thieves! Thieves!? (Shinsengumi) They’re rumored to be lurking nearby. (Shinsengumi) We received word that the thief fled somewhere around here! (Shinsengumi) Search every corner! Thank you! Thanks! (Shinsengumi) Not yet… not yet! Not yet!? LOL Wait—something’s happening! They’re fighting!! Ahhhh!!! (Shinsengumi) You there! (Shinsengumi) We’ve got you surrounded! (Shinsengumi) ——— (unintelligible) (Thief) You think I’m just gonna sit still like an idiot!? (Thief) If you want to catch me, then do it with your own strength! (Shinsengumi) The surrounding Shinsengumi will take him down! (Shinsengumi) Everyone, move in! So cool! (Thief) I’m not about to get caught here! (Misa-chan) Should we fight!? Us too!? Should we draw our swords? LOL Misa-chan, run!! LOL Oh no no no! Ahhh! Whoa—amazing! (Shinsengumi) Thanks to everyone, we safely captured him! Round of applause!! (Shinsengumi) You may now take a photo with us if you wish! Ahh!! I want one!!! Yes! I’d love to! (Shinsengumi) Alright then, please come this way. (Shinsengumi) And please hand us your camera. Next up, we visited the Water Magic Show! It was a performance that mixed Edo-style flair with magic tricks. It was actually pretty entertaining! At the end of the show, as a tip, people toss “ohineri”—small money offerings wrapped in paper—onto the stage. Thank you for the show! Great performance! Excuse me, sir in the middle—may I? Your outfit’s gotten a bit loose… (The cast member kindly helped adjust the kimono.) The next performance at Minamimachi Magistrate’s Office will begin soon. Thank you for letting us know! The magistrate? Yes, that’s right! Thanks! Enjoy the show! Wow, I didn’t expect there to be this many performances! So fun! But also tricky! The next performance is at a place called Minamimachi Bugyōsho (Magistrate’s Office), so the three of us are heading there now. That food looks delicious… There are lots of food stands and casual eateries throughout the park. You can enjoy foods with an Edo vibe—like yakisoba and ramune. Thank you for your service! (Townsfolk) Take care! We heard the show at the Minamimachi Magistrate’s Office is especially good, so we’re heading in with high expectations. (Random person) Wait—what does the Shinsengumi have to do with the magistrate’s office? Honestly, the Shinsengumi costume really stands out—definitely recommend it! And now, the next show has begun! And so, ladies and gentlemen— Thank you so much for coming this early despite the less-than-perfect weather. We truly appreciate it. It looks like the story is about the magistrate solving a string of
disappearances involving young women in town. Apparently, they’ve been kidnapped and sold to brothels— so it actually teaches you a bit of history too. Very educational! There was also a part during the show where they interacted with the audience, which made the atmosphere really friendly and relaxed. And then, suddenly… Whaaaaat!? 😳 Yuri-chan got randomly picked and called up on stage!! 😂 The Minamimachi Magistrate show was honestly super fun! Afterward, we were hungry, so the three of us grabbed some snacks. Is it good? It looks amazing, wow! Yeah yeah yeah! Total win! We ordered “mochi frankfurters.” Itadakimasu~ Does it stretch a little?? It felt like Edo-period junk food—so good!!! Misa-chan ordered the same one, too. After snacks, we headed to the Ninja House to watch a show. Unfortunately, the ninja show didn’t allow filming, so we can’t show you… But it was really great!!! Time for lunch now! Karl-san ordered gyū-suji meshi (beef tendon rice). So, what was your favorite part? For me, it was just walking through the Edo-style town and meeting people. The magistrate show was great, too. All the shows were really good, honestly. Which one was your top favorite? The ninja show was super cool. I really liked the water performance too! Yeah! Totally agree. Hmm… which one was mine? Ah, here it comes! Karl’s gyū-suji meshi just arrived. And mine—yuba-meshi (tofu skin rice)—is here too! Wow, it looks delicious! There’s wasabi right in the middle! Please enjoy your meal! This is made with Hatcho miso. A miso that Tokugawa Ieyasu loved. He was a big fan of strong, rich flavors like this. I’m excited to eat! (Explaining again for Misa-chan) Do you know Hatcho miso? It’s kind of like aka-dashi (red miso soup). Mmm, so good. Ah—you’re right! This is amazing. Delicious! This is yuba-don (tofu skin rice bowl). Yuba is like tofu, so it’s something even vegans can eat. It’s a great option if you’re plant-based! Yuba is a specialty product of the Nikko area—highly recommended! By the way, this here is called tamari-zuke, another local Nikko specialty. We had some time before the next show, so we came to make our own senbei (rice crackers)! An elderly lady helped us count from 1 to 5. (Grandma) Are you done filming? (Pressure intensifies) Misa-chan and I quickly rushed to start grilling our senbei (rice crackers). They were hot, but we pressed on and grilled our senbei! We flipped them over one at a time. They’re starting to get nice and golden! Is this one done already?? A little bit more! Now it’s Misa-chan’s turn to brush on soy sauce. And I was finally allowed to brush on soy sauce too. Yes, ma’am. I’m sorry! (Grandma) It’s all good! Thank you so much! Whoa, amazing. It’s really hot! It’s not even a hot day! (Grandma) Okay—Soy Sauce, DRY! Now we’re drying the soy sauce on the crackers. It started as a pale white disc, but look at it now! It looks amazing. We wrapped them up in paper. Whew, that was hot. Yeah, that was pretty intense. Now we’re walking with our freshly made senbei in hand. Wow!! I started eating before even saying Itadakimasu lol Itadakimasu! How is it? Looks like Karl-san liked it too! (Misa-chan) How about you, Yuri-chan? It’s delicious! Because I made it myself! Now, the Oiran Dōchū parade is about to begin. It had been raining all day, but right before the parade, the skies cleared up! Is it starting now? The Oiran parade? Yes! Oiran Parade! We’re going to watch it! So what is the Oiran Dōchū, you ask? In the Edo period red-light districts, especially in Yoshiwara, high-ranking courtesans called oiran would make these formal, ceremonial processions when going to meet their clients. It wasn’t just about getting from one place to another—it was a performance, showing off the oiran’s rank and elegance. They wore tall three-toothed geta sandals and walked in a distinctive figure-eight pattern. In fact, the red-light districts were created in response to a serious social issue: the lack of women in Edo. Like in the magistrate play earlier, many girls were kidnapped and sold into prostitution. The rise of illegal brothels and bathhouses led to a decline in public morals, so the government legalized only official courtesans to shut down shady, unlicensed establishments. Even today, the adult industry still exists in Japan, but some say that system has helped reduce sexual crimes against women not working in nightlife. Anyway—back to the parade. The oiran were absolutely stunning! It was my first time seeing an oiran in person, and it was such a unique experience. Karl-san ordered us some tea. We got warm hojicha with anmitsu and matcha ice cream. A peek…? How does it taste? (Karl-san) It’s delicious! I’m going to try it too. (Karl-san) Sweet potato. Ahhh! Karl-san’s favorite! These tiny dumplings were super tasty too. Misa-chan is pouring kuromitsu syrup. Syrup? 😄 I’ll pour some on mine too. Compared to Western desserts, anmitsu is way healthier. It was so hot outside, so this ice cream was perfect. After taking a break in this café, we headed to the final oiran performance. In front of you today, I have the honor of being your host and guide. My name is Ippachi, the taikomochi (traditional male entertainer). Thank you very much for your attention and support. And now—the oiran is about to appear! These young girls are known as shiranui, apprentices training to become courtesans. The oiran was absolutely breathtaking!!! I’m so glad I got to visit Edo Wonderland Nikko with Karl and Misa-chan. We’ve already promised to come again next year! If any of my followers want to join, let’s go on a tour together! Thanks so much for watching all the way to the end. See you again in the next video! Bye, everyone! Time to change and head home now~~

🎌 A Unique Day Trip from Tokyo!
Join us as we travel just 2 hours from Tokyo to explore Edo Wonderland Nikko — a historical theme park where you can experience life in samurai-era Japan! 🏯✨

In this video, two Japanese girls and an American tourist dive into the world of ninjas, geishas, and ancient towns. From fun performances to traditional street food, it’s a cultural adventure you won’t want to miss!

📍 Location: Edo Wonderland (日光江戸村), Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture
🚃 Just 2 hours from Tokyo by train
💡 Great for history lovers, families, and anyone looking for a unique Japan experience!

Here is Misa’s Channel☺️
@Japanese_girl_Misa

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