The Disney's world does not begin when guests arrive at entrance of Tokyo Disneyland... It starts when they arrive at JR Maiham station.
The Gateway would lead you to fantastic world. While you are walking on it, you realize that it has already started with the effect of Disney' s background music and Victorian architectures especially after you passed Bon Voyage.
Tokyo Disneyland gateway opened on Dec 1, 1988 when JR Maiham station opened. It was designed by Disney Imagineering and it connected JR Maiham Station and Tokyo Disneyland Main Entrance. The JR Maiham station side was extended later to Ikspiari for its opening.
There are total thirteen bronze figurines inside the clock tower (Mickey, Donald and Pluto) and at both side rails (the other characters). They were created at California and Florida 1985 through 1986. These Disney characters are also the important factors to lead you to the unreal world, Tokyo Disneyland.
Same bronze figurines are at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World and at Disneyland, but only Tokyo Disneyland Gateway has total 13 figurines.
Walt Disney World Bronze Figurines
Total eight figurines are at Central Plaza in Magic Kingdom.