ATTRACTIONS IN JAPAN

Tokyo has plenty of fun places open over the New Year holidays. Check out our recommended Top 25 Tokyo New Year Family Fun Spots open Dec 31 – Jan 2. Happy New Year! Besides the recommenced “open on New Years” spots below, most shopping malls are open now on Jan …

Dear Curious and Creative, I love 100 yen stores in Japan. Most have a whole wall of holiday decorations for sale this time of year.  Here are instructions on how to make a holiday door hanging.  Yesterday, I picked up some items to make this holiday door hanging for our …

** Space Joy CLOSED it`s doors after 7 years of service in MAY 2016 ** Space Joy (スペースジョイ) Jiyugaoka is the perfect place to have a meal while your little ones play. The main floor is a dining cafe (patio dining is available on nice weather days), the 2nd floor is …

Mother Farm in Chiba is a great day trip from Tokyo if you are looking for open space, farm animals, fruit and veggie picking and small amusement rides. It is also dog-friendly so bring pooch along. The farm is located about a 60-90 min drive from central Tokyo via the …

Here are our recommendations for the Top Tokyo Ice Skating Rinks Winter 2019 – 2020. Check out the 15 recommended locations below with open dates, times and fees. Embrace the season and enjoy the seasonal outdoor rinks during the winter months, and if the love of skating hits you can …

Had a great morning yesterday with a friend making 100 yen craft Calendar and Notebooks. These are great little gifts that anyone can make! Your local 100 yen store presently have a wide selection of calendar and notebooks which can be dressed-up and transferred in creative masterpieces. All the decorative tapes, …

With four kids and a dog I have a lot of people to thank this year. I think this 100 yen store craft – mikan wreath –  is a healthy alternative to cookies and candies. Love the colours, and the fact that the mikans (clementines or tangerines) are in season now …

Had a fantastic time at LUSH Shinjuku’s “Lush Party” where kids, and adults, can experience making fresh handmade bath bars or experience skin care for your skin with the LUSH staff who can instruct you on how the high-quality and natural ingredients work.  If you are looking for other places …

Helianthus baby wear and infant-friendly cafe is a great spot for parents to chat, have a meal and read a magazine while your little ones explore their play den (for infants and toddlers only). They serve a simple lunch menu with sandwiches, curry, drinks, spirit and desserts for a very low …

I grew up on a farm with constant outdoor action, so when I heard about  Tokyo mud parks, I was thrilled. Here are our top Tokyo “Mud Parks” – Where Kids Play Dirty! If you have other similar parks to add, please comment below we are always looking for hands-on …

Tokyo can be expensive if you have multiple children, but take heart there are some amazing attractions that are awesomely free. Check out our Top Tokyo Free Kids Attractions for Kids Elementary and Younger. Kids under four years are usually free at most locations, but the list below is free …

Tokyo can be expensive if you have multiple children, but take heart there are some amazing attractions that are awesomely free.  Kids under four years are usually free at most locations, but the list below includes free locations for elementary school age kids and some for junior and senior high …

Want a fun craft you can do year round with the kids? Or the perfect kids` handmade paper gifts for friends and family? Try Paper Quilling! Paper Quilling or Paper Filigree is the art of shaping rolled paper into decorative shapes that can be glued together. It’s fun, and it helps …

Bunkyo City International Exchange Group is offering a free English guided tour of the University of Tokyo; renowned for its academic excellence, and the oldest national university in Japan. Visit “Akamon” (the red gate) constructed in 1827 and enjoy viewing yellow Ginkgo tree leaves at the University of Tokyo campus. …

The Teien Museum is a perfectly preserved residence, now museum,  from the 1930’s. The museum has been closed for the past seven months due to retrofit for handicap users. The new exhibit is “Decoration never dies, anyway” which runs until February 25th, 2018. The Teien Museum, built in 1933, was …

Bunkyo City International Exchange Group is offering a free English guided tour of the Ochanomizu Origami Kaikan (Origami Center) and the Yushima-tenmangu Shrine (Yushima Tenjin). The Origami Center is the birthplace of “origami”, established in 1859. Visit many outstanding origami creations and fantastic demonstrations. The Yushima Tenmangu Shrine (commonly called …

Roppongi Nishi Park (立六本木西公園) is a new playground park nestled in the backstreets of Roppongi between the popular Roppongi Hills Slide Park, Robot Park and Hinokicho Park at Tokyo Midtown. This new sand park is perfect for beginner walkers up to preschool-aged kids. It has a nice open space, various plants and …

Hanegi Park (羽根木公園) in Setagaya-Ku is one of the best kids parks in Tokyo. A great place for kids to enjoy the playground, maze, and hands-on “dirt park.”  This park allows for kids to be kids, experiment a bit with “dangerous” tools and get dirty….just be kids.  Expect to spend a …

The Shibuya Scramble Square opened on November 1st, 2019, making it now the tallest building in the Shibuya area. We are really excited about this new addition to Shibuya because it sits right on top of Shibuya station which is super convenient if you want to meet friends or shop …

Right in the heart of Tokyo is a free and convenient play space called Akasaka Kids-Teens Hall Nandemo  (港区立赤坂子ども中高生プラザ ) where you can drop in for a few hours and enjoy the kids letting off steam. We love visiting local public community centers such as Akasaka Kids-Teens Hall Nandemo because …

Don’t let you kids drive you crazy in the cold weather this winter. Take them to PEKIDS Climbing Center in Shibuya or Spider in Minami Azabu to climb the walls for a few hours. I took Baby (age 3.5 years) the other day to PEKIDS and she loved the challenge.  The PEKIDS Climbing Center …

Skip Kids Cafe is a great venue to celebrate your toddlers birthday, throw events or have a casual meet-up with parents and kids (0 – 6 yrs old). Seating is plentiful, they have separate areas for babies, toddlers and preschoolers, and the staff members, which include nursery teachers licensed to …

Late October – November is a great time to visit the Tsukuihama Tourist Farm (津久井浜観光農園) in Yokosuka. You can dig for sweet potatoes then pick mikans all in one trip! The farm also offers strawberry picking from January to May and potato digging from May to June. Sweet potato season starts from September …

We visited Universal Studios Japan in Osaka during Halloween month and loved it! Now added to our list of TOP Theme Parks in Japan and Osaka with Kids Itinerary here are our TIPS to enjoy your visit. Universal Studios Osaka is a character theme park with a collection of exciting entertainment …

*** 2019 UPDATE: Amazing World FUNABASHI has closed it`s doors *** Amazing World is an indoor play center for kids ages 0 to 12 years. Amazing World branches are located inside malls so it`s a great place to stop in between shopping, a meal or both. Stop in for an …