Tokyo

You can’t visit Tokyo without a trip to Meiji Jingu, the most famous shrine in Japan. Here are some fun and interesting Meiji Jingu Trivia to inspire and challenge big and small minds alike.  To understand and associate with Japanese culture, you should definitely visit Meiji Jingu. Meiji Jingu was …

Try traveling on the Tokyo Water Bus (水上バス, Suijō Basu) for a fun and relaxing method of Tokyo travel.  If you are traveling to Odaiba, locations on the Bay in Minato-ku, or up the Sumida River to Asakusa, I recommend you try a Tokyo Water Bus especially between April – …

Nitori is the IKEA or Bed Bath & Beyond of Japan selling affordable furniture and interior goods.  Nitori is a nationwide chain with more than 300 stores throughout Japan and around 50 stores outside the country. It’s a great place to shop if you are setting up a home in Japan or if you want …

Setagaya Park Area with Kids Setagaya Park is one we frequent on our list of Top Recommended Playground Parks in Tokyo. They offer rides on a mini Steam Locomotive, free pedal-go-carts in a traffic park with working traffic signals, have 2 separate playgrounds equipped with swings, spring riders, slides, monkey bars …

Pintokona (ぴんとこな) kaiten sushi or conveyor belt sushi, offers delicious sushi in a family-friendly, non-smoking environment. Located in Roppongi Hills this is a great spot to grab lunch or dinner after a day of shopping, a visit to the Mori Art Museum, a movie at Toho Cinemas Roppongi Hills or a …

Here are our Top baby & kid-friendly Tokyo restaurants with play areas for ages 0 – 6 years. Looking for a great spot to relax at in Tokyo while the kids play? The temperatures are dropping and poor weather can make any family stuck indoors for too long scramble to the nearest …

Mikyou Yamanashi Wine Beef is highly rated beef in Yamanashi. It comes from cattle fed Yamanashi Grape Pomace. Pomace is the solid remains of grapes, olives, or other fruit after pressing it for juice or oil. It contains the skins, pulp, seeds, and stems of the fruit. The meat is …

Dirty Dishes is well known amongst the Tokyo & Yokohama expat community as the “Best” place to stock up on Japanese tableware. Dirty Dishes is a family owned dish trading company actually called Okuno Shokai located in a  sleepy residential area of Kawasaki, Kanagawa-ken. If you have a car and …

Crisscross, located in the heart of Omotesando, has a great ambiance and patio area. They serve breakfast from 8am with your option of rich buttermilk pancakes with your selection of sides, spicy chicken salad & avocado on rye toast, french toast or granola with Greek Yogurt and they serve brunch …

Odaiba is our favorite area to take kids and teens. It has a beach, grassy areas, lots of space, a number of attractions, family-friendly restaurants and malls. Here are our favorites; *** Tokyo One Day Itinerary: Odaiba with Kids *** Start your morning off at Bills Odaiba in the Decks Shopping Mall …

Start your morning by taking a stroll at Mohri Garden located near Asashi TV and the Roppongi Hills Arena. It`s a beautiful Japanese garden built around a pond with pink cherry blossoms in Spring, red maple leaves in Autumn and illuminations in Winter. Also a lovely place for photos. Address: 6-9 …

Legoland Japan is high on our list of TOP Theme Parks in Japan. Legoland Japan opened their first outdoor theme park for children aged 2 through 12 and their families in Nagoya 2017 and the Legoland Hotel and Sea Life in 2018. The park, built on 9 hectares, is filled …

We highly recommend a visit to Yamanashi Fuefukigawa Fruits Park when in Yamanashi. The highest point of the park gives spectacular views of Mount Fuji on a clear day, a beautiful night view of the Kofu Basin, and has a number of activities for families throughout the park. WHAT TO …

Eating Nagashi Somen is a summer tradition in Japan, and it’s often seen at festivals or in restaurants. What is Somen (素麺)? Somen are very thin, white noodles made from wheat flour usually served cold and accompanied by tsuyu or a dipping sauce made from soysauce and dashi. What is Nagashi Somen …

When my out of town friends with elementary and teenage eater ask me for Tokyo sushi recommendations, I always recommend Genki Sushi in Shibuya. Why? Simple it is decent quality, great entertainment, and super value. We all love being able to order just what we want, plus the fun of …

Yutenji Temple is holding their annual Yutenji Mitama Matsuri (祐天寺み魂まつり)  this week, July 16, 17 & 18, 2019. Parents and children from the neighboring kindergarten, participate by dancing in colourful yukatas every year. Grab lunch at Midorie Organic Cafe, stop by the Temple grounds late afternoon to learn about the …

Yamanashi Prefecture, home to Mount Fuji, is a beautiful area to camp and take in the fresh mountain air, soak in natural onsens, sip on the area wine and go fruit picking. We stayed in the Koshu area about an hour and a half drive from Tokyo (about an hour from Fujikawaguchiko) …

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku has one of the best views of Tokyo, and it is free (well Taxpayers are footing the bill). From Tokyo Tower on a clear day, you can see the fantastic size of Tokyo from Mt Fuji in the west, Tokyo Bay to the …

Myoukenzan Yutenji Temple is a Jodo (pure) Sect of Buddhism established about 300 years ago. The temple launched a free smartphone app, a bilingual (English and Japanese) video guide to the history and origins of the Temple buildings. Download the app, obtain an app map at the main temple office, …

Do you know about the Azabu Juban sculpture walk?  If you have ever walked down the main Azabu Juban shopping street, you probably have seen a few sculptures. However, did you know there are 16 sculptures that have been collected and installed in Azabu Juban since 1968. These sculptures are …

Three Twins Organic is a Californian-born ice cream shop that offers 11 different flavours of natural ice cream without artificial colourings, seasonings and preservatives. Popular flavors are Madagascar Vanilla, the sweet-and-sour blend of orange and chocolate named Chocolate Orange Confetti, and the San Francisco fave, Sea Salt Caramel. They also carry lemon cookie, mint …

Have a kid who love things that go? Trains, planes & cars we got you covered. Our sons were obsessed with transportation when they were 3-5 years olds so we have first hand experience at all of the recommended locations. Whether a museum, interactive experience or shopping all of our …

If you’re looking for a great place to meet up in Shibuya for breakfast or brunch, Hotel Koe Cafe is a great choice. We love that it opens at 7:30, which a big plus in the land of the late opening city of Tokyo. The café is on the first …

Check out our 2019 Tokyo Splash Parks and Wading Pool recommendations. A free or very inexpensive way to keep cool (er) in the sticky hot Japan summer. Most Tokyo area wading pools are open from July 1st through mid-September, although there are a few splash ponds that open in June. …

Zushi Beach Water Park is holding their 4th annual beach water park opening an inflatable water park at the beach now until Sunday, September 1, 2019. Zushi, close to Enoshima Islands and Caves (25 min by car), is a great day trip from Tokyo. It is the closest natural beach to …