TOKYO

Check out our Tokyo Splash Parks and Wading Pool recommendations for 2021. Some of our recommended location are still closed but based on checking websites it seems the following are now open. A free or very inexpensive way to keep cool (er) in the sticky hot Japan summer. Most Tokyo …

Don’t let the fact that the Sunshine Aquarium is located on the top of a shopping center sway you from visiting. The Sunshine Aquarium (renovated in 2017) is a great city aquarium where kids and adults can view a variety of ocean and freshwater fish and aquatic mammals. The Sunshine …

Although Pokémon was invented in 1995, it continues to innovate and attract new fans who LOVE the Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo in Ikebukuro, Tokyo.  If you live in or are visiting Tokyo, you have to visit the Pokémon Center Mega Store at least once. I can assure you a gift …

Premarché Gelateria is celebrating its 3rd year anniversary this month (July 2021) stop in to enjoy the 40 different flavors of vegan, dairy or dairy-free gelato. The 40 flavors of tasty gelato made from natural ingredients without additives. The shop lets you taste up to 3 flavors before you decide. …

Frijoles is my teenagers favorite restaurant in Azabu. Frijoles, a casual cantina-style restaurant, serves up a small menu centered on soft tacos and burritos dressed with beans and guacamole, reminiscent of North America’s Chipotle restaurants. You can get steak, chicken or veggie with your choice of fillings. Nachos are extra …

Information：About reopening of free booking ticket acceptance   The schedule for accepting free booking tickets for admission after June 4, 2021 (Friday) is as follows. ・June 4th (Fri) -June 11th (Fri) Admission: June 2nd (Wed) Reception starts ・June 12th (Sat) -June 18th (Fri): Admission: June 5th (Sat) Reception starts ・June …

Kaikaya by the Sea is one of our favorite places to take visitors to Tokyo. They serve traditional Japanese seafood with a contemporary twist. It`s reasonably priced with a lively atmosphere and is always packed. I highly recommend the Maguro no Kama no Supearibu – House Special Tuna Spareribs. Reservations a …

Hamarikyu Garden Park (浜離宮恩賜庭園 Hama-rikyū Onshi Teien) is one of the largest and most diverse Japanese Garden Parks in central Tokyo. It is also one of the nine Metropolitan Cultural Heritage Gardens. Hamarikyu Garden Park is located on the original edge of Tokyo Bay in Chuo-ku (near Hamatsucho, Shinbashi, and Shiodome). …

Mikawadai Playground Park (港区立三河台公) is a clean and quiet sand park just a short walk from Roppongi Station and Tokyo Midtown. It a quaint spot to relax at while your young kids run around. Beautiful in Spring for their Yoshino Cherry Blossoms it`s a great spot to picnic away from …

The Hiroba at Crayon House offers a friendly, all-you-can-eat 90% Organic buffet serving soups, salads, vegetables, brown or semi-refined rice, pasta, tofu, mushrooms, seaweed, meat and fish.  It is located in the basement of the Crayon House Toy and Bookstore and includes a small shop with a variety of organic products. Great spot …

I highly recommend you visit the Edo-Tokyo Open-air Architectural Museum to see actual homes and businesses from the 1700’s to the early 1900’s preserved in a beautiful park. Unfortunately due to natural disasters, war and redevelopment much of Tokyo historical architecture has been erased, but at the Edo-Tokyo Open-air Architectural …

The Japan Folk Crafts Museum is a must-see in Tokyo. Not only due to the crafts it houses but the buildings themselves which have been recently renovated to their original glory.   The Japan Folk Crafts Museum is of Mingei style completed in 1936 built by carpenters from Tochigi prefecture. Ceramics, …

Asukayama Park not only has a great water area from early July to September,  but also has an old SL train and fun playground open all year round!  Take a picnic and enjoy the day outside.  Getting there is half the fun – ride the oldest streetcar in Tokyo 1913 – the Toden …

Nakameguro is a popular yet quiet residential neighborhood filled with unique boutique shops and cafe. The area comes alive with their Cherry Blossom festival along the Meguro River in mid spring and during their summer matsuri (festival). Wondering what to do for one day in Tokyo? Pick your favorite day …

If you are looking for that special Japanese antique piece for your home than head to Kofukuan Japanese Antique Shop. Although it is a bit of a hike (about 60 mins) from downtown Tokyo, you will not regret the effort. Kofukuan has the largest selection of Japanese antiques that I …

We love this quiet, residential area in Shibuya-ku. We often often spend our day in the Ebisu Station West Exit area then walk towards Daikanyama or the East Exit towards Ebisu Garden Place. Wondering what to do for one day in Tokyo? Pick your favorite day from our Tokyo one day …

The Kadokawa Culture Museum and new TeamLab exhibit opened on August 1, 2020. The Kadokawa Culture Museum designed by Kuma Kengo is part of a new development called Tokorozawa Sakura Town in Saitama. Kadokawa is one of the largest Japanese publishers in Japan producing books, magazines, anime, and movies. Tokorozawa is located …

The French Kitchen offers delicious breakfast, lunch and weekend brunch buffets, and is open all day, serving classic French dishes. The restaurant features an open kitchen, a bar, an outside terrace and the “Chef’s Table”, a private dining room equipped with its own kitchen that is ideal for special dinners, …

The Fukagawa-Edo Museum (Koto-ku, Tokyo) is a very hands-on gem of a museum in Tokyo to visit for 1-2 hours. The Fukagawa-Edo Museum is a large hall with about 12 Edo-period houses reconstructed in a village environment. The hall is very compact, and the lighting switches from night to day so you feel …

If you have 3-5 days to spend in Tokyo, we highly recommend this one-day itinerary for Tokyo One Day with Kids – Shibuya, Harajuku, Omotesando, and Aoyama areas. The Shibuya, Harajuku, Omotesando and Aoyama area is a great place to see the modern, hip fashion and entertainment side of Tokyo …

Setagaya Park area with kids is a blast. The park 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 and sandpit, and a children-sized shanty town where they can make bread, …

If you love history and are planning a trip to Yokohama, please visit the Japanese Overseas Migration Museum. This museum is a hidden gem. I learned so much about a topic I knew nothing, and there is no cost of admission. Over 25 million Japanese have migrated overseas since the …

**Presently closed due to COVID precautions.   If you have a Samurai or history buff in your family, you will enjoy a visit to the boutique Samurai Museum in Shinjuku, Tokyo. The museum although quite small is filled with Samurai artifacts, a live action show on Samurai sword skills and …

Tomica (トミカ) is the line of die-cast toy vehicles produced since 1970 by Takara Tomy Co. of Japan which can be purchases at Tomica Specialty Shops (Marunouchi & Sumida, Tokyo). It`s a favorite in our home and among boys in Japan two to seven years of age. You can find Tomica …

If you`re looking for a good, solid burger stop by Kua Aina. Originally from Hawaii, their light wooden interior, island music and colorful Hawaiin goods adorning the walls makes you feel like you walked into a burger joint on the island. Their large hamburger patties, seasoned with the owner`s original and secret spices …