TOKYO

Nestled along the Meguro River sits the Nakameguro Peanuts Cafe – a lofty and bright cafe themed around Snoopy and the Peanuts gang. Patrons are welcomed to the 1st floor dining area filled with natural light, fresh green plants and walls lined with Peanuts original and limited-edition merchandise. The second …

The 3rd floor of Nakameguro Square Playroom provides an infant and kids playroom, toys, books and gameboards, including a day care for children. It is a great place to meet up with friends for a playdate. Free of charge. Nakameguro Square Playroom Playroom Hours: Monday – Friday 9:00 – 18:00, …

*** CLOSED on December 31st, 2018 *** Please visit their Tokyo locations in Akasaka & Shinjuku.  Ninja Kyoto Restaurant and Labyrinth is the perfect place for dining entertainment and ninja fans. The restaurant is designed as a dark labyrinth staffed with multilingual ninja warriors. Patrons have the option to dine …

January to late March is a great time for a family trip for strawberry picking in the Tokyo area. Here is our updated 2020 list of top strawberry picking gardens you can enjoy in the Tokyo area on a half-day or one-day trip. We have chosen four gardens; two in …

Biking is the easiest and most economical way to get around Kyoto, so don’t delay rent a bike today from J-Cycle Kyoto Bicycle rental. They have simple single gear to electrically assisted with and without child seats. A great bike rental service who will provide you with helmets, phone holders, …

If you are a bargain shopper, Ameyokocho is a must visit in Tokyo. We visited yesterday, and it was crazy busy with shoppers negotiating deals on crab, tuna, sneakers and bags. My favorite items to buy in Ameyokocho are nuts, dried beans and spices that are much cheaper than in …

Hotel MYSTAYS Otemae is a great place to stay for family travelers. This hotel conversion offers a variety of clean and spacious rooms to chose from – most equipped with their own separate kitchen. The rooms are reasonably priced and sleep two to up to seven adults. They provide a stocked kitchen and an …

** 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 …

Cuoca is a one-stop shop for baking supplies that aren’t always easy to find. Their stores are stocked high with everything from baking inserts and pans to sprinkles and toppers. They carry pastry tips and icing for making more detailed desserts, a variety of high-quality flours, nuts, dried fruits, liqueur …

The TY Harbor Brewery Restaurant in Shingawa is a popular date spot and family-friendly. Located in the Tennoz area TY Harbor opens daily from 11:30am serving traditional American cuisine with soup and salad sets and vegetarian meals as well. Their non-smoking restaurant with in-house brewed craft beers and seasonal spirits are a …

I have been a customer of Takumi craft store (たくみ）for over 25 years! Seemed like a long time, but when I recently went in to visit and asked how long they have been in business the answer was 80 years. Takumi may be the longest surviving Japanese craft store in …

Umekoji Park is a large park frequented by locals and tourists. It`s situated between the Kyoto Railway Museum and the Kyoto Aquarium and holds a beautiful Japanese Garden and 6m tall waterfall, lush greenery and beautiful walking paths, an open space for ball games and kite flying, man-made streams and ponds, a small cafe …

Rin 8890 is one of my favourite Japanese craft boutiques in Tokyo. If you are looking for utilitarian items with great style, this is a one-stop store. Although the store’s space is small, you are sure to find something that you “must” have. Rin 8890 Best Living Japan. Rin, also, …

Tiger Gyoza in Hiroo is an inexpensive but yummy restaurant to have a quick lunch or dinner. The speciality is gyoza (dumplings/pot stickers) both fried and boiled.  Tiger Gyoza is a chain with locations in Shibuya, Akasaka and many other locals around Tokyo, but we frequent the one in Hiroo. …

French food to me is synonymous to fresh ingredients and meticulous preparation, so the Picard Frozen Food Grocery Store openings around Tokyo were a bit of a surprise. Everything in the stores is frozen! If you are a busy family, the Picard store is a dream come true. We bought …

Have you discovered Shimokitazawa in Tokyo? Shimokitazawa is a charming coffee filled Tokyo neighbourhood! Discover Shimokitazawa Like its location just outside the Yamanote line circle, Shimokitazawa tends to fall just out of the view of international residents living in central Tokyo. Yet the neighborhood, which is just 7 minutes from Shinjuku …

AsoBuild Yokohama an entertainment facility for all ages. Located in the Renovated Yokohama Post Office Annex the building holds a a variety of food shops: The Unko Museum (now open until September 30, 2019), Escape from The NINE ROOMS and VR game, Puchu! Indoor Kids Park, Handmade goods floor and …

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 …

Tsutaya Electrics in Futakotamagawa is my favorite place to sit back, relax and enjoy a good book with or without the kids while browsing their art, appliances, and home space. Located near the creative DIY Factory where you can learn, make, buy DIY products; the 100 Spoons Family Restaurant, Futakotamaga Park, Japanese …

If you are looking for a family-friendly hotel in central Kyoto, we highly recommend the Kyoto MYSTAYS Hotel. Kyoto is a magnificent historic city, but the hotels are expensive making it hard for families with kids to find great options. The Kyoto MYSTAYS Hotel checked all our boxes – great …

Kimukatsu is a popular tonkatsu (pork cutlet) restaurant in Japan serving high quality pork thinly sliced and stacked into 25 layers. It is then covered with fresh breadcrumbs and fried slowly in low temperature for 8 minutes resulting in a deliciously crunchy and tender mille feuille type of pork cutlet. We …

J.S. Pancake Cafe (ジェイエス パンケーキカフェ) serves delicious and filling brunch all day every day. J.S. Pancake Cafe is owned by the Japanese casual clothing brand, Journal Standard, and specializes in savory and sweet pancakes. They have twelve locations in Japan including two in Tokyo and one in Yokohama. We stopped in at the Tennoji location in the Mio …