Tokyo Day Trips

A beautiful autumn day so Baby and I headed out west to Tama Zoo. If you love animals and walking in the outdoors, you will love the Tama Zoo. Tama Zoo is huge at 129 acres (52H) which is about four times Ueno Zoo size. If you were to see …

Escape the city with these Top Recommended Family Friendly Day Trips from Tokyo. Do you have a day trip to recommend? Leave in the comments section below. 1. Little Edo Kawagoe –  30 minutes by train from Ikebukuro. The people of Kawagoe have preserved their city for all to experience the …

Late June to early September is blueberry picking season in Japan – so here are our recommended Tokyo Area Blueberry Picking Locations 2017.   We have chosen six gardens for great half-day or one-day trips; two in Chiba-ken, two in Saitama-ken and two in Kanagawa-ken. Many of these gardens run through September, …

Sanrio Puroland is an adorable indoor amusement park for Sanrio character fans, young children and adults who are kids at heart. You are surrounded by cute food and attractions, and dynamic, well-produced shows. We visited on a Friday and spent half a day exploring the various floor and attractions. Our …

Thomas Land is one of our favorite theme parks for young kids on our list of TOP Theme Parks in Japan. Thomas Land, in Yamanashi, Japan, is the world’s first Thomas & Friends Theme Park. Located a 1.5 hour drive from central Tokyo, and within the Fuji-Q Highland Theme Park, it`s a great …

One hour from central Tokyo you can ride the waves, smell the sea air and explore the Enoshima island and caves (江の島). A great day trip which can be combined with a trip to the Enoshima Aquarium. If you leave Tokyo early in the morning, you may be able to …

Iijima Flower Garden is a quaint farm centrally located in Kanagawa. They offer 30 minute all-you-can-eat strawberries that are pesticide-free. Picking is at ground or planter levels. They also offer 13 other types of fruits and vegetable picking over the year. Strawberries (Jan-May), Cabbage (Dec-May), Daikon (Nov-April), Carrots & Turnips (Nov-Mar), Sweet Potatoes …

From late December to late March is a great time for a family trip for strawberry picking in the Tokyo area. Here is our updated 2017 list of top strawberry picking gardens you can enjoy in the Tokyo area on a half-day or one-day trip. I have chosen six gardens; …

GALA Yuzawa Snow Resort is one of the most convenient snow resorts to visit with little ones outside Tokyo. It`s a 75-min shinkansen ride (Max-Tanigawa or the Tanigawa) from Tokyo station and the train drops you off right inside the base of the GALA Yuzawa Resort making it ultra convenient if traveling with small …

Sweet potato digging is an autumn tradition that all Japanese kindergarten and early elementary kids partake in October through December. In Japanese sweet potatoes are called “satsumaimo”. Enjoy a nice autumn day outside central Tokyo and go sweet potato digging. Below are five recommended locations to go Japanese sweet potato digging. …

Katsuyama Port Beach is a quiet beach located a 1.5 hour drive from central Tokyo. It has a good stretch of sand, a dock for fishing, a few cement breakers, clean shower / restroom facilities, and on a clear day, a view of Mt. Fuji. We took a day trip to …

Kart Racing at F-Dream Hiratsuka” (F.ドリーム平塚) is a great way to get your adrenaline pumping and test your kart racing skills. Located just an hour from Tokyo Roppongi Hills it`s a popular spot to unwind and compete with friends and family. F-Dream Hiratsuka karts run on a 200cc engine, and can go …

May and June are the most popular months of the year to go clam digging「潮干狩りshiohigari 」in Japan. I went clam digging in Egawakaikan Shiohigarijo in Kisarazu, Chiba with my airBNB guests yesterday and we had a blast. It took about one hour for each member to dig about 2 Kilos of …

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 …

The Railway Museum (鉄道博物館ミュージアム) is a great place to visit for families and railway enthusiasts rain or shine. Opened in late 2007 the museum features railway cars, train car simulators for would-be-train drivers, model dioramas, miniature trains, train rides, an outdoor playground and indoor playrail area, cafeteria, museum shop, train …

Katashina Kogen Ski Resort is perfect for young children completely new to skiing, and for parents who want to hit the slopes sans kids. They offer a popular snow kindergarten for kids from age 4, Junior Ski School for kids up to age 12, Miffy Kids Room & Day Care (ages …

Iijima Flower Garden is a quaint farm centrally located in Kanagawa. They offer 30 minute all-you-can-eat strawberries that are pesticide-free. Picking is at ground or planter levels. They also offer 13 other types of fruits and vegetable picking over the year. Strawberries (Jan-May), Cabbage (Dec-May), Daikon (Nov-April), Carrots & Turnips (Nov-Mar), Sweet Potatoes …

Celebrate Chinese New Year in Yokohama between February 8th – 22nd, 2016. Great fun and food! Yokohama has one of the largest Chinatowns in the world with over 140 years of history.  Although this is still quite new vs. Manila’s Chinatown established in 1590 or London’s in 1700.  Yokohama Chinatown …

From late December to late March is a great time for a family trip for strawberry picking in the Tokyo area. Here is our updated 2016 list of top strawberry picking gardens you can enjoy in the Tokyo area on a half-day or one-day trip. I have chosen six gardens; …

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 …

Zoorasia Japan is by far our most favourite zoo outside Tokyo. It`s more like a walking safari than a zoo. It`s spacious and beautifully maintained with a variety of animals from around the world. For 800 yen per adult, less than 500 yen for kids aged 18 yrs and under; and …

On our first visit to Kodomo no Kuni (Children`s Land) we explored the various rides and numerous playgrounds. On our second visit we BBQ`d, went on a pony ride, fed the cows and sheep, and explored the zoo.   Kodomo no Kuni makes BBQ-ing easy. They provide two sessions for BBQing (late morning and afternoon), rental …

We spent a lovely, long weekend in Atami on the Izu Peninsula with family visiting from the U.S.  Atami is a traditional and popular hot springs resort one to two hours outside Tokyo (depending on your method of transportation). We stayed at the Atami Juraku Hotel, a 3-minute walk from the station …

The rain was supposed to be very light/stop last Saturday so we checked the blueberry picking websites at 8am. Sayama Berry Land posted they were open for picking! The kids were ecstatic! We packed up the car, put the Sawaya phone number in the car navigation and headed out. We had …

Kodomo no Kuni is one of our favorite parks for young kids on our list of TOP Theme Parks in Japan. Kodomo no Kuni in Yokohama is a kids` paradise. It`s a 250 acre park with numerous activities and facilities that any child will enjoy. The popular attractions are a …