The Todoroki Ravine Park (等々力渓谷公園) is a perfect paradise for families looking for a bit of green trekking in the Tokyo. The Park is a little over 1 kilometer in length and runs along Yazawagawa (谷沢川). Kids will enjoy collecting sticks and jumping on rocks as parents relax in the quiet …

Kodomo no Hiroba Park (子供広場公園) is a large, sand park with plenty of space to run around. Located near the popular Setagaya Park it has a long splash river, three different structures to climb, and plenty of shaded areas to protect you and the little ones from the hot summer sun. Find the elderly …

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, …

Granny Smiths Apple Pie & Coffee (グラニースミス アップルパイ&コーヒー) offers takeaway counter specializes in four delicious varieties of apple pie; Japan Dutch Crumble, Classic Rum Raisin, French D’mandes and England Custard (around 400 yen per slice). They also offer delicious seasonal pies, teas, espresso and coffee drinks. The small shop doesn`t provide seating however …

Higashine Park & Playground (東根公園) is a newly renovated playground with equipment to challenge little ones. Located just 10 minutes on foot from Buta Park (Pig Park) at Komazawa Olympic Park #4 on our list of Top 10 Recommended Baby and Kids Parks in Tokyo and an 11 minute walk to Fusumacho Park Playground and Bicycle …

Setagaya Park, Ikejiri (世田谷公園) offers a number of fun outdoor activities from rides on a mini SL train, a free pedal cart course, running and cycling course, flea markets, playgrounds and more. My son and his friends have begun frequenting their shanty town known as “play park” – an area where kids can …

Fungo Breakfast & Burgers Cafe is a local family favorite. It is conveniently located less than a minute walk from the popular Setagaya Park with mini SL train that you can ride, pedal go cart track, playgrounds and shanty town where kids build fires, saw wood and take risks, and a …

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 …

Komazawa Olympic Park (駒沢オリンピック公園) is a sports facility that was constructed for the 1964 Summer Olympics. It`s an amazing park for families. The park includes three different animal-themed playgrounds for young children (squirrel, pig and horse), a summer splash pond, jogging and cycling course, a dog run area, skateboard park, …

Kuritsu Komatsunagi Park and Shrine is a hidden gem in Setagaya. It`s located a short walk from some of our favorite lunch spots and parks; 3 minute walk from our favorite, local family-friendly Napoli Pizza spot, Savoy Pizza Mishuku, a 7 minute walk from Fungo Breakfast and Burgers Cafe, and …

Savoy Pizza Mishuku is one of our favorite local Napoli pizza spots located a short 10 minute walk from Setagaya Play Park Where Kids Build Fires, Saw Wood and Take Risks and Kodomo no Hiroba with Climbing Structures & Water Play. Our kids love watching the pizza chef kneading the dough …

Setagaya Park is a great park for kids. They offer train rides on a Mini Steam Locomotive (Wednesdays, Weekends and Holidays only), pedal go carts in a traffic park with working traffic signals, 2 separate playgrounds equip with swings, spring riders, slides, monkey bars and sandpit, and a children-sized shanty town …

I have been collecting Japanese antiques for over 30 years, so I am sharing with you the Best 10 Japanese antique stores in Tokyo. These stores have excellent selections and are owned and run by true experts in the field of Japanese antiques. If you can’t find what you want …

Are you moving to Tokyo, Japan? Although your home shipment may not have arrived yet, and you might still be in temp housing, don’t delay on settling down in Tokyo. Here are our tips on how to reduce the stress a bit and start enjoying this great city sooner. We …

Here is a curated listed of Tokyo English speaking doctors covering pediatricians, dentists, ophthalmologists and  OBGYNs. This list includes doctors that we (Lauren and Sandra) and many of my Tokyo Expat friends have used and recommend.   Choosing a doctor is a personal decision based on many decision factors. This list …

A nicely manicured walk with flowers and green starting at Nakameguro and ending in Sangenjaya is the Jakuzure Green River Way / Jakuzure walking path. In the past the Jakuzure River, also known as the “noisy river”, flooded frequently during typhoon season so the city decided to cover it and …

Himonya Park (碑文谷公園)  is a lovely place to take your young kids. Neighborhood children love the free petting zoo where they can get nose to nose with guinea pigs, rabbits and dogs; 200 yen pony rides, boat rides in the enclosed lake, and the playground. It`s beautiful for short strolls around the lake, …

Top recommended Tokyo baby kids clothing stores. If you are looking for Baby or Kids Clothing in Tokyo, here are some boutiques, mass brand, department and general merchandise stores in Tokyo that BestLivingJapan moms highly recommend. If you have a store to recommend with great selection and service, please add …

F&F is a natural food store with 15 locations in Tokyo and 2 in Kanagawa. They carry fresh, pesticide-free vegetables, quality Japanese rice, super foods like Hemp & Chia seeds, additive-free seasonings, homemade lunch boxes and breads, household items and organic baby food, snacks and rice cereal. F&F receives their produce direct …

Radio calisthenics (ラジオ体操 rajio taisō) is a free, fun and healthy family activity usually for ten mins between 6:00 – 7:00 in local parks all around Japan. If you are jet lagged find your local park and head out with a towel and some bottled water.  Here is a Japanese website …

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 …

The Dominos Pizza Academy course is a fun 1-hour session where kids learn how a pizza is made and how the pizza store works. The best part? They get to take their creation home and eat it! My son and his kindergarten friends spent their first summer holiday at a Dominos Pizza-making course. …

My wedding flowers were irises so I have a sweet spot for them! Here are my favorite top 9 Tokyo Iris gardens.  Irises follow shortly behind hydrangea as the June rain fills the shallow water areas perfect for Iris blooms.  With over 2,000 species of Irises that bloom from late …

We love Hydrangea so here are the Best Tokyo hydrangea viewing spots. Our 2021 hydrangea list is shorter than normal due to COVID but we have confirmed these locations are open! June is the peak hydrangea season and also the rainy season, Tsuyu, in Japan. Grab your umbrella and visit …

*** JULY 2018 UPDATE: XEX CLOSED for BUILDING RECONSTRUCTION *** Located on the rooftop of the popular baby and kids` product mall, La Fuente, XEX Daikanyama (ゼックス 代官山) offers a unique international dining experience. Enjoy Italian dining at Salvatore Cuomo Bros, fresh sushi at Aburiyaki & Sushi An, and cocktails at their New York …