I love brunch and was thrilled when a friend invited us to her favorite brunch spot, Toile de Liberté (トワル ド リベルテ). Toile de Liberté is an antique cafe located behind Yutenji Temple. The cafe is furnished from floor to ceiling with antiques from around the world, and antique furniture and sundries are on sale on their 2nd …

Gohongi Park Playground (五本木公園) is a small park frequented by neighborhood kids and nursery schools in the area. It`s a short walk from Yutenji station and is close proximity to the Yutenji shopping street, food and the popular curry restaurant, Niagara Curry, which delivers food to your table by train. It …

Midorie Organic food deli and cafe sits nestled in the backstreets of Yutenji, a lively residential neighborhood one stop from Nakameguro station. Midorie Organic Yutenji is the newest of their three stores specializing in seasonal organic fruits and vegetables, healthy sweets, pesticide-free rice and vegetables, farm fresh fish and additive-free seasonings. We visited …

Gelateria Acquolina (ジェラテリア アクオリーナ) is another spot to add to our Favorite Top 5+ Ice Treats in Japan. It`s is a cozy shop in Yutenji that creates delicious homemade gelato with flavors that change with the season. The classics are there but they also have unique flavors like our favorite: basil …

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, …

Niagara Curry is a charming restaurant owned by a collector of all memorabilia that is train related. Customers select their meal by ticket machine then have their curry order delivered to them by a mini-SL train. At the end of the meal, patrons are given a train ticket and paper …

Yutenji Kindergarten is holding their annual bazaar on the Yutenji Temple grounds tomorrow Tuesday, October 31 from 10:00 – 12:45. If you`re looking for gently used Japanese children`s clothing, toys and books this is a great place to shop. There will be food stalls and games for young children outside …

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 …

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 …

When you move to Japan with kids one of your top priorities is to find a Tokyo English speaking pediatricians. Luckily for us, there is an increasing number of skilled pediatricians in Tokyo to choose.  Below is a list of seven Tokyo based English speaking pediatricians that my friends and I …

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 …

** June 2015 update: The swirly slide was removed from the play equipment and replace with a climbing wall. Kamiyon Jidouyuen Playground is nestled between Nakameguro & Yutenji stations. Located across the playground is the Meguro Christ Church. A quiet playground frequented by locals. Equipment: 2 swings sandpit slide climbing …

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 …

Tokyo Mini Park: Kamiyon Jidouyuen Playground, Nakameguro. What is a Tokyo Mini Park? Tokyo Mini Parks are smaller local playground parks that one would not go out of their way to visit, but a great spot if going from one location to another. Kamiyon Jidouyuen Playground is a newly renovated …

Onibus Coffee is a lovely coffee shop nestled a short walk from Nakameguro station. If you`re a coffee lover you must try this place. Their pour over coffee is rich and velvety; their lattes creamy. Enjoy it on their green terrace while watching the roasting process via a huge Diedrich …

Yakiniku Shibaura is our favorite family-friendly yakiniku restaurant in Setagaya-ku. They serve delicious cuts of Japanese domestic Wagyu Beef. Our kids love it. As you walk into the restaurant you see a refrigerator stocked with slabs of Japanese domestic Wagyu beef. Yakiniku Shibaura carefully selects their Wagyu beef from different areas of Japan, and …

I find the most difficult month of the year to live in Tokyo August, but visiting one of the many Tokyo pools can offer a respite to the heat and humidity even if just for a few hours. Tokyo has many great local pools that are family-friendly and most are …

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 …

Summer is here! Perfect time to try some cool and delicious ice treats in Japan – ice cream and shaved ice. These are our top picks! Favorite Top 10 Tokyo Ice Treats in Japan – Ice cream and Shaved Ice   1) Gelateria Marghera is definitely one of the most delicious gelato …

Enjoy the cool crisp air with these recommended Tokyo November 2019 events. Bundle up and enjoy the food, festival and foliage we have lined up this month. It`s the month for giving. Help support the great work these charities do for our local and global communities by attending these Charity …

If you are in Japan this summer, we highly recommend you attend at least one 2019 Tokyo Summer Festivals. Here are our top 20 recommend Tokyo Summer Festivals. Festivals are one of our favorite summer activities with the family. Despite the heat and humidity, throw on your yukata and head …

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 …

*** 2019: Burger Factory  *** Sun 2 Diner closed it`s doors December 2018 and was replaced with Burger Factory – same owner, new store. Sun 2 Diner became a food truck. Details TBD. Check their website for updates. Sun 2 Diner (サントゥーダイナー) is a great family-friendly dining spot in Nakameguro. …

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 …