Toys Kingdom (omochya no ookoku) is a really good area to take the kids to. There are toys galore and it is divided up into different sections for the kids to play in. There are dolls and dollhouses, tabletop and arcade games, computers for kids to muck around with, lots of balls and toys with sliding balls, instruments, a play rail land with heaps of trains, jungle gyms, huge areas with building blocks to play with.

Basically, it has everything a young kid could ever want. It is located in the Tokyo Dome Complex right next to Suidobashi or Korakuen stations.

Most areas in Tokyo have a Jidokan (child center) and are often attached to the ward office. Many of them have huge play areas with lots of toys. If it is a rainy day and you need a bit of a rest then these are a great option. There are lots of other kids there so they can entertain themselves for hours and if you feel like socializing with the other parents then you are more than welcome to.

If you are lucky, the library will also be in the vicinity so you can join and get some fun books out for your kids. Ring the English line at your local ward office and they will point you in the right direction.

Children’s Castle is about an 8-10 minute walk from Shibuya or Omotesando Stations. It was designed as a place for children to play, learn, and develop. It is a 13 story building with at least half of the floors dedicated to kids.

There is a pool, book library, video library, computer room, nursing room, play hall, fine arts studio, music area, roof garden, play area, and lounges. Admission is not too expensive and it is a great place to go with the kids on a rainy day. Read the rest of this entry »

Tokyo Tower is always a fun place to take the kids. If there is good visibility you can see right to Mount Fuji and get a fantastic view of Tokyo Bay and Tokyo city. There are glass bits on the floor for the kids to stand on and feel like they are floating a million miles in the air.

Tokyo Metropolitan Building is another option for getting up high and finding another fantastic view of the city. The Tokyo Metropolitan Building itself is a stunning piece of architecture and one of the prettiest buildings in Tokyo. The wide open spaces of west Shinjuku and the fact that it is usually pretty quiet on weekends make this place a good bet for a relaxing day out. Read the rest of this entry »

Take the drive out to the west of Tokyo on the Chuo Expressway or catch the Chuo Line to Takao station from Shinjuku. Not only is this a lovely area with mountains and beautiful greeny but there is also a fun cable car which takes you most of the way up the mountain. When you get to the top there are fantastic views of Tokyo, a shrine, and an area where the kids can enter and hang out with the monkeys.

The monkey park has about 40 monkeys and there is a guided tour to teach you all about their social stucture. It costs to get in but not that much.

Go to one of the movie theaters around Tokyo; there are plenty near many train stations. For kids it is oftern better to go by car so you can visit a theater attached to a mall or one that has good car parking.

The Toho theaters always have good parking and are fairly modern and well equipt. Try the ones below:

Next to La Fete Mall in Minami Osawa (west Tokyo) is a Toho Cinema that is large with plenty of parking. Have a shop at Calfoure while you are there. Read the rest of this entry »

Another great way to occupy the kids on a rainy day is to take them to one of Tokyo’s aquariums. There are several that are quite big and a lot of fun to look around.

Tokyo Sealife Aquarium

This aquarium is in the relatively new Kasai Rinkai Koen. There is a huge park next to the aquarium and you are right by the sea. The bulk of the aquarium is underground and it is fairly large. Read the rest of this entry »

Kichojouji is one of the cooler areas of Tokyo. It has the beautiful Inokashira park with its lovely man-made lake. The lake is surrounded by beautiful cherry blossom trees and is often filled with all manner of interesting buskers and street performers on the weekends.

You can buy some pellets or bread and feed the huge carp in the lake, or even take out a row boat or one of those swan boats that you pedal. There is a playground at the east end of the park for kids. Read the rest of this entry »

Tama Tech originally opened in 1961 as a place where motorcycles could be ridden freely. Over the years it was added to with the theme of a “scientific automotive theme park”. In 2002, a childrens area was added where 3 year olds and up could ride a bike or drive a car. The idea was to have fun while learning the road rules and how vehicles work.

Later a pool complex and various other attractions were added for the kids. The park is a great place for kids to learn and experience machines that provide mobility with a learning and scientific lean. Read the rest of this entry »

Disneyland is out in Maihama in the east of Tokyo (on the Keio line from Tokyo Station) and we all know what to expect from this. A good place to take the kids for the day, and there are headsets with English for many of the attractions if needed. Tokyo Disneyland is clean and well kept. It can get very crowded on weekends and holidays.
Check out directions here

Sanrio Puroland is a great place for a rainy day and is awesome fun for kids under the age of 12. It is often dubbed Hello Kitty Land because it features so many of Hello Kitty’s cutesy friends. Read the rest of this entry »