The Fire Museum is a Shinjuku-based free museum.
My kids loved it – particularly between the ages of 0-4.
It is 11 minutes walk from Shinjuku Gyoen National Park.
Train access: Yotsuya-sanchome Station, take exit 2 ( Tokyo Metro Marunouchi line), 12 min walk from Shinanomachi or Yotsuya Stations ( Chuo Main line), 7 mins walk from Akebonobashi Statin ( Toei Shinjuku line)
If you’re coming from Shinjuku Station, you could also walk there in 24 mins or take a cab for 8 mins ( approx 1000 yen)
The basement with the collection of vintage fire trucks and the rooftop with the climb-in helicopter are my kiddies’ favourite parts. It’s not a very big museum and after an hour we have probably done it all but it’s free and a free hour is pretty awesome, correct?
Careful as the museum is closed on Mondays.
3-10 YOTSUYA, SHINJUKU
新宿区四谷3-10
OPEN: 9:30AM – 5PM
CLOSED: MONDAYs UNLESS MONDAY IS A NATIONAL HOLIDAY
FIRE MUSEUM
12 mins walk from the Fire Museum…
A great lunch or dinner option for families near Shinjuku Goen is Cafe La Boheme. This is actually a chain for restaurants but this one is particularly beautiful as it has high ceilings and looks into the gardens. The food served here is Italian.
If you are coming by train, it is 5 mins from Shinjuku Gyoenmae Station via Exit 2. It is also 12 mins walk from the free children’s Fire Museum and 11 mins walk from the Tokyo Toy Museum.
It is best to make a reservation.
At lunch time I would budget for 2000 yen per adult and 4000 yen for dinner. You can see the entire Cafe La Boheme menu here.
Please note that at dinner time, there is a 800 yen service charge per person. This restaurant does accept most major credit cards – and are a cashless restaurant.
If everyone is tired, these guys are also on ubereats.
CAFE LA BOHEME, SHINJUKU GYOENMAE
新宿区新宿1-1-7コスモ新宿ビル
COSMOS SHINJUKU BUILDING, 1-1-7 SHINJUKU, SHINJUKU
OPEN WEEKDAYS 11:30AM-11PM (LUNCH MENU IS AVAILABLE UNTIL 2PM & BETWEEN 2-5PM THERE IS A PASTA SET AVAILABLE UNTIL THE DINNER MENU KICKS IN)
OPEN WEEKENDS 11AM-11PM (LUNCH MENU IS AVAILABLE UNTIL 2PM & BETWEEN 2-5PM THERE IS A PASTA SET AVAILABLE UNTIL THE DINNER MENU KICKS IN)
Another option for lunch near the Fire Museum (2 mins walk) is Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu Yotsuya Sanchome. This is a great place for a lush dinner or lunch with a reasonable price tag at a restaurant that also allows children. I recommend Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu for Kobe Beef and Wagyu. It’s a Beef Cutlet restaurant. It is high quality beef, crumbed and fried so that the outside is crunchy and served with a range of sauces (dipping sauces) and rice. The restaurant is entirely non-smoking. They have an English menu. They also accept most major credit cards.
Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu Yotsuya Sanchome is 1 min walk from Yotsuya Sanchome Station. This restaurant welcomes children..
Each meal is approx 2000 yen. You can see the full Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu menu here. (Click bottom right to change the language to English) This restaurant is walk-in only.
GYUKATSU KYOTO KATSGYU YOTSUYA SANCHOME
新宿区四谷3-8-3 四谷三丁目三橋ビル 1F
GROUND FLOOR, YOTSUYA MITSUHASHI BUILDING, 3-8-3 YOTSUYA, SHINJUKU-KU
OPEN EVERYDAY 11AM-10PM
For more options close by or other restaurant suggestions, see my Shinjuku with kids blog post here.
