When in the trendy Daikanyama area in the morning, the best place to be is in and around the T-site Complex.
The complex is based around what is often labelled the best bookstore in the world, Tsutaya Daikanyama. I absolutely love this bookstore.
The bookstore itself houses its own Starbucks and convenience store, a bar and cafe and so many beautiful corners to read, shop, study, listen to music and just generally be inspired. As the bookstore is called Tsutaya, the building is covered with and shaped like the letter “T.” Take a look at their website (below) for more information on the design and architectural acclaim it received when opening in 2011.
My children love popping on the headphones and listening to music, looking in the toy and children books section and there are often little interactive robots in the electronic section. As for me? I can’t get enough of the design books and the extensive range of novels and coffee table books on Japan and Japanese culture and aesthetics.
16-15 SARUGAKUCHO, SHIBUYA
渋谷区猿楽町16-15
OPEN 7AM-2AM
WEBSITE
Within the T-Site Complex you’ll find Ivy Place. We love dining here at anytime of the day and find breakfast/brunch to be particularly kid friendly. Unfortunately they do not take reservations for groups with children so I recommend getting there early and having a little play in the courtyard outside the restaurant if you need to wait for your table. They are well-known for their yummy pancakes.
Breakfast looks like yummy eggs and pancakes and my salad was also amazing! (If you live in Japan you’ll understand just how hard a truly good salad is to come by)
IVY PLACE
DAIKANYAMA T-SITE, 16-15 SARUGAKUCHO
猿楽町16-15, 代官山T-SITE
OPEN 7am-11pm (BREAKFAST 7am-10:45am, LUNCH 11:30am-3pm, DINNER 6pm-11pm)
(PANCAKES SERVED 7am-5pm)
WEBSITE
If kiddies get restless there is a small park, Saigoyama Park, just a few minutes walk from T-Site. Just some space for running around an a couple of pieces of side’n’wobble type play equipment. It’s definitely not on my “must-see” list but is great for when kids need a run around and fresh air.
10-28 AOBADAI, MEGURO-KU
目黒区青葉台10-28
Enter around the back of the big glass office-looking building and take the elevator.
They say that children under 6 can dine between 11:30AM and 7PM on weekdays and anytime on weekends – although, personally, I think after 6 it gets a bit ‘clubby’ and wouldn’t really feel appropriate with children (but that’s your call.)
It’s particularly wonderful because of the views and the “hidden gem” feel. I also really like their mocktails.
As of July 2017, Hacienda is a non-smoking venue until 11pm! Hurray!
*Note: No nappy changing facilities.
HACIENDA DEL CIELO
渋谷区猿楽町10-1マンサード代官山9F
9th FLOOR, 10-1 MANSARD DAIKANYAMA BUILDING, SARUGAKUCHO, SHIBUYA
OPEN WEEKDAYS 11AM-2AM & SATURDAYS 11AM -2AM, SUNDAYS 11AM- 11PM
WEBSITE
A cheap and cheerful (but funky) option is a quick lunch at Organic Cafe Bombay Bazaar. The portions aren’ t huge but the food is tasty and the place is so vibey. I don’t recommend coming here if you have a stroller as there is a big staircase just inside the entrance. The staff are so friendly and were lovely with my kiddies.
BOMBAY BAZAAR
渋谷区猿楽町20-11 B1F
B1 FLOOR, SARUGAKUCHO, SHIBUYA-KU
OPEN WEEKDAYS 11:AM-6PM
OPEN WEEKENDS 11:30AM-7PM
And after lunch, if it’s Summertime, I love taking my kids to this cafe at the back of this old Japanese house (it’s practically next to Bombay Bazaar.)
The entire cafe is outdoors and customers can order soft drinks, beer, organic wine, cocktails and kakigori (shaved, flavoured ice.)
There is a little wooden cubbyhouse and, as long as there aren’t too many people in there on lovely chatty dates – the kids love to play and my kids LOVE Kakigori.
URARA, DAIKANYAMA
渋谷区猿楽町20-10
20-10 SARUGAKUCHO, SHIBUYA-KU
OPEN 11:30AM-8PM
CLOSED WHEN IT RAINS
For Japanese teishoku, I highly highly recommend eating at Sue zen. This is a great place to dine with a small baby or kids that are old enough to sit still (it’s a bit trickier with kids in between who need space to wriggle.) Please note that this restaurant is cash only. This is also a walk-in only restaurant. Suezen is 3 mins walk from Daikanyama Station. I would budget for 2000 yen per adult here for lunch. The entire restaurant is non-smoking.
SUE ZEN, DAIKANYAMA
渋谷区猿楽町20-8
20-8 SARUGAKUCHO, SHIBUYA-KU
OPEN 11AM-4PM
For a quick and easy salad, there is also Crisp Salad Works.
Crisp Salad Works is a salad chain store where you can choose all of your salad ingredients and how finely chopped you’d like it to be. Salads are between 1000-2000 yen. They accept most major credit cards. There is a dine-in area. See the full Crisp Salad Works menu here.
渋谷区猿楽町24-7 代官山プラザ2F
SECOND FLOOR, DAIKANYAMA PLAZA, 24-7 SARUGAKUCHO, SHIBUYA-KU
OPEN 11AM-8PM
Log Road is a new park of Daikanyama and is Tokyo’s version of the New York highline. A gorgeously modern slim road with boutique stores, restaurants and cafes, a brewery and a lovely secluded spot for pop-up stores and cafes. You’ll want to take pictures of every nook and cranny. My kids love to climb on the concrete “eggs” halfway down the road and gobbling up the butter cookies at Fred Segal. There are public restrooms at the bottom of the road if you need.
LOG ROAD DAIKANYAMA
13-1 DAIKANYAMA-CHO, SHIBUYA
渋谷区代官山町13-1
OPENING HOURS VARY FOR EACH STORE BUT THE CAFES START AROUND 8AM & EVERYTHING CLOSES AROUND 10PM
WEBSITE
While you’re on Log Road, why not check out Spring Valley Brewery? It has a beautiful outdoor terrace and my kids love the pizza. If the adults want to sample all that the brewery has to offer, try a beer flight of lots of little samples.
They have high chairs.
*Please note that children of preschool age or younger are not permitted entry after 5pm*
SPRING VALLEY BREWERY
渋谷区代官山町 13-1ログロード代官山内
13-1 LOG ROAD, DAIKANYAMACHO, SHIBUYA
OPEN MONDAY-SATURDAYS 8AM-MIDNIGHT (LAST ORDER 10:30PM)
OPEN SUNDAYS 8AM-10PM (LAST ORDER 9PM)
*Please note that children of preschool age or younger are not permitted entry after 5pm*
SPRING VALLEY BREWERY WEBSITE
KYU ASAKURA HOUSE ( BEAUTIFUL JAPANESE HOUSE FOR SIGHTSEEING)
Did you know there is a beautiful old Japanese house right in the middle of Daikanyama? Only 2 minutes walk from Daikanyama T-site!
This house was designated as an ‘Important Cultural Property’ in 2004.
The property is called Kyu Asakura House and entry is 100 yen.
I have written in more detail about Kyu Asakura House and have included more pictures here.
This is my new favourite inner-city playcentre! Shibuya Playground 4 Kids. It’s not big (which means that I can keep tabs on them both at all times – woop woop!) but it is brand new and the staff keep it so pristine. My 4 year old loves the gigantic sandpit (and the cutest little cubicle to blow the sand off feet and hands too), the climbing wall and jumping castle. While my little boy loves the imaginative play area with a pretend kitchen and shops as well as the cars & trains table. If it’s rainy or everyone just needs a bit of downtime, I recommend taking a walk a few blocks from T-site to this place. When we walk from T-Site it takes 15 minutes. Also, it is only 18 minutes walk from the Shibuya Crossing so would be the perfect “break” between changing areas of Tokyo and seeing the Shibuya Crossing in action. ( Here are my Shibuya with kids tips if you want to properly transition to Shibuya at this point. ) Please note that this playcentre is only for 0-5 year olds. Babies under 6 months are free. Entrance is via the Konami Sports Club so registration is required at the ground floor before taking the elevator.
Please note that due to extra COVID-19 infection spread measures, entry to this playcentre is on a reservation only basis. You can contact Shibuya Playground 4 Kids to make a reservation here.
KONAMI SPORTS CLUB BUILDING, 9th FLOOR, 18-11 SHINSEN-CHO
神泉町18-11コナミスポーツクラブ渋谷9F
OPEN 10AM-6PM (CLOSED FRIDAYS)
FEE: 1000 YEN PER HOUR FOR CHILDREN OLDER THAN 6 MONTHS (1200 YEN ON WEEKENDS)
500 YEN SET FEE PER ADULT. ADDITIONAL 300 YEN FOR THE FIRST VISIT.
WEBSITE
Please note that due to extra COVID-19 infection spread measures, entry to this playcentre is on a reservation only basis. You can contact Shibuya Playground 4 Kids to make a reservation here.
If you are looking for a free play alternative to this playcentre there is a small park just down the hill behind it. It’s not a beautiful park but also may solve your wriggle problems (if the weather allows, of course) The park is called Nabeshima Shoto Park. It has playground equipment and a pond (take mosquito repellant) with turtles and koi. There are public restrooms here. This park is 4 minutes walk from the Shibuya Playground 4 Kids playcentre.
NABESHIMA SHOTO PARK
渋谷区立松濤2-10-7
2-10-7 SHOTO, SHIBUYA
If your little one is having a meltdown:
Bournelund Toy Store has a lovely little play area within the T-Site Complex. There is a dog-run out the front to (fenced in) which may keep little people happy too.
BORNELUND DAIKANYAMA
渋谷区猿楽町16−15
16-15 SARUGAKUCHO, SHIBUYA
OPEN EVERYDAY: 10AM-8PM
For lunch or dinner I recommend Aloha Table in Daikanyama. My kids love the kids menu here so much- especially the pancakes that come with the chocolate pen.
The cuisine is Hawaiian and that means big salad bowls full of crunchy veg too. You can dine indoors or out on the terrace. This restaurant has an English menu. They also have space for strollers.
Aloha Table accepts most major credit cards. The Aloha Table menu can be found here.
ALOHA TABLE DAIKANYAMA FOREST
渋谷区猿楽町17-10 代官山アートビレッジ 1F
GROUND FLOOR, DAIKANYAMA ART BRIDGE, 17-10 SARUGAKUCHO, SHIBUYA
OPEN EVERYDAY 11AM-10PM (UNTIL 11PM ON FRI & SAT NIGHTS)
I like to use these changing & feeding facilities in this area: (but make use of the MamaPapaBaby app for even more options)
- Daikanyama Station, 1st Floor, North Exit, disabled restroom (change table)
- T-Site, Bournelund Toy Store (hot water, play area, hot water, change table)
- T-Site, Tsutaya Bookstore, 1st floor (breastfeeding rooms, change tables, hot water)
- La Fuente Department Store, 2nd floor (breastfeeding space, hot water, change tables)
**DON’T FORGET: IT’S ONLY A FEW MINUTES WALK TO EBISU (SO CLOSE!) SO MAYBE YOU COULD COMBINE EBISU AND DAIKANYAMA! EBISU POST HERE!
If you are travelling to Japan as a tourist and want to know which areas I recommend to stay with kids – please see my post here.
