If you’re someone who struggles with the idea of germs, these places are going to make you very happy.
SHIBUYA PLAYGROUND 4 KIDS
This is my new favourite inner-city playcentre! Shibuya Playground 4 Kids.
It’s so central! (You can pop in here after running an errand in Daikanyama or Shibuya)
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. It is located pretty much smack-bang in the middle of Shibuya and Daikanyama so it’s a great stop-off for a day of sightseeing. (Take a look here if you decide to walk to Daikanyama or hereif you’re exploring Shibuya and are looking for ideas with kids. )
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.
They sometimes close early on Fridays or Weekends for parties so call ahead if you’re visiting on these days (English is ok.)
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
For things to do beforehand or afterwards, see my Shibuya with Kids post here or Daikanyama with kids post here.
TSUKISHIMA DAINI CHILDREN’S PARK
For a very very clean (and free) splash, I recommend Tsukishima Daini Children’s Park.
This pool is only for children who are not yet of school age. ie. toddlers and preschoolers only. The kids must be in swimwear (no nudie rudies, okay?) Some parts of their site say that they don’t allow swim nappies but we got changed in the bathrooms before we arrived and no-one asked any questions (my son had one on underneath his swimsuit.)
It might be best to put on sunscreen before coming out of the change area too – although I’m not sure if they would mind or not.
Much of the pool is managed by volunteers or older public office workers. They aren’t unkind but are very obsessed with the pool staying very, very clean.
Small pool toys are allowed but no big floaties or beach balls etc.
Open from July 6th – September 9th 10am – 4pm (closed every Tuesday from midday for cleaning.)
Note that the pool is also closed everyday from midday until 1pm for cleaning. For this reason, I recommend this pool for germaphobes – this pool is amazingly spotless.
It is completely free to use too!
I recommend packing a light lunch and playing at the playground next to the pool for that open one hour in the middle of the day where the pool isn’t open for use.
This toddler pool is one minute walk from Kachidoki Station.
TSUKISHIMA DAI NI POOL
中央区勝どき1-9-8
1-9-8 KACHIDOKI, CHUO-KU
JULY 6 – SEPT 9 , 10AM -12PM & 1PM – 4PM (CLOSED ON TUES AFTERNOONS)
ADMISSION: FREE
If you’re looking for other Tokyo Splash Pads, see my post here.
KEIO RAIL LAND
*This playcentre/small museum is outside of the city.
Keio Rail-Land is approximately an hour by train or car out of the city centre ( you need to get to Tama-Dobutsu-koen station), entry costs approximately 250 yen and is a museum for buses and trains of the Keio transport company.
It is so well kept that I think even the biggest of germaphobes would feel very comfortable here.
This is a good half-day activity for little ones.
Downstairs are climb-in trains and buses and a mini train outdoors too. In the outdoor section is a library carriage with picture books and upstairs near the playcentre section is a model train room for a set amount of children for 30 minutes at a time. You’ll need to wait for a new “session” to start and is probably better for kids 5+ as my little guy was in destructo-mode and I don’t think we were very popular with the hard-core train-goers….
There is the Tama Zoo across the road (I haven’t been yet though) if you need something to do afterwards.
One of the highlights for my two are the “real” ticket gates at the entrance. Got to love those details!
The gentlemen that work there are just divine. So patient with train-crazed crazies !!!
I think that this place is great for model train fans but also kids who just wish they could pretend to be the bus driver etc too. My daughter spends 20 minutes pretending to be a passenger too, waving from the window and pressing the “next stop please” buzzer.
The main section upstairs is more like a playcentre with a small eating area with some vending machine snacks & juice boxes ( we usually take our own snacks.)
KEIO RAIL-LAND
3-36-39 HODOKUBO, HINO
日野程久保3-36-39
OPEN: 9:30AM – 5:30PM (CLOSED WEDNESDAYS)
WEBSITE (JAPANESE ONLY)
KEIO ASOBI NO MORI HUG HUG
*This playcentre/small museum is outside of the city.
This playcentre DIRECTLY NEXT DOOR TO KEIO RAIL LAND only opened in March 2018 and its soooo clean and lovely and new.
Another reason to go is that is it literally next door to Keio Rail Land and across the road from Tama Zoo.
So, although it is a little bit out of the city centre, you won’t run out of things to do and it gives you lots of options for different types of weather.
My little girl loved the climbing nets and my little guy loved the indoor train.
We bought free pass tickets (ie. a full day pass) as the woman at the entrance told me if you stay more than 1.5 hours it makes sense financially.
You can pay with cash or with a Suica or Pasmo card.
I was shocked when it cost 5000 yen for me and the two kids – but we did get almost 1500 yen refunded when we returned our ticket cards at the end ( and we did end up staying more than 3 hours).
There is a lovely, sparkly clean baby and toddler wooden area.
My kids spent so long on the giant gym mat and the little ride on trikes.
And there is a ball pit with a rope bridge etc on the ground floor.
How adorable are these kiddie toilets??!!!!!!! Train and bus shaped!
There is also a beautiful parents room with spots to breastfeed etc too.
The gigantic climbing nets were my little girl’s highlight.
Whereas it was all about the little train for my little guy. It goes around the top floor twice for 300 yen per person.
There is also a small outside area with a flying fox and a balancing beam.
It is possible to visit the cafe without paying to enter the whole playcentre.
It’s lovely and clean and there is a cushioned area for babies and toddlers to play too. The train drives past every few minutes too so my kids love waving.
- Make sure you all where shorts. Children and adults in skirts will not be allowed on the climbing nets.
- Socks – you can purchase some once you’re there (like I had to) but its just easier if you bring your own
- Cash- everything is to be paid for in cash or Suica or Pasmo card. I was, however, able to use my credit card in the restaurant
- Shoes that easily slip on and off – adults too.
As we had the one day pass we could even pop out the front and go to the vending machines for a stretch and to buy socks.
There are also juice vending machines near the little train station.
If you arrive at Tama Doubutsu Koen Station, you may be lucky enough to ride there on this train.
3-36-60 HODOKUBO, HINO-SHI
日野市程久保 3-36-60
OPEN 9:30AM-5:30PM
CLOSED WEDNESDAYS (THURSDAYS IF WEDNESDAYS ARE A PUBLIC HOLIDAY) CLOSED FOR THE NEW YEAR PERIOD
FOR CHILDREN AGED 6 MONTHS – 12 YEARS OLD
FULL DAY PASS: 1400 YEN
ORDINARY ENTRY FEE (WITHOUT A FULL DAY PASS) 600 YEN + 200 YEN EVERY 15 MINS AFTER THE INITIAL 30 MINS
CLOSEST TRAIN STATION: TAMA DOUBUTSU KOEN (1 MINUTE WALK) ON THE KEIO LINE
WEBSITE (JAPANESE ONLY)
ASOMIX, LALAPORT EBINA
*This playcentre/small museum is outside of the city.
The LaLaPort Department Stores almost always have a whole section of their complex devoted to Children’s Entertainment. At the Ebina store is AsoMix a children’s playcentre that is set up for children from 6months up until 12 (although I, personally, believe that kids over 8 or 9 might not find this place that exciting … or at least not for long. )
The highlight here is the ocean image projected onto a gorgeous white sandpit. What a clever idea!! It’s visually beautiful and my kids loved pretend swimming here for so long!
There is a baby playpit, pretend kitchen and ice-cream shop, ride on motorized cars and emergency vehicles, a big bouncy dome, slides and climbing frames and train tables. There is even free wifi.
Unfortunately you’ll need to get a pass out to use the restrooms but they are about 100 metres from playcentre entrance. (i.e. make them go beforehand)
I found that a day pass was handy for us as it’s located within the department store and we could leave, have lunch* and a little shop around before returning for more play.
If you’re travelling from the centre of town it does take over an hour but whether you travel by car or train (Ebina Station on JR) you can arrive undercover so don’t need to worry about getting wet on the way. I can also justify the distance on a yucky rainy season weather day as it is a full day activity – and low stress for me!
A full day pass for children is 1500 yen and 630 for adults. If you prefer to go for short amount of time, the rate is it 630 yen for each person for 30 minutes and 150 yen each additional 10 minutes (adults don’t need to pay for the additional minutes just for children.) They do have all of their prices and guidelines in English at the front reception desk.
No outdoor snacks allowed (they don’t mind baby food) but there is an eating area inside and vending machines with snacks, drinks and ice-cream.
AsoMix PLAYCENTRE, LALAPORT EBINA
神奈川県海老名市扇町13-1 ららぽーと海老名4F
4F LALAPORT DEPARTMENT STORE EBINA, 13-1 OGICHO, EBINA, KANAGAWA
OPEN 10AM-7PM
WEBSITE (Japanese only)
*AFTERWARDS, we eat lunch at the Hawaiian restaurant (same floor) Kailua Weekend. It has an exceptional kids menu. My daughter loved the chocolate pencil to decorate her own pancakes. I loved the Organic Spinach Eggs Benedict.
Children can choose one take-home toy from a toy basket.
And if you are looking for other ideas in the area, check out my Asakusa with kids suggestions.
