Winter Illuminations 2012

Marunouchi
Naka-dori has 231 trees lit up until February 17.

Omotesando
Omotesando Hills DREAM TOGETHER Project 2012 commemorating Walt Disney's 110th anniversary. Until December 25.
Tokyu Plaza DREAM TOGETHER Project 2012 commemorating Walt Disney's 110th anniversary. Until December 25.


Shiba Koen/Roppongi
Tokyo Tower until December 25.
Midtown until December 25.
Roppongi Hills until December 25.

Odaiba
Aquacity until December 25.

Ebisu
Ebisu Garden Place until January 14, noon-11pm.

Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Dome until February 17.

Halloween Events 2012

Baby Loves Disco Booogie Halloween - October 27
Gymboree - October 16 (see image below)
Harajuku Halloween Parade - October 28
National Azabu - October 28 (see image below)
Roppongi Hills Happy Halloween Parade - October 27
Star Kids - October 25 (see image below)
Tokyo International Parents and Pals - October 27 (please rsvp on Facebook)
Tokyo Mothers Group - November 4 (you need to first sign up as a member then rsvp)

Healthy Recipes

Healthy Cupcakes
Honey Sesame Chicken cooked in a slow cooker
Ingredient Substitutions Great for those hard-to-find in Japan ingredients
No flour, no oil, no sugar cookies
Zucchini Cupcakes

Parks and Gardens

Happo-En 1-1-1 Shiroganedai, Minato-ku
Heiwajima 40 different obstacles to climb over, 360 yen for adults and 100 yen for children. 2-1 Heiwa no mori koen, Ota-ku.
Jitsuken River Water Park Koto-Ku
Kamiyon Jidouyuen Kamimeguro, Meguro-Ku
Nezu Museum 6-5-1 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-Ku
Showa Kinen Park Tachikawa City, baby changing facilities and stroller rental available (no play equipment)
Shinjuku Gyoen Shinjuku map (no play equipment)
Sugekari Park Aobadai Meguro-ku
Suginami Children's Traffic Park Suginami
Tenno Park Arakawa-Ku
Yume Park Takatsu-Ku Kawasaki

Local Water Parks various locations
 

Ippan Sanga

January 2 every year

If you are in Tokyo over new years and not sure what to do since everything is closed then why don't you head to the Imperial Palace grounds on January 2nd. It is one of only 2 days (the other is December 23) when the grounds are open to the public. You can also see the Emperor and his family who make hourly appearances to receive New Year greetings from the public.

Location: The Imperial Palace via Niju-bashi bridge.

Train: Hibiya station

Hours: 9.30am - 3pm

Baby facilities: None

Crawling:

Walking:

2-5 years:

5-10 years:

Cost: Free
Stroller Friendly: Yes
Baby Changing Area: No
Feeding Room: No
Child Friendly Restaurant: No
Rainy Weather Option: No
Party Venue: No

German Festival

October 23, 2011. 11am-9pm.
A festival celebrating the 150th anniversary of Japanese-German friendship. There will be live entertainment, food stalls, face painting, balloon art and many more activities for kids.

Location: Held in both Arisugawa Park and the German Embassy.
Train: Hiroo Staion, Hibiya line Exit 1.
Website: www.tokyo.diplo.de (German and Japanese only)

No baby facilities are available in the park but the library in the park has feeding rooms and changing tables. The park also has play equipment.

Nishimachi Food Fair

Food Fair 2011 - Sunday, October 9

Come along with your family and friends. Great international food and fun for all! Sunday, October 9, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Rain or shine.

2-14-7 Moto Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0046
Tel: 03-3451-5520

Website: http://www.nishimachi.ac.jp/

How to Find a Park in Tokyo

Now that the weather is cooling down, between typhoons it is a fantastic time to enjoy the parks with your kids. Here are 2 English sites where you can find some of the better known and larger parks around Tokyo.

Tokyo Metropolitan Park Association
Tokyo Metropolitan Parks and Gardens List

My favourites are:
Rinshinomori in Meguro-Ku
Kasai Rinkai in Edogawa-Ku
Mukojima-Hyakkaen in Sumida-Ku

Yodobashi Akiba

The basement and first five floors are exactly what you would expect from a Yodobashi Camera superstore. Next time you need some electronics why not bring your kids here then you can quickly make your way up to the 5th floor which is full of toys and games. If that is not enough, the 7th floor has a tower records for the older kids and a book store with a generous kids section (mostly Japanese books). Once you have had enough, make your way to the 8th floor which is full of restaurants, most of which have kids meals. Golf enthusiats should go straight to the 9th floor.

Location: 1-1 Kanda Hanaokacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0028

Phone: 03-5209-1010

Train: Akihabara Station, 1min walk from the Souwa-dori exit.

Car: Parking available but it gets crowded on weekends.

Hours: 9:30 ～ 22:00 Restaurants are open 11:00 ～ 23:00

Website: www.yodobashi-akiba.com

Baby facilities: Disabled toilets with changing tables on all floors and feeding rooms on 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7th floors.

Crawling:

Walking:

2-5 years:

5-10 years:

Cost: Free
Stroller Friendly: Yes
Baby Changing Area: Yes
Feeding Room: Yes
Child Friendly Restaurant: Yes
Rainy Weather Option: Yes
Party Venue: No

Himonya Park

A lovely park in the suburbs of Meguro. Enjoy feeding the ducks, hiring a rowboat on the lake (extra cost), visit the shrine, take the kids for a pony ride (extra cost), play on the play equipment or go in the petting zoo.

Location: 6-9-11 Himonya, Meguro-ku

Train: Gakugeidaigaku station on the Toyoko line. In red on the map here. 4 stops from Shibuya and 2 stops from Naka-meguro.

Website: Meguro City (Japanese Only)

Baby facilities: None

Crawling:

Walking:

2-5 years:

5-10 years:

Cost: Free
Stroller Friendly: Yes
Baby Changing Area: No
Feeding Room: No
Child Friendly Restaurant: No
Rainy Weather Option: No
Party Venue: Yes

Aeon Jusco Shinagawa

A large child friendly discount department store with everything. Perhaps Japan's version of Target? The basement is a supermarket, bakery and a food court with few fast food restaurants (high-chairs available). The first floor sells alcohol, gardening goods, pharmacy items, cosmetics and bicycles. The 2nd floor is where you want to be with kids, it has mens, womens and kids clothing and accessories, toys, baby food, diapers, strollers, cots and cribs, amusement game centre, a kids gym which costs a few hundred yen to enter and a free kids toy area. The 3rd floor has electrical goods, kitchen items, small furniture, bedding, a very good, cheap tailor and books (including a huge Japanese kids selection and some kids toys to keep them occupied while you look around).
The 2nd floor also has ride in cars for the kids with trolleys attached, they are great to take down to the basement to do your grocery shopping with.

Location: 4-12-5 Higashi-Shinagawa Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo (see other stores below)

Phone: 03-5715-8300 (will work in most navi's)

Train: 5 minute walk from Aomono-yokocho station on the Keikyu Line which is 10 minutes from Shinagawa station.

Bus: Catch the pink Aeon bus from Shinagawa station. The timetable is here (Japanese only).

Car: Parking available.

Hours: Open 9am to 11pm, restaurants and food shops are open till midnight.

Website: http://www.aeon.jp/aeon/shinagawaseaside/

Baby facilities: Changing tables are available in the toilets on each floor. The second floor has a large changing and feeding room near the baby section. Trolleys with child seats are also available and can be used through the store. The food court in the basement has highchairs.

Crawling:

Walking:

2-5 years:

5-10 years: They might like some of the amusement games.

Cost: Free
Stroller Friendly: Yes
Baby Changing Area: Yes
Feeding Room: Yes
Child Friendly Restaurant: Yes
Rainy Weather Option: Yes
Party Venue: No

Other Aeon Tokyo stores are located below:

2-6-1 Tokumaru, Itabashi-ku 03-5398-3131
Tobu Nerima Station http://www.aeon.jp/aeon/itabashi/index.html 

3-9-19 Nishi Kasai, Edogawa-Ku 03-3675-5111 
Nishi kasai Station http://www.aeon.jp/aeon/kasai/ 

37-13 Kitaminamachi, Ota-Ku 03-3727-4000
Ontakesan Station http://www.aeon.jp/aeon/ontakesan/

1-9-10 Shinonome, Koto-Ku 03-6221-3400
Toyosu Station http://www.aeon.jp/aeon/shinonome/

3-32-7 Umejima, Adachi-Ku 03-3852-2121
Nishi Arai Station  http://www.aeon.jp/aeon/nishiarai/index.html

6-7-15 Minamisuna, Koto-Ku 03-5677-3500
Minamisuna machi station  http://www.aeon.jp/aeon/minamisuna/

Sumida River Fireworks Festival

August 27th, 2011

The oldest and biggest fireworks festival in Tokyo. Arrive as early as possible and expect a crazy number of people.

Boom: 20,000

Location: Area 1: Sakurabashi and Kototoibashi Bridges
Area 2: Komagatabashi and Umayabashi Bridges

Train: Area 1: 15 min. walk from Asakusa Station, North Exit on Tobu-Isezaki Line
15 min. walk from Asakusa Station Exit 5 on Ginza Line/Toei Asakusa Line.
Area 2: 5 min. walk from Asakusa Station Exit A2 on Toei Asakusa Line,
5 min. walk from Kuramae Station Exit A7 on Toei Oedo Line.

Hours: 7pm - 8.30pm

Website: sumidagawa-hanabi.com/index_eg.html

Baby facilities: No

Crawling:

Walking:

2-5 years:

5-10 years:

Cost: Free
Stroller Friendly: No
Baby Changing Area: No
Feeding Room: No
Child Friendly Restaurant: No
Rainy Weather Option: No
Party Venue: No

Jingu-Gaien Fireworks Festival

August 6th, 2011

Fireworks and performances by Japanese stars. Part of the admission fee will be used for East Japan earthquake reconstruction assistance for victims. Victims of the earthquake will be invited to view the fireworks and all fireworks displayed are manufactured in Sendai city or Miyagi prefecture.

Boom: 10,000

Location: Meiji Jingu Gaien. Fireworks will be launched from Jingu Kyujo Ballpark, National Kasumigaoka Athletic Field, Chichibu-no-miya Rugby Field and Soft-Ball Park.

Phone: For infomation phone 03-3547-0900, for tickets contact Pia on  0570-02-9111

Train: Sendagaya Station or Shinanomachi Station on JR Sobu Line;
Gaienmae Station, Aoyama 1-chome Station, Omotesando Station on Subways;
and Kokuritsu Kyogijyo Station on Toei Oedo Line.

Hours: 7.30pm - 8.30pm

Website: jinguhanabi.nikkansports.com (Japanese only)

Baby facilities: None

Crawling: Preschool children and younger will not be admitted.

Walking: Preschool children and younger will not be admitted.

2-5 years: Preschool children and younger will not be admitted.

5-10 years:

Cost: From 3150 yen to 8500 yen for tickets. Free outside the stadium.
Stroller Friendly: No
Baby Changing Area: No
Feeding Room: No
Child Friendly Restaurant: No
Rainy Weather Option: No
Party Venue: No

The 45th Katsushika Fireworks Display

Date: July 26th, 2011.

Description: In consideration of the victims of the Eastern Japan Earthquake Disaster which occurred on March 11th, many firework events have been cancelled this year.

Boom Size: 7000

Location: Katsushika Shibamata Baseball Field. (7-17-13 Shibamata, frontage Edogawa riverbed)

Phone: 0570-02-9111 for tickets through Pia.

Train: 10 min. from Shibamata Station, Keisei Line
15 min. from Shinshibamata Station, Hokuso Line
20 min. from Kanamachi, JR Joban Line

Hours: 7.20pm - 8pm.

Website: Katsushika (terrible translation)

Baby facilities: None

Crawling:

Walking:

2-5 years:

5-10 years:

Cost: 5000 yen for a space for 2 people or 6000 yen for a space for 3 people. Free outside the baseball field

Stroller Friendly: No
Baby Changing Area: No
Feeding Room: No
Child Friendly Restaurant: No
Rainy Weather Option: No
Party Venue: No