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)

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
 

NASPA New Otani Hotel

Set on the slopes in Yuzawa, this hotel is perfect for a skiing holiday for the family. You never have to leave the hotel, they have everything! Lots of restaurants, ski shops if you need gear, ski rental, lift tickets, children's playroom, comfortable rooms, onsen, private bath hire (our kids love this option!) and skiing from the door. Lots of friendly, English speaking staff.
No Snowboarding!

Location: 5min taxi from Echigo Yuzawa station. Yuzawa 2117-9, Yuzawa-machi, Minamiuonuma-gun, Niigata-ken
Phone: 025-780-6222
Train: 80min Shinkansen from Tokyo station direct to Echigo Yuzawa station.
Website: www.naspanewotani.com
Baby facilities: An indoor kids playroom and a kids park in the snow are both available.

Crawling:

Walking:

2-5 years:

5-10 years:

Cost: From 14,000 per person including dinner and breakfast. Weekends are much higher.
Stroller Friendly: No
Baby Changing Area: Yes, in the toilets.
Feeding Room: No, but your hotel room is never far.
Child Friendly Restaurant: Yes
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

Tokyo Picnic

September 24-25, 2011.
A mega, record breaking picnic will be held in Tachikawa, to get people together for eating, drinking, chatting, socialising. Tokyo Picnic is a free (excluding park entry costs) event taking place at Showa Kinen Park in mid September, and it's open to absolutely everyone. Just like any picnic,you are invited to bring your own bentos, though a small selection of organic food will be available at the event.

The park has lots of fun, everyday activities for the family including:

• A 14 kilometre cycling track, bicycles can be hired all year round.
•  Pedal boats and row boats can be hired all year except in winter.
• Putt putt golf.
• Disk golf can be rented.
• Petanque hire.
• Croquet hire.
• Lawn bowls.
• Horseshoe hire (BYO horse).
• Futsal court hire.
• 3 on 3 court hire.
• BBQ hire

Location: Showa Kinen Park, 3173 Midori-machi, Tachikawa-shi, Tokyo

Phone: 042 528 1751

Train: Nishi-Tachikawa station (Ohme line)

Hours: 10am-5pm, Sep 24-25.

Website: www.tokyopicnic.jp (Japanese)
Showa Kinen Park Website (English)

Baby facilities: There are baby beds, changing facilities and hot water available, please ask staff. You can also rent strollers at the Tachikawa, Nishi Tachikawa and Sunagawa gates for 150 yen.

Crawling:

Walking:

2-5 years:

5-10 years:

Cost: Adults over 15 400 yen, Children 6-15 years 80yen, children under 6 free, seniors over 65 200 yen.

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

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

Sea Paradise

Sea Paradise is an   amusement park on an island in Yokohama Bay. It has an aquarium, a surf coaster that swings out over the ocean, an exhilarating vertical fall ride, hotel, restaurants, a marina and much more.

Location: Hakkeijima , Kanazawa-ku Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa

Phone: 045-788-8888

Train: Direct access from Yokohama New Transit Hakkeijima Station. See details here.

Car:  From the Metropolitan Expressway Wangan Line take the "Sachiura" exit, then its about 2km. See details here.

Hours: The actual island is open from around 8.30am to 9.30pm but most attractions are open 10am to 6pm. It does vary depending on the day and time of year so it is best to check the website here.

Website: www.seaparadise.co.jp available in Japanese, English, Chinese and Korean.

Baby facilities: Changing tables are available in some toilets.

Crawling:

Walking:

2-5 years:

5-10 years: There are plenty of rides if the older kids are getting bored of fish. Even teenagers would have fun here

Cost for an all inclusive pass:
Adult & High School Student 4,900 Yen
Junior high school & Elementary school student 3,500 Yen
Children (4 years or over) 2,000 Yen
Twilight pass, after 3pm on weekdays and after 5pm on weekends and school holidays 2,700 yen.
Cheaper passes are available without the all inclusive price, this option would be better for younger children who are too young to use the rides.

Stroller Friendly: Yes
Baby Changing Area: Yes
Feeding Room: Yes
Child Friendly Restaurant: Yes
Rainy Weather Option: Yes (Not for the outdoor rides)
Party Venue: No

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