Top 25 Things To Do in Japan With Kids

21 Go 24 hour gaming in Tokyo

This is definitely one for the teenagers but you never know, you may get into their addictions. Have a whole day of gaming in Tokyo, starting off in SEGA’s Joypolis in the Odaiba Bay area. It is one of the largest indoor theme parks in Japan and offers SEGA’s most popular arcarde games, sometimes integrated into rollercoasters. Then, move on to Electric Town where you can spend hours in the multi story shops looking at the wondrous merchanding, gadgets, games and dolls. We even won a limited edition figure in a lottery game outside the shop. Watch our video below to see the reaction from the rest of the queue.

There are loads of retro arcades in Tokyo. Check first to make sure they’ll let the teenagers in. If you have older teenagers, they (and you too?) can play all night in the Internet comic cafe Manboo! In this cartoon styled paradise, you can charge your mobile, eat sleep and shoot. It even has sofas, showers, a nail salon and free fizzy drinks. You may need ‘em at 3am when you have bitten nails and no energy left.

22 Be inspired on an art island

In many countries art clusters together. But rarely does it all come together on an island. And we’re talking a real island here, not a surreal one. Naoshima is an island paradise of fine art, public art and experimental art. You can sleep in an art gallery. You can imagine yourself as a seaside Cinderella by petting a giant pumpkin on a pier. You can bike around it all, catch a free bus or just wander. For the most relaxing time, stay a night in Benesse House resort and hotel. There’s also a quirky James Bond museum if you want to shake and not stir your creative side.

23 Tour a car plant

Exploring a car factory is a bit of a must when in Japan, and plenty of cities give you the option. One of the biggest draws is Tokyo’s Toyota Factory. But it was booked up well in advance. However we did manage to grab five free places at a couple of week’s notice to tour the Mazda Museum in Hiroshima. You travel around by bus and foot through a small museum before entering the factory floor. It’s incredible watching all the cars being assembled by machine and hand; we were so fascinated that the guide had to drag us away. And we got a little car to assemble ourselves at the end. The tour is free and in true Japanese fashion the coach leaves and arrives back dead on time.

24 Visit a rubbish dump

This doesn’t sound much of a laugh. And it does sound smelly. But you will be amazed how sparkling clean and interesting it is. The Naka Waste Incineration Plant in southern Hiroshima is part art and part life. It’s a striking piece of architecture (designed by Yoshio Taniguchi, who also created MoMA’s downtown building in New York,) that enables you to peer through the panoramic glass windows to see how a city gets rid of its rubbish. There’s a lovely view of the harbour from the elevated platform and best of all, no smell! You can also take a prearranged tour.

25 See the stars from a floating garden

Talking of great architecture, Osaka’s iconic Umeda Sky Building is one of the tallest in the city, but what is special about it is its sky high platform. Two 40 story towers connect in the air to produce the Floating Garden Observatory. The term ‘garden’ should be treated with a pinch of salt; it’s all a bit concrete up there, although there is a bench to pose for selfies and family pictures. The real draw is the sky. If you go just before sunset on a nice evening you get the best spot in an unfolding festival of color. The platform is circular so you can walk round, admiring the city beneath you from every vantage point. We loved how the bullet trains travelling at top speed became little toy trains, chugging around teeny tracks.

That’s all folks…

And that’s it. Our top 25. We only covered the central area, and hardly touched on that, but hopefully it gives you a few ideas. One day we may produce another 25. You can also check out our month in Haiku of Central Japan in the following four posts. Or get our practical tips on driving in Japan.

• Adventures in Haiku – Week 1
• Adventures in Haiku  – Week 2
• Adventures in Haiku – Week 3
• Adventures in Haiku – Week 4