Table Of Contents
From libraries and museums where you can have fun even in bad weather to large parks where adults can relax and interact with animals for free, here are 15 places where the whole family can have fun!
Cultural facilities for rainy days
1, International Library of Children’s Literature, National Diet Library @ Ueno
The National Diet Library consists of two buildings: the brick wing, which has been selected as a historical landmark by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and the beautiful curved arch wing covered with glass. The “Children’s Room” in the brick building is an open-shelf reading room mainly for elementary school students and younger, and is equipped with approximately 10,000 children’s books. The “World Knowledge Room,” which was used as a guest room in the days of the Imperial Library, has approximately 2,000 books aimed at deepening international understanding.
📍 12-49 Ueno Koen, Taito-ku
👉Official website🚇About 10 minutes walk from Park Exit of Ueno Station, about 15 minutes walk from Exit 7 of Ueno Station
2, Cosmo Planetarium Shibuya
Planetarium in the Shibuya Ward Cultural Center Owada. Eight starry sky interpreters are in charge of random projection every day. Free for children under elementary school age.
23-21 Sakuragaoka-cho, Shibuya-ku
About 5 min. walk from Shibuya Sta.
🎟️ Adults 600 yen, Elementary and junior high school students 300 yen
3, Mitaka Campus of National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
A research institute that serves as a base for astronomical research in Japan. It holds events for the general public to experience the fascination of astronomy, such as regular viewing events twice a month. The 4D2U Dome Theater in the facility presents a powerful fulldome surround 3D image on a 10-meter-diameter dome screen.
📍 2-21-1 Osawa, Mitaka City
👉Official website🚇From Musashi Sakai Station, Odakyu Bus, Sakai 91 bound for Komae Station North Exit, Komae Office, or Chofu Station North Exit, get off at Observatory-mae bus stop. From Chofu Station, take Odakyu Bus Sakai 91 bound for Musashi Sakai Station South Exit, Musashi Sakai Office, or get off at Observatory-mae bound for Taka 51 Mitaka Station.
4, JAL Sky Museum @Haneda Airport
This is a spot where visitors can learn about the work of the skies, the history of JAL, and see real aircraft up close. At the museum, visitors can freely tour each section of the museum, including the work of the staff who support flights and exhibits of JAL’s historical documents. Inside the hangar, visitors can take a guided tour with a staff member.
📍 JAL Maintenace Center 1, 3-5-1 Haneda Airport, Ota-ku, Tokyo
👉Official site🚇About 2 minutes walk from Shin-Naibijo Station
5, ANA Blue HangarTour@Haneda Airport
The ANA Blue Hangar Tour introduces the ANA Group companies that make up the maintenance department that supports the safe operation of the ANA Group, and includes facilities that allow visitors to experience simulated maintenance work. Visitors can see the size of the hangar from the third floor deck, and on the first floor, they can see actual aircraft and mechanics at work up close.
📍 3-5-5 Haneda Airport, Ota-ku
👉Official website🚇About 4 minutes walk from Nishi-Shinbijo bus stop by Keihin Kyuko Bus, about 15 minutes walk from Shinbijo Station
6, Takao 599 Museum
This museum should be visited in conjunction with a climb of Mt. Takao, which in 2019 was designated a three-star Michelin mountain along with Mt. Visitors can learn about the rich ecosystem, history, and culture of Mt. Takao through videos and exhibits in the comfortable space of the café and terrace, where the inside and outside are interlinked.
📍 2435-3 Takao-cho, Hachioji City
👉Takao 599 Museum official website🚇About 4 minutes walk from Takaoyamaguchi Station
Outdoor facility to visit on a sunny day
1, Edogawa-ku Shizen Zoo @ Nishi-Kasai
A free zoo located a 15-minute walk from Nishi-Kasai Station. Visitors can interact with rabbits, guinea pigs, and call ducks at the petting zoo corner, which is completely changeable. The petting zoo is open four times a day on weekdays from 10:30, 11:00, 13:30, and 14:00.
📍 KT Park Building, 1-44-12 Matsushima, Edogawa-ku
👉Official website🚇About 15 minutes walk from Nishi-Kasai Station, about 20 minutes walk from Funabori Station on Toei Subway Shinjuku Line
2, Edogawa Nagisa Ponyland @ Kasai
Ponyland is located in Edogawa Ward General Recreation Park, which has various parks such as Children’s Square, Family Sports Square, and Shin-Saichon River Water Park. Children in the 6th grade and younger can experience pony rides for free, as well as interact with the ponies and feed them carrots (for a fee).
📍 Inside Edogawa Ward General Recreation Park (7-3 Minami-Kasai, Edogawa Ward)
👉Official website🚇From Kasai Station, take the Toei Bus bound for Koshaheim Minami-Kasai or Kasai Rinkai Koen, get off at Nagisa New Town and walk about 5 minutes; from Nishi-Kasai Station, take the Toei Bus bound for Nishikatsu 20 Kou Nagisa New Town and walk about 5 minutes.
3, Kasai Rinkai Park
Facing Tokyo Bay, the park consists of five zones under the theme of “green, water, and human interaction. 1994 saw the opening of the Aviary Zone, 1995 saw the opening of the Crystal View observation rest house, and 2001 saw the opening of the Ferris wheel (¥800 for ages 3 and up), a 117-meter-high, 17-minute ride in the air. Located a short distance from central Tokyo, it is recommended for families who want to avoid crowds.
📍 6 Rinkai-cho, Edogawa-ku
🚇About 1 minute walk from Kasai Rinkai Park
4, National Showa Memorial Park @ Tachikawa
A state-run park straddling Tachikawa City and Akishima City. There is a swimming pool, BBQ area, a vast “Everybody’s Field” and a dog run on the grounds, so you will never get bored no matter how many times you visit. Free admission for junior high school students and younger.
📍3173Midori-cho, Tachikawa City
10 min. walk from North Exit of Tachikawa Sta. to 🚇Akebono Exit (Midori no Bunka Zone), 18 min. walk from North Exit of Tachikawa Sta. to Tachikawa Gate.
🎟️ 450yen for high school students and older
5, JRA Horse Park @ Yoga
JRA Bajikouen, which was closed due to the equestrian events of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, will reopen in November 2023 with JRA horse shows and horse therapy activities for children and people who have never ridden horses, mainly on event days. There is also a kid’s corner, diaper changing and nursing room for those with small children.
📍 2-1-1 Kamiyoga, Setagaya-ku
👉Official website🚇About 15 minutes walk from Sakurashinmachi Station, about 20 minutes walk from Kyodo Station
6, Shimizu Pond Park Fishing Ground @ Gakugei Daigaku
This is the only park in the ward where you can also fish, mainly for Herabuna. Fishing equipment is not available for rent, and anyone can enjoy fishing as long as they handle their catch carefully with a net and return the fish to the pond immediately. Hours of operation are from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. from April to September, and from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from October to March.
📍 2-12-10 Megurohoncho, Meguro-ku
👉Official website🚇About 12 minutes walk from East Exit of Gakugeidaigaku Station
7, Tokyo Metropolitan Water Science Museum
A hands-on museum operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of Waterworks. It is equipped with facilities that allow visitors to learn while playing, such as “Aqua Park,” which has a swimming pool and water toys for small children, and “Aqua Trip,” which allows visitors to experience a “water journey” with their entire bodies by tracing a “water general circulation” as if they were water crushes.
📍 3-1-8 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo
👉Official site🚇About 8 minutes walk from Tokyo Big Sight Station, about 8 minutes walk from Kokusai Tenjijo Station
8, Tokyo Metropolitan Meiji Park @ Shinjuku
The park opened in October 2023. The “inclusive plaza” on the grounds regularly hosts playground equipment and workshops on the theme of inclusiveness and diversity.
The plaza is covered with artificial turf that provides cushioning and year-round grass space, making it a safe place to spend time with young children.
📍 Kasumigaoka-cho, Shinjuku-ku, etc.
👉Official website🚇About 9 minutes walk from National Stadium Station, about 9 minutes walk from Gaienmae Station
9, Children’s Animal Plaza at Himonya Park @ Himonya
A park where junior high school students and younger are invited to interact with ponies and small animals; from 10:00 to 11:30 and from 13:30 to 15:00, visitors can touch and hold guinea pigs, rabbits, dogs, and other small animals. For junior high school students and younger, visitors can also enjoy riding a pony back and forth along a 150-meter course in the park for 200 yen per person.
📍 6-9-11 Himonya, Meguro-ku
👉Official website🚇About 6 minutes walk from Gakugei Daigaku