The rainy season is almost upon us, and right after that we will be faced with the depths of a humid summer. This to me signals one major thing – ideas for ways to keep children occupied indoors!
A new play center has opened on the third floor of The Mall on 16. It is part of a chain of indoor play centers – similar to Bornelund at Aeon Mall. The name of the chain is Aneby Trimpark.
The play center has a lot of wide open space for your little ones to run around, as well as engaging activities like a trampoline, indoor slide and playground, climbing wall, musical activities, a water lab, building lab, kitchen area – it’s really quite comprehensive! It was a nice change of scenery for us – and sometimes that’s what the kids need! Kim Bosack- May 2016
PRICE: It’s 800 yen for an hour of play for kids, with a 600 yen charge for adults – and a 200 yen extension for each 15 minutes after that, or you can get an all day pass for 1600 yen for a child with the 600 yen adult charge.
HOURS: 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
DIRECTIONS: To get there, take a right out the terminal gate and simply follow the signs for Route 16. About 6.5km down the road you’ll see “The Mall” on your left. Parking is free, and then just head up to the third floor!
WEBSITE: www.anebytrimpark-labo-m.com/
We went to Kawaii Monster Café in Harajuku, and what a treat it was! It all started with the friendly hostess, she informed us that there’s a Y500 per person table charge, then we got to choose a place to sit. There are four sections to choose from, my daughter choose Mel-Tea Room. Once we were ready to be seated they have you wait by the door and say “you ready”? My daughter said “yes” and they opened up the door and WOW, all you see is nothing but amazing decorations all over the place. You feel like you stepped into a magical place. My daughter couldn’t stop smiling.
As we were getting ready to pay, all the lights turned off and they said something in Japanese. I asked the hostess what was going on she said ” the performance was about to start”. I couldn’t believe our luck. In the middle of the Café there was a merry-go-round that actually moved, and two kawaii monster’s where dancing around.
New Year’s Day is the most important Japanese holiday, where many “firsts” are celebrated. Some of these special firsts include; first prayer, first sunrise, and first …SALE! The Japanese phenomenon known as fukubukuro, (or “lucky/happy bag”), entails heading to a store on January 1-3 and buying a bag with unknown contents for a set price. The only guarantee is that the bag will be worth more than you paid, sometimes several times more, but it’s a gamble.
There is Japanese food and Japanese cuisine…Sushi-chu offers the latter – to the maximum delicious degree. Prices are reasonable, the staff is learning English to serve their customers, and the atmosphere is cozy and relaxing. You can order from their set menu, or create your own experience by ordering a la carte. The restaurant is family-run and family-friendly (kids can even roll their own sushi). Sushi-chu delivers on taste, freshness, presentation – and most importantly, a welcoming staff.
Arrive with cash (yen) and park next to the building on the West side. You can even reserve special tatami rooms to dine in. This would be a great place to take visitors for an authentic Japanese experience. Pictures, Jamie Cowan, July 2015
surrounds Yasukuni because since 1978, fourteen class A war criminals (including General Hideki Tojo from WWII ) are among the 2.5 million enshrined here. Several Japanese prime ministers and cabinet members come here to pay their respects, which infuriates some from China and South Korea. They believe it is a violation of the principle of separation of church and state. Each time I have been there, there have been Japanese news personnel watching to see if anyone noteworthy was paying their respects.
tallest peak. A hike up Mt. Fuji most popularly begins at the “5th station” and ends at the 10th station, or summit. The Outdoor Recreation group, on base, take many trips to Fuji every summer, but you must be 16 years or older to join their tours. Though quite a challenging hike, it is very possible for children of all ages to make it to the top. My daughters were 6 and 7 when we made our trip up Mt. Fuji, so here are a few tips and suggestions for anyone considering this amazing adventure.
Be prepared to get pleasantly surprised if you get a chance to visit this small
