The Azabujuban area houses a large portion of Tokyo’s expat community and, if you drop by, you’ll see why many international families choose to live in the area.
It has a very international vibe and is extremely English friendly. If mixing it up with something touristy you could wander over while sightseeing in Roppongi. (This is my post on Roppongi with Kids.) Change & Feeding spots at the bottom of the post.
I recommend looking at Hiroo as well – on the other side of the hill.
Dumbo Doughnuts is a cafe in AzabuJuban for coffee and doughnuts. The instagram trend appears to be placing the doughnut over the top of coffee. The pink coffee cups are also just so cute. See the bottom of this post for details of the little park across the road.
GROUND FLOOR, 2-17-6 AZABUJUBAN, MINATO
港区麻布十番2-17-6, 1F
OPEN: 9AM-7PM
….and if you felt like a bagel to either eat-in or takeaway? There is the New New York Bagel & Sandwich Shop right across the road.
NEW NEW YOUR BAGEL & SANDWICH SHOP, AZABU
港区麻布十番3-8-5
3-8-5 AZABUJUBAN, MINATO-KU
OPEN 9AM-6PM (CLOSES EARLY ONCE THEY SELL OUT OF BAGELS )
DAYTIME IDEAS
If you’re already in the area with children I’d suggest walking an extra ten minutes to Roppongi’s Robot Park for a play and a stretch. (While you’re there.. how about checking out my post for other Roppongi with kids suggestions.) Robo-Robo (aka, Robot) Park is my kid’s favourite Tokyo city park. It’s just a small piece of land with a rainbow of slides, a few climbing options and a giant roller slide down the hill. I don’t recommend in the hottest part of Summer as the slides get really hot. Toilets are at the bottom of the hill across the road.
6-16-46 ROPPONGI, MINATO-KU
港区六本木六丁目6-16-46
ALWAYS OPEN. NO ROLLERSLIDE USE AT NIGHT/EARLY MORNING
Another place mentioned in my Roppongi post is Gonpachi which is actually in NishiAzabu right on the edge of Roppongi. This restaurant is also known as “The Kill Bill Restaurant”. Is it a total tourist trap? Yes! It’s it great fun and very cool? YES! It’s also very easy with children – for lunch or an early sitting at dinner. I love their tempura and my kids like the gyoza.
If you do go for dinner, visit on a Sunday night on a Wednesday night between 8-8:30pm. They almost always have a Japanese drumming performance right in the restaurant. Ask about it when you make a reservation.
I recommend making a reservation, regardless. It’s a lively, picturesque setting for a meal. Don’t rush in – the entrance is filled with signed photos of famous visitors.
GONPACHI, NISHIAZABU
1-13-11 NISHI-AZABU, MINATO
港区西麻布1-13-11
OPEN: 11:30AM-3:30AM
My number one veggie-haven at the moment is We are the Farm in Azabujuban. Lunch is especially good value but the dinner is also amazing.
The lunch course at this Farm-to-Table restaurant includes soup & a kale side salad and you can choose your own main : a vegetable gratin, a “choose your own ingredients salad” or a grilled vegetable platter (see pictures below) for 1500 yen.
This place is popular so you’ll need to make a reservation (or just call to make sure that they have seats available.) They don’t have high chairs.
They also have beer made with Kale if you’re feeling game…. let me know if it’s any good?
I especially love their lunch salad buffet (although they might not like me visiting as I just keep eating and eating.)
If you get the chance, they sell the amazing cheese and tomato dish at all times of the day.
My husband and I go here for date nights often and, I know it sounds weird to say but, this simple marinated onion served with rock salt was to die for!
We both love their ‘Chunky Veg’ gratin and the plate of all the amazing Japanese varieties of mushrooms was one of my favourites.
The only negative thing I have to say about this place is that I haven’t found any yummy alcoholic drinks there yet – but I rarely have success with organic wine. Perhaps its those chemicals that make wine taste so yummy???!!!
WE ARE THE FARM AZABU
港区元麻布3-10-4
3 -10-4 MOTOAZABU, MINATO-KU
OPEN FOR LUNCH: 11:30AM-3PM
WEEKDAY DINNERS: 6PM-11:30PM
WEEKEND DINNERS: 5PM-11:30PM
TABELOG WEBSITE
We are the Farm also have restaurants in Ebisu and Yoyogi.
And then 11 minutes walk from Azabujuban is Iigura Park (for some reason you’ll need to enter it as ‘Iikura Park’ in google maps.
This is a great little suburban park right near a whole bunch of kindergartens so your kids are likely to make some local friends here.
港区東麻布1-21-8
1-21-8 HIGASHI AZABU, MINATO
If you find yourself on the Azabu-Juban side of the hill around dinner time (or lunchtime on weekends) and are looking for an option with a terrace, Pizza Strada is a great option with children.
PIZZA STRADA
GROUND FLOOR, NS AZABU BUILDING, 3-6-2 AZABU-JUBAN, MINATO
港区麻布十番3-6-2 NS麻布十番ビル1F
OPEN: EVERYDAY , WEEKENDS & HOLIDAYS 12PM-10:30PM, WEEKDAYS 5PM-11PM
PIZZA STRADA AZABUJUBAN WEBSITE
And another fabulous child-friendly option is Soul Food House in Azabujuban (just across the road from Picard.)
The food is served in generous portions and the service is friendly and warm. It really feels like you are visiting friends.
They serve Southern fried chicken, waffles, mac & cheese and tacos. They also have lots of vegetarian options. Highly recommend.
SOUL FOOD HOUSE
港区麻布十番2-8-10 PATIO麻布十番6F
6F PATIO AZABUJUBAN BUILDING, 2-8-10 AZABUJUBAN, MINATO-KU
OPEN FOR LUNCH : WED-FRI & SAT 11AM-3PM
OPEN FOR DINNER: WED -SAT 5PM-11PM
CLOSED MON & TUES
Cafe La Boheme is just 3 mins walk from Azabujuban Station.
This restaurant welcomes families and servces both lunch and dinner. Budget for lunch is around 2000 yen per adult and more like 4000 yen at dinnertime. Please note that there is a 880 yen service charge for each person when dining after 6pm. This restaurant is big (seats 124 people) but it is still wise to make a reservation if you want to eat there on a weekend or during the Azabujuban festival etc. You can make reservations in English on their website. Although it’s only a couple of options each – there are vegetarian and vegan items on their menu too ( their vegan quinoa and kale salad is so good and they also have some vegan pasta dishes.)
The entire restaurant is non-smoking. They accept most major credit cards. You can see the Cafe La Boheme Azabujuban menu here.
They also have space to store strollers while you dine.
CAFE LA BOHEME AZABUJUBAN
港区麻布十番2-3-7
2-3-7 AZABUJUBAN, MINATO
OPEN FOR LUNCH 11:30AM-2PM
OPEN FOR CAFE TIME (PASTA SETS & DRINKS) 2PM-5PM
OPEN FOR DINNER 5PM – 3AM
It is not a beautiful park but if you’ve just finished at a cafe or need a spot for wriggling after a stroller ride, Amishiro Park in Azabu-Juban is a good one. As always, my kids are crazy for a good swing and a roller-slide. It’s very close to Dumbo Doughnuts.
AMISHIRO PARK
2-15-1 AZABU, MINATO
港区麻布2-15-1
And just 2 mins walk from Amishiro Park is the Azabujuban branch of Afuri Ramen.
Please be careful taking toddlers here – the bowls are full of lovely warm ramen ( and ramen broth) so little hands need to be kept an eye on at all times. Seating is bar stool style.
Please note that this store does not accept cash.
AFURI RAMEN AZABUJUBAN
麻布十番1-8-10麻布十番 TSビル 1F
GROUND FLOOR, AZABUJUBAN TS BUILDING, 1-8-10 AZABUJUBAN
OPEN EVERYDAY 11AM-4AM
Please note that this store does not accept cash.
If you are looking for a supermarket with lots of organic options in this area, I recommend Bio c Bon in AzabuJuban.
They sell fruit, vegetables, meat, wine and groceries. They also stock makeup and baby supplies. This is a bulk shopping corner for nuts and spices.
There is also a small eat-in area and they have free wifi here.
BIO C BON, AZABUJUBAN STORE
港区麻布十番2-9-2
2-9-2 AZABUJUBAN, MINATO
OPEN EVERYDAY OF THE YEAR 9AM-10PM
BIO C BON
I like to use these changing & feeding facilities in this area:
- Welcia Pharmacy Azabu-Juban, 2nd Floor (change table)
- McDonalds Azabu-Juban, 2nd Floor, Female Restroom (change table)
- Nissin Supermarket, Female Restroom (change table)
