Well … I’ve done a post for Little Dino and Godzilla Fans (here) and Transport lovers (here.)
So why not hit the little Robot fans up too?
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
Diver City in Odaiba has always mostly appealed to shoppers looking for fashion but the “life size” Gundam Unicorn 20 metre-high statue.
Note: the Gundam Statue will be taken down at some point in 2023.
The light up and transformation from Gundam to Gundam Unicorn ( Yep… I’m also not too sure about why or what but…anyway… it looked pretty big and impressive…) occurs at the following times:
7:30pm (5 minute light show)
8pm (3.5 minute show)
8:30pm (2 minute show)
9pm (5 minute show)
9:30pm (3.5 minute show)
If it’s a bit tricky to stand and watch in the cold with your kiddies, you can still see the “transformation” of the statue at 11am, 1pm, 3pm and 5pm.
If you know nothing about Gundam and what he (it?) represents then…. you’re just like me!!! Here is the information here.
There is also a small ice-skating rink at the base of the statue until December 31st. Skating hours are 2pm -9pm.
Prices are 1000 yen for adults and 500 yen for children. Skate and glove rental are 300 yen each.
Customers who spend more than 2000 yen at the Diver City Complex can skate for 500 yen and skate rental is free of charge.
My favourite part is the name of the ice-skating rink. It’s called Dramatic Skate Rink. It most certainly would be dramatic if I had a turn…. I’m not exactly and agile and co-ordinated human being on ice …or soil…..
江東区青海1-1-10 ダイバーシティ東京プラザ
DIVER CITY TOKYO PLAZA, AOMI, KOTO-KU
This next park is a small, retro suburban spot called Oji Rokuchome Jidou Park with a giant robot with a double slide.
It’s tucked away and is a very small park. I would only travel there especially if you’re in the area as it’s a bit worn down. That said though, my kids had the most fabulous time here. There is a 7-Eleven right across the road so we grabbed lots of different snacks and drinks. If you go all the way here then I also recommend visiting Asukayama Park (7 mins by taxi or 17 mins on foot) a much bigger park – while you’re in the area. The details of this park are included in my retro park post here. (I have another park that’s even closer listed below as well. For a big park day, you could easily do all three. )
I really wanted to visit this playground after seeing a range of Japanese playgrounds at night photo series by photographer Kito Fujio . You can see the article here on the website Spoon & Tamago.
Photo is by Kito Fujio.
It was also a boiling hot day so the kids played with the water fountain too.
OJI ROKUCHOME JIDOU KOEN
北区王子6-2-60
6-2-60 OJI, KITA
Afterwards, we were able to wander on to another park on the same road (only 300 metres away) for some different play equipment.
The second park is called Toshima Park and has a water splash area that will open this year on July 12. There were actually more local children here than at the Robot slide park. I’m thinking maybe because this one is more visible from the street so feels a bit safer perhaps? Toshima Park has public restrooms. Anyway, we filled up almost an entire day just between these two parks and 7-Eleven for more drinks and snacks.
TOSHIMA PARK
北区王子6-3-43
6-3-43 OJI, KITA
If you find yourself shopping at LalaPort in Saitama I recommend this ride for robot lovers. It’s just so so cute.
In the same play arcade are the following other games.
While in the LalaPort Complex in Fujimi, I can’t recommend the TEAM LAB section highly enough. The incredibly clever projection/installation/design geniuses that are Team Lab have a whole play area just for children. It’s so much crazy, bouncy, rainbow fun for kiddlie-winks but also educational and oh so aesthetically pleasing.
The artists at Team Lab have amazing pop-up exhibits all over Japan all the time but this is one of their permanent exhibitions. They have a beautiful English website. (See HERE. )
A full day pass is 1200 yen but I think an hour or so is more than enough (we filled in more of the day with the arcade games and rides that I’ve listed just below. ) Instead I paid 500 yen each person for 30 minutes and extended for an additional 30 minutes after that.
If you’re nearby and don’t even go in there is an interactive video wall to play with near the entrance.
TEAM LAB LALAPORT FUJIMI
1-1313 YAMAMURO, FUJIMI-SHI, SAITAMA
OPEN 10AM-6PM
WEBSITE
Ok… so hardcore robot fans will NOT be happy about lumping these “varieties” together but …as far as my un-cool Mummy brain goes.. an android can fit into the robot category, yes?
One of the Information Desks in Aqua City in Odaiba is manned by an Android. Be sure to go and meet her – she is very realistic/ impressive/creepy.
And in another spot on Odaiba, is the Miraikan (The National Museum of Emerging Science & Innovation) has more, amazingly life-like, androids as well.
See here for even more things to do in Odaiba with Kids.
**One of the coolest and most recent updates to the Yokohama area is the addition of the giant ( and I mean GIANT-it’s 18 metres tall!) moving Gundam Statue – I think it looks best at night. Entry fee starts at 1650 yen and prices depend on timing and special events. **Visit the Gundam Factory Yokohama’s website for more information.
