**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. It will be there until March 21, 2024.
For a morning idea for the warmer months. , there is a water fountain in Grand Mall Park (right in between the Yokohama Art Museum and the Department store called “Mark IS.” It is designed to be a fountain and not a splash pad so children aren’t encouraged to try and “swim” with their faces under water (ie. not for drinking) – but we found it to be a fantastic spot for a cool off and run around. If you’d prefer your kiddies didn’t get nakey in front of everyone, there are lots of restrooms (with change tables) inside “Mark Is”.
GRAND MALL PARK, YOKOHAMA
横浜市西区みなとみらい３丁目
3 CHOME, MINATO-MIRAI, NISHI-KU, YOKOHAMA
FOUNTAIN OPERATION HOURS: MON – SAT 10AM – 5PM
For a great kid-friendly lunch or dinner in this complex, I recommend Shonan Pancake.
At lunchtime they also offer a salad buffet and the main menu items are pancakes ( of course), meat, rice and pasta dishes.
They accept most major credit cards.
Smoking is allowed on the terrace but not anywhere inside the restaurant.
There is sofa booth seating as well as regular chairs and tables. There is a kids menu. There is space for strollers.
GROUND FLOOR, LANDMARK TOWER, YOKOHAMA
OPEN WEEKDAYS 11AM-9PM
OPEN WEEKENDS 10AM-9PM
And for another meal option inside Landmark Tower, I recommend heading to the Yokohama Landmark Tower branch of Afuri Ramen.
Warning: this can be tricky with toddlers and little hands near big full bowls of ramen ( the ramen stock / water is sooo hot) and the seating is bar stool style seating. For this reason, I recommend visiting with children 5 or older – but that’s just me and my worry wart brain.
This store does offer vegan options.
AFURI RAMEN YOKOHAMA LANDMARK TOWER STORE
横浜市西区みなとみらい2-2-1横浜ランドマークタワー 1F
GROUND FLOOR YOKOHAMA LANDMARK TOWER, 2-2-1 MINATO-MIRAI, NISHI-KU, YOKOHAMA
OPEN EVERYDAY 11AM-10PM
While in the Mark Is Department Store, you may want to make your way to the 3rd floor for a play at the Kid-O-Kid Yokohama Playcentre – which is inside the Bornelund Toy Shop. There was lots for babies and even kids around 9 or 10 were having a good time. (The Kid-O-Kid brand recommend 6 months of age to 12. ) It’s kept so lovely and clean too.
There are no restrooms inside the centre so get kids to go in the department store first (otherwise it will cut into your time.) The first 30 minutes is 600 yen for children and then 100 yen for each additional 10 minutes + set fee of 500 yen for adults.
If you decide that you like this brand of playcentre: you may like to visit their other branches all over Japan.
KID O KID, YOKOHAMA, MARK IS DEPARTMENT MINATO MIRAI STORE
県横浜市西区みなとみらい3-5-1 MARK IS みなとみらい3階
3rd FLOOR MARK IS DEPARTMENT STORE, 3-5-1 MINATO MIRAI, NISHI-KU, YOKOHAMA
OPEN 10AM-7PM
In the Mark Is Complex, I recommend eating at a restaurant called Ishigamaya Hamburg. It’s on the 4th Floor. The kids meals come with a little toy. They accept most major credit cards. This restaurant also has high chairs and space to store strollers while you dine.
ISHIGAMAYA HAMBURG, YOKOHAMA MINATO MIRAI
4TH FLOOR OF MARK IS SHOPPING MALL
OPEN EVERYDAY 11AM-10PM
A lunch or dinner option in the Minato Mirai area is to have some okonomiyaki.
Botejyu is an okonomiyaki restaurant chain in Japan that has been around since 1946. This store is in the Yokohama Landmark Plaza, on the ground floor.
In Japan, okonomiyaki is seen as a comfort food. It is often referred to as a thick Japanese omelette made with cabbage and then diners choose their own fillings such as additional vegetables, meats or seafood. It is then decorated with sauces, mayonnaise and/or seaweed flakes. It is cooked on a hot plate in front of you so it is really good if you are fussy or just really need to be able to veto ingredients as they are added.
Another option for food in Okonomiyaki restaurants is yakisoba – noodles cooked on the hot grill. It’s really popular and is often considered to be one of Japan’s most popular street food options.
Okonomiyaki restaurants are pretty much always really casual and a great way to share a cheap meal with friends or colleagues.
Read here for how to order a vegetarian version of okonomiyaki
It is possible to reserve a private room ( 6 people max.)
This restaurant accepts credit cards.
Please note that this is not a non-smoking restaurant so you may need to venture in in between normal mealtimes or suss it out first.
I would budget around 1000 yen for an adult meal for lunch and 2000 yen for dinner.
BOTEJYU YOKOHAMA
横浜市西区みなとみらい2-2-1 横浜ランドマークプラザ 1F
GROUND FLOOR, YOKOHAMA LANDMARK PLAZA, 2-2-1 MINATO MIRAI, NISHI-KU, YOKOHAMA
OPEN 11AM-11PM
I also recommend a trip to the Cup Noodle Museum – which is as random as it sounds ! So cute and so much fun.
Eggs’n’Things is a Hawaiian restaurant built around the concept of “All Day Breakfast” ( a relatively new idea for Japan.) It is light and bright and there are several of these restaurants around Japan but this is branch my favourite – mainly because of the space and shorter lines. This restaurant is well-known for the mountain of whipped cream on their sweet pancakes. YUM! They also have savoury options and a kids menu (egg and hamburger steak plate or fruit and cream pancakes with a chocolate pen to decorate). They have high chairs and the staff are very welcoming when it comes to families.
*The photos below are of the Odaiba branch but even though it isn’t the exact building, the menu is the same.
EGGS’N’THINGS YOKOHAMA YAMASHITA PARK
横浜市中区山下町11 スターホテル横浜1F
GROUND FLOOR, STAR HOTEL YOKOHAMA, 11 YAMASHITA-CHO, CHUO-KU, YOKOHAMA
OPEN EVERYDAY 9AM-10PM
WEBSITE
Head to Yamashita Park right afterwards for some wriggle time afterwards.
These photos were taken in and around Zou no Hana (Elephant’s Trunk) park. This area has a cafe called Zou no Hana Terrace that has an art space and, last time I visited, also had a craft beer stand too. Kiddies might enjoy their Elephant’s Trunk soft-serve ice-cream here too.
ZOU NO HANA TERRACE
横浜市中区海岸通1丁目
1 WANGAN-DORI, CHUO-KU, YOKOHAMA
OPEN: 10AM-6PM
WEBSITE
Did you know there is a playcentre in Yokohama called PUCHU? More info coming soon!
If you are looking for a beautiful vegan lunch or dinner then I recommend making a reservation at “Il Giardino” Italian restaurant at the Hotel New Grand.
There is also a beautiful view of the garden from the terrace. This hotel is across the road from the Gundam Statue.
I like to use these changing & feeding facilities in this area:
- Starbucks Koen Store, Near Yokohama Park (change table)
- The Cup Noodles Museum, Ground floor entrance hall (change table, breastfeeding room)
- Queens Square Department Store, East Building, 4th Floor (change tables, breastfeeding rooms, boiled water, highchair, vending machines)
- Starbucks & Tsutaya Minato Mirai (change tables, breastfeeding rooms, boiled water)
- Yokohama Museum of Art, 2nd floor (change table, stroller rental available for museum use only)
- Kid-O-Kid Playcentre inside Mark Is Department Store, 3rd floor (breastfeeding room, boiled water, change table) *For playcentre customers
- Moff Animal World inside Mark Is Department Store, 5th floor (change tables, breastfeeding rooms, boiled water)
- Happy Lawson Yamashita Park (change table)
- Zou no Hana Cafe ( change table)
- Mark IS Department Store, 3rd Floor Family Room (change tables, breastfeeding rooms, baby play area, boiled water)
- Anpanman Museum, 2nd Floor (change tables, breastfeeding room) Ground Floor (breastfeeding room, change tables)
I usually steer clear of Zoos in Japan – but Zoorasia is a good one. Lots of open space for people and for animals. There are also large playgrounds throughout the zoo and not far from the exit are a whole lot of animal statues that my two love to climb all over as well.
Sorry.. I have lots of pictures of this place. We’ve been here 4 times in 2 years!
In Summer, keep an eye out for their Night Zoo events.
Admission is free for who are not of school age are free. Elementary students are 200 yen. Junior High & High School students are 300 yen. Adults are 800 yen.
横浜市旭区上白根町1175-10
OPEN: 9:30AM-4:30PM
CLOSED: TUESDAYS (OR THE FOLLOWING DAY IF TUESDAY IS A NATIONAL HOLIDAY) AND FOR NEW YEARS HOLIDAYS. OPEN EVERYDAY IN MAY & OCTOBER.
ACCESS FROM YOKOHAMA: 20 MINS ON TRAIN + 20 MINS BY BUS OR 20 MINS BY CAR
WEBSITE
If you’re in Kanagawa prefecture this Department Store playcentre is a great option for a spot of shopping and a good chance to get out some energy. It is a playcentre that constantly runs different games, craft activities and songs throughout the day – and all activities are run in English by native English speakers.
It is considerably cheaper than inner city playcentres.
There are no bathrooms inside the facility so you’ll need to take kiddies outside (close by) to the department store bathrooms. There is, however, a room for changing nappies and breastfeeding.
My kids had a ball here and we stayed for about 2.5 hours.
Admission is 1800 yen for 1 child and 1 adult for a full day pass ( ask for hourly rate if you plan on staying less than 1.5 hours as it will work out cheaper that way. )
This centre also offers babysitting services while parents’ shop in the department store for an additional fee.
This playcentre is approx 20 minutes from Yokohama Station, Futakotamagawa and Zoorasia.
Next to the playcentre is an amusement game centre.
JOY KIDS WORLD ENFUNY, CENTER MINAMI BRANCH
神奈川県横浜市都筑区茅ヶ崎中央5-1, B館6階
BUILDING B, 6TH FLOOR, 5-1 CHIGASAKICHUO, TSUZUKI-KU, YOKOHAMA-SHI, KANAGAWA
OPEN EVERYDAY 10AM-7PM
WEBSITE (website is in Japanese)
Their instagram account : joykidsworld_enfuny actually has more information in English.
The Anpanman Museum in Yokohama has been newly renovated since I last visited. There are now beautiful new show rooms, play spaces and it is just more beautiful , spacious and clean. That also means that it is more popular too so please visit on weekdays if you can.
I really should give the Anpanman Museum a mention (It will most certainly pop up on your phone if you google “things to do with kids” in this area. I took my little boy (2.5 years old) and he liked it enough to touch and spin and climb on everything but we did get through the “museum” (aka Anpanman themed play centre if you ask me…) very quickly…I mean….like… 45 minutes. Which was a bit rough for the 1500 yen per person – me included!
Japan has so many super-dooper play centres that we won’t be going back. (Suggestions on the better one’s HERE.
HOWEVER, if your child is a new walker and you want somewhere clean, dry and colourful – you may want to consider? Maybe? Maybe if it’s raining and you’re out of other ideas, maybe?
OR if they are a hardcore Anpanman character fan and under 3 years old…they may still find it fun.
Note: strollers need to be parked at the entrance. No food and drink inside.
Shoes can stay on for indoor play.
ANPANMAN MUSEUM
神奈川県横浜市西区港みなとみらい4-3-1
4-3-1 MINATOMIRAI, NISHI-KU, YOKOHAMA, KANAGAWA PREFECTURE
MUSEUM HOURS 10AM-6PM
SHOPPING CENTRE HOURS 10AM-7PM
MUSEUM ADMISSION IS 1500 YEN PER PERSON (FREE FOR BABIES UNDER 1)
WEBSITE
And in Yokohama is one of the restaurants where you fish for their dinner. The restaurant is called Zaou.
Details here.
Extra tip: If you’re staying in Yokohama and choose to stay at the Yokohama Royal Park Hotel as, from the top floors, Mt Fuji can be seen on a clear day.
In the latest news : there is a fantastic playcentre in Yokohama called PuChu!
Check out the PuChu! details here (and I’ll get a write up out to you as soon as possible.)
