Traveling with kids can create a wonderful experience for your children that they’ll remember for years to come. However, it can also leave you feeling like you have no time for yourself. A new daytime childcare service aims to help parents visiting Japan bring some balance to their time in Tokyo.
The service, ANO-NE Kids Club, is the creation of Cosmos Hotel Management, a division of Japanese real estate company Daiwa House and the business behind the family-oriented Apartment Hotel Mimaru chain. Located in Yurakucho in Chiyoda City, the service enables foreign visitors to reserve a spot for their kids, ages four to 10 years old, to get some playtime while their parents catch a breather.
The ANO NE (Japanese for “so, um” or “well…”) space is spread across two floors in the KOKO Building and contains a ton of space for kids to run and tire themselves out. The space also includes cushions and hammocks for kids to crash out after they’re exhausted.
While your kids are playing, you can treat yourself to a little well-earned free time. The facility is an easy walk from both Hibiya and Ginza, meaning there’s plenty to see and do in the immediate area. It’s right next to the Yurakucho Yokocho (a great restaurant line under train tracks supported by brick arches) and a short walk to locations such as Tokyo Midtown or one of Ginza’s many delightful cafes.
Childcare services will run foreign visitors 4,500 yen ($30) per child per hour. (Japanese residents, under the facility’s two-tier pricing scheme, only pay 2,500 yen per hour.) You’ll need to make sure your kids are well-fed before their stay, as the facility doesn’t allow any food or drinks. (Water is available.)
The service’s official website is now taking reservations during its “pre-opening” period starting on March 17th, with spots available from 2pm to 10pm and weekdays and from 10am to 10pm on weekends and holidays. It plans to open fully on April 1st. (Days/hours are variable prior to April 1st – check their website for details.)
Location: 1-2 Yurakucho, Chiyoda, Tokyo, KOKO Building 4th floor, 100-0006. Five minutes from JR Yurakucho Station (Hibiya exit), three minutes from Hibiya Station (Exit A13), and four minutes from Ginza Station (Exit C2).
Price: 4,500 yen/hour
Reservations: Reserve on the ANO NE Kids Club website
For more help on navigating your Japan trip with kids, reach out to us at Unseen Japan Tours – we can help line up accommodations as well as craft a custom, kid-friendly itinerary.
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