Japan Family Travel Tip #1: Give Everyone a Chance to Enjoy Japan Their Own Way

From ninja temples to themed cafes, Japan is packed with kid-friendly destinations that are fun for the whole family. But trips to Japan can last for days, even weeks, and there are times when kids get tired and antsy – they’d rather play with others their own age than go along with all their parents’ plans. You might think a night of sashimi and kabuki sounds like the perfect plan for your family trip to Japan, but not every kid wants to dine on raw fish and sit quietly through a long traditional performance.

Sometimes kids and grown-ups want different things out of their time in Tokyo! For those days, ANO-NE offers a safe place in the heart of the city for kids aged 4 to 10 to have their own fun, while the adults go off and see Tokyo their way!

ANO-NE Kids Club: The Indoor Tokyo Playground of Your Childhood Dreams

With a total floorspace of 150m², four different levels to climb, kid-sized tunnels, cave-like hideouts full of soft cushions, and nets that make it feel like you’re floating on air, ANO-NE is the indoor playground you always wished you had as a kid! Little adventurers will quickly start exploring, discovering hidey holes for hide-and-seek and new routes to get from one side of the play area to the other, but ANO-NE is designed for all kinds of play.

The first floor is set up with toy trains and dolls, a play kitchen and a kid-sized tent, and even a coloring table. Directly above is a cool-down space, with a soft carpet and cushions for stretching out on the floor (we hear the bananas are popular), as well as a well-stocked bookshelf – including some in English.

Floor-to-ceiling windows let in plenty of bright daylight, as well as a unique view of the train tracks across the road! If your child is in their “train phase,” they might just spend all their time staring out the window watching Japan Railway lines passing by – and even the occasional shinkansen bullet train!

Perhaps best of all, ANO-NE also offers a great opportunity for your kids to play with others while in Japan! The play area is used by Japanese families along with other visitors from around the world, which makes it a unique place of cultural immersion. After having fun with other kids from around the world, your little one might come home speaking a few new words of Japanese, or they might have made a new friend from somewhere halfway across the globe.

The name ANO-NE is actually a reference to how kids usually start telling their parents stories in Japanese, and you’ll understand where that name came from when it comes time for pick-up. Your kids will be bursting to tell you all about the adventures they had while you were gone!

ANO-NE Kids Club (あのねキッズクラブ)
Koko Bldg 4F, 1-2 Yurakucho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo
Hours: weekdays 14:00 – 22:00 | weekends/holidays 10:00 – 22:00
Price: 3,500~ yen/hour for foreign visitors (Pricing varies, so check the reservation page for exact numbers.)
Official Website (en)

Use ANO-NE…
When the Kids Are Getting Tired of Sightseeing in Tokyo

Sightseers exploring Japan often report walking 20,000 or 30,000 steps every day as they stroll through picturesque temple grounds and wind their way through the mazes of urban train stations. Even family trip planners with the best intentions will find it difficult to create a schedule that includes all the amazing shrines, museums, cafes, historical sites, and other destinations everyone wants to see, without exhausting the youngest members of the family. Little legs just have a hard time keeping up, especially on Japan’s cold winter mornings or hot, humid summer afternoons.

When the novelty of all of Japan’s majestic Shinto shrines starts to wear off, and the kids are getting bored and cranky with it all, there’s no use in trying to convince them that they should be enjoying the beauty of Japan instead of getting upset! Plan a visit to ANO-NE to give your kids the break they need, with a little bit of independent indoor playtime where they can set their own pace!

Use ANO-NE…
When the Adults Have “Grown-Up Plans” for Enjoying Japan

Drop the kids off at ANO-NE so they can have a good time on their own, and then head out for…

An Omakase Sushi Dinner or a Trip to a Yurakucho Izakaya

From Ginza’s high-end restaurants to Yurakucho’s lively Japanese pubs full of suited office workers celebrating the end of the work day, some of Tokyo’s best drinks and dining can be found just a few minutes on foot from ANO-NE!

Children visiting from overseas sometimes struggle with “grown-up food” in Japan, and swankier establishments aren’t always family-friendly. So if you want to spend an adult evening savoring the luxurious flavors of fresh sushi or sipping specialty Japanese high-balls, drop your kids off at ANO-NE after their dinner, and then head out on the town to enjoy your own!

A Tokyo Shopping Trip, Through Ginza and Beyond

Located in Ginza, ANO-NE is just steps from one of Tokyo’s most popular high-end shopping areas, where you’ll find upscale department stores, luxury brands, Japan’s best stationery specialty shops, and so much more. Since ANO-NE is conveniently close to multiple train stations, it’s also just a few minutes away from other major shopping areas by raill, like Shibuya, Shinjuku, or even the heart of all-things-nerdy, Akihabara. Perfect if you’re ready to get some shopping done without a constant chorus of “are you done yet?”

An Evening at Ginza’s Kabuki Theater

There’s no better way to immerse yourself in Japanese culture than kabuki, one of Japan’s most intricate and engaging traditional arts, and it just so happens that Tokyo’s main kabuki theater is a short walk from ANO-NE! Ginza’s Kabuki-za Theater has been staging dazzling productions for over 100 years, and the daily performances still captivate locals and travelers alike. If your kids aren’t as interested in quietly taking in this spectacle of traditional Japanese culture as you are, then they can spend the evening at ANO-NE instead, being as noisy as they want! There’s nothing like a night out at the theater (and perhaps a fancy cocktail or two to end the evening) – the kids will understand when they’re older!

Use ANO-NE…
When Everyone Wants Something Different From Their Japan Trip

It’s exciting when you discover something everyone wants to do during a family trip, but if everyone has different plans in mind, that’s okay too! Once, in the days leading up to the Tokyo Marathon, a visiting runner told the ANO-NE staff, “I wish I’d known about this place sooner – I could have had more time to practice, my kids could have played more with other children, and my wife could have had a little time to herself!” Perhaps your family has one parent who wants to shop for golf clubs in Ueno, one parent dreaming of Japan’s natural hot springs, and kids who just want to spend their day climbing a jungle gym or drawing pictures. Sometimes it makes sense to let everyone do what they want, so at the end of the day, everyone can get together and truly enjoy their time as a family!

ANO-NE FAQ:

How do I use ANO-NE Kids Club?

① Book a spot for your kids online. (We recommend reserving a spot in advance, but they also accept same-day reservations.)
② When the date and time of your booking arrives, head to ANO-NE and take the elevator up the the 4th-floor reception to drop off the kids.
③ Come back at your selected pick-up time, and get ready to hear all about what the kids were up to during their time at ANO-NE!

Where is ANO-NE located?

ANO-NE is conveniently located in the heart of Tokyo, 20 minutes or less from most popular sightseeing areas! There are three different subway/JR train stations within a 5 or 6-minute walking distance (Yurakucho, Ginza, & Hibiya), so it’s easy to slot ANO-NE into your schedule whenever you need it.

Who’s looking after the kids? Will they be safe?

ANO-NE is staffed with 3+ experienced childcare workers at all times, and many members of staff carry licenses and qualifications specifically suited for the job. There are always eyes on the kids to make sure they’re safe and having a good time.

ANO-NE is designed just for children ages 4 to 10, so parents can feel confident dropping off the kids and heading out. With so much to discover, they’ll have more fun without you, anyway!

Do I need to reserve a spot at ANO-NE in advance?

Yes, ANO-NE operates on a reservation-only basis. The reservation system is available entirely in English, and they offer free cancellations up until the day before your visit, so it’s an easy process.

Do children need to know Japanese to use ANO-NE?

Kids don’t need to speak any language to play at ANO-NE! While the Japanese staff can use enough English to help kids when they need it and make sure everyone stays safe, kids are mostly given space to play on their own or make up games together. Children are great at non-verbal communication, so they know how to have fun no matter what language they speak!

Add Extra Fun to Your Japan Family Vacation With ANO-NE

At ANO-NE Kids Club in central Tokyo, kids can enjoy their own kind of fun – making friends, climbing up walls, reading books, or just relaxing – while parents get a little extra freedom to explore, shop, dine, or unwind on their own terms. The ANO-NE slogan says it all: Their Play-cation, Your Vacation.

A successful family trip to Japan doesn’t have to mean doing everything together every minute of the day – a few hours apart will give everyone more stories to share, and make your time together in Tokyo even more special!

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