From Christmas markets to skating, 'tis the season to be jolly
For many in Japan, Christmas is about romantic dinners, frosted pastries and fried chicken, but in Tokyo, there are plenty of other ways to get into the Christmas spirit.
Art classes can help boost your kids' creativity
Take your kids to an art class and let their imaginations run wild.
Free the kids from the concrete jungle
Tokyo may be one of the most populous cities in the world, but it is also just a few hours by train from family friendly hiking trails
The museum where the kids can run wild
Surreal as it sounds, the creation of personal digital crocodiles is a pretty typical activity in the world of teamLab — or more precisely, inside teamLab's new museum showcasing the work of the so-called "ultra-technologist" art collective.
From balancing games to playing with poop
Inspired by the 2018 Good Toy Awards winners, announced in May by the NPO Japan Good Toy Association, this month's On: Design takes a look at a few aesthetically pleasing items to help keep the kids entertained over the summer holidays.
Summer with the kids can be a walk in the park
Japan has more playgrounds than you could ever visit. Admittedly, some are more like patches of dirt with a few swings, but others are spectacular constructions that can inspire the childish imagination. Here are a few worth seeking out.
Ready to send the children out to work?
Perhaps one of the more innovative children's entertainment concepts, KidZania — which first launched in Mexico nearly 20 years ago — is a fictitious "city" where kids can obtain a taste of being a grown up.
Cultural education can be fun for kids
Japan's traditional matsuri (festivals) are great, but it's also important to expose the kids to cultures further afield. Here are a few Tokyo international festival recommendations. They're all fun, free and full of opportunity.
The sweet smell of an incense workshop success
Incense workshops can be a sweet-smelling way to teach kids about a traditional craft of Japan
Japan's companies are beginning to rethink paternity leave policies
When it comes to child care in Japan, women typically take on the lion’s share of the workload. Men, by comparison, are generally too exhausted after work to help out in any way. According to the Asahi Shimbun, however, more men are looking to take ...
Traditional arts live through kids
Nurturing respect for cultural traditions is a daunting challenge these days, when kids are glued to cellphones and game apps. So what does a country with centuries of carefully polished artistry do to preserve its heritage? Drop a curtain on the whole show? Not ...
Washi workshop: Good on paper, better firsthand
"Mummy, where does paper come from?" This was a question recently asked by my young daughter that was easier to answer than her usual string of whats and whys ("Do insects cry?" and "Why were we born?" among them). On this occasion, I was not ...
