Children's Course
This course introduces facilities that the child can enjoy.
1. Omiya Traffic Park
A wonderful spot to spend a lazy afternoon, this traffic park in Takagamine has a jungle gym, slide, and benches. It's most popular attraction, however, is go-carting. You can ride either the one or two-person go-carts on the roads inside the park. Small children can ride in the two-person vehicles while a parent drives. Only third-graders and up can ride the one-person carts. The foot-powered go-cart is recommended for pre-schoolers. The park is also home to Japan's first train, built in 1895, which has been wonderfully preserved and converted into a library where children can sit and read picture books.
Address: Omiya Nishiwakidai-cho, Kita-ku, Kyoto
Access: 1-minute walk from City Bus Stop Omiya Koutsukouen-mae
Hours: 9:00-16:30
Closed: Tuesday, Dec. 29-Jan. 3
Entrance Fee: Free
2. Kyoto Municipal Zoo
The Kyoto Municipal Zoo, established in 1903, was the second zoo to open in Japan after Tokyo's Ueno Zoo. Over seven hundred animals live in the Kyoto zoo, including gorillas, lions, elephants, giraffes, and red pandas. You can also pet smaller animals at "Fairy-tale Land" or read about the creatures at the animal library. Lake Biwa runs along the southern end of the zoo, which is surrounded by the Heian Shrine and Nanzenji Temple, in addition to the Kyoto Conference Hall, Kyoto City Museum, and other cultural institutions.
Address: Okazaki Houshouji-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto
Access: 1-minute walk from City Bus Stop Doubutsuen-mae
Hours: 9:00-17:00
Closed: Mondays, Dec. 28-Jan. 3
Entrance Fee: 500 yen, Free (Elementary School Students and below)
3. BAL
There is a popular learning studio and indoor playground located next to the import toy store, BORNELUND INC, on the first basement floor of the BAL department store. In addition to a toy store, the learning studio hosts a variety of special events and the playground offers a sea of tightly packed balls to play in. Babysitting services are available so you can shop upstairs while your child enjoys a fun-filled afternoon surrounded by toys.
Address: Yamazaki-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto
Access: 5-minute walk from City Bus Stop Kawaramachi Sanjo
4. Umekouji Park , JR Umekoji Steam Locomotive Preservation Hall
The JR Umekoji Steam Locomotive Preservation Hall is located in a lovely park. Eighteen representative cars are on display, many of which are in working order. You can stroll through the spacious park crisscrossed with streams, enjoying plum trees and cherry blossoms. The Japanese garden includes many varieties of Western flowers and you can grab a delicious meal at "Midori-no-Yakata".
Address: Kankiji-cho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto
Access: 3-minute walk from City Bus Stop Umekoujikouen-mae
Hours: 9:30-17:00
Closed: Mondays, Dec. 28-Jan. 3
Entrance Fee: 400 yen, 100 yen (Elementary School Students and below)
5. Kyoto Municipal Science Center For Youth
This is a place to see, touch, and experience the world of science. With a planetarium, gargantuan dinosaur and elephant skeleton exhibit, and science movies in multivision, the science center is an exciting place to explore. Using a computer, you can also select from twenty-four different themes for experiments (after all, it is Experiment Land), which are then performed on the computer screen. Museum staff also conduct experiments both inside and outdoors at the Experiment Corner. Watch the Okinawan butterfly's entire lifespan in the Butterfly House or learn about ecology at the Miyako Ecology Center located next door.
Address: 13 Ikenouchi-cho, Fukakusa, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto
Access: 3-minute walk from City Bus Stop Fujinomori
Open Time: 9:00-17:00
Closed: Thursday, Dec. 26-Jan. 4
Entrance Fee: 1,000 yen, 200 yen (Elementary School Students and below)
