Kids' Trips in Tokyo: A Family Guide to One-Day Outings [Paperback]

Ivy Maeda (Author), Kitty Kobe (Author), Cynthia C. Ozeki (Author), Lyn Sato (Author)

Book Description

Series: Origami Classroom | Publication Date: June 29, 1998

Despite all the concrete and crowds, Tokyo can be a great place for kids. Scores of parks, museums, and imaginative play spots dot the city, at prices that won't send parents into sticker shock. But for newcomers to Tokyo's bewildering urban sprawl, these hidden gems can be hard to find.

Kids' Trips in Tokyo is the answer to every foreign parent's prayers. No Disneyland or Tokyo Tower here-each chapter is a full day's outing that might include anything from a tour through a samurai mansion to an ice cream treat made fresh at a working dairy. Kid-tested and parent-approved, every tour includes complete information on transportation, eating options, schedules, and pit stops.

It's a sampling of the very best Tokyo has to offer young minds and active bodies, with sensitive attention paid to the complications posed by language and culture barriers. From interactive exhibits that teach kids about Tokyo's history to wildlife sanctuaries that will let them escape the city altogether, Kids' Trips is a treasure trove of creative ideas for parents to enjoy with their children ... or even without.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"For parents with children of all ages, this book offers comprehensive information on a wide variety of hands-on, entertaining and educational excursions." -Catriona Moran, Vice Principal, Nishimachi International School

"The communication gap fades away as the authors provide a fountain of information to enjoy and learn about Tokyo and its vicinity. Especially useful for anyone concerned with bilingual upbringing and education." -Hideo Oka, Professor, University of Tokyo

About the Author

IVY MAEDA, KITTY KOBE, CYNTHIA OZEKI, and LYN SATO, all Westerners married to Japanese, are veteran Tokyo moms. With a combined total of six children, they are authorities on Tokyo for kids.

Product Details

• Paperback: 280 pages
• Publisher: Kodansha USA (June 29, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 4770020406
• ISBN-13: 978-4770020406
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #413,488 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #38 in Books > Travel > Asia > Japan > Tokyo

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is unbelievably great, January 14, 2000

By 

Henry (Newton, Morocco) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kids' Trips in Tokyo: A Family Guide to One-Day Outings (Paperback)

We got this book right before moving to Tokyo for a year with our two year old daughter. We haven't been steered wrong yet - each of the tours or trips in the book we have tried so far has been a delight for us and our daughter. If you have a kid in Tokyo, you *need* this book.

Highlights so far have been the Kodomo no Kuni dairy farm/park in Kanagawa, the parks and streetcar line in Arakawa, the park and community center in Kichijoji.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best guidebook for Tokyo parents, March 18, 2010

By 

Readtokids - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kids' Trips in Tokyo: A Family Guide to One-Day Outings (Paperback)

Kids' Trips in Tokyo is the best English resource for Tokyo activities for families with kids through elementary school. The book is well researched and documented with easy to follow directions. The authors wisely chose locations, and I have not found the book to be outdated even though it was published 12 years ago. The "tours" are arranged geographically, so you can pick a few of several activities within an certain area. This book has pointed me to areas that I would not have found on my own and that are not found in the typical Tokyo tourist guidebooks. A nice feature is the index listing of activities that are best for rainy days and Mondays/New Year's Holidays (when some Tokyo locations are closed). While the book caters to Tokyo residents who have time to explore various areas, the tourist will find many locations listed that will have something appealing to the whole family.

I disagree with a previous reviewer who claims the book has a the lack activities for boys. My active boys have enjoyed all the locations in this book that we have visited. In fact, it seems that the authors intentionally looked for places where the kids could run about. The second half of the book particularly has a great selection of outdoor activities. If you are at Tokyo resident or visiting with kids 2-12, I highly recommend Kids' Trips in Tokyo.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Depends on Your Kids, December 14, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Kids' Trips in Tokyo: A Family Guide to One-Day Outings (Paperback)

The book was well organized, but if one's children are active boys between the ages of 5 and 11, then this book is probably not for you. Although there were a few exceptions, I found that the book was filled with museums, which may be interesting, but did not seem too exciting upon reading. I also ordered with this book, "Tokyo for Free" and "Little Adventures in Tokyo". Between these two books and a good guide book, everything in this book was covered with the advantage that there were things in these other books that seemed like alot more fun. Depends on your kids.