Yokohama With Kids

Tokyo may have Tokyo Disneyland, but the port city of Yokohama is very child-friendly, with a plethora of family-friendly attractions and open spaces – that Yokohama is a popular place to raise families should say it all! Read on for our list of Yokohama’s best kid-friendly venues.

Hamleys, Yokohama - image © Florentyna Leow

The following list offers activities, animals, shops, and nature – something for children of all ages – complete with opening hours and details of how to get there.

Colorful boats at Kodomo no Kuni: Nesnad / Wikimedia Commons

Kodomo no Kuni (Children’s Land)

The name of this theme park says it all: literally translating to ‘Children’s Land,’ Kodomo no Kuni is kiddie paradise. It’s a vast, 250-acre plot of land filled with all kinds of activities and facilities to keep you and the kids occupied for a full day if not several. To name just a few, there’s a 110m rolling slide, petting zoo, amusement park, horse-riding options, indoor ice skating rink, and a mini steam locomotive. The brook is shallow enough for swimmers of all levels, and activities like craft art and pottery are great for older children. Parents are sure to appreciate the thoughtful services like rent-a-pram facilities too. Kodomo no Kuni merits multiple return visits – it’s really too big to experience fully in a single day. A must-visit for families with youngish children.

Japanese name: こどもの国
Japanese address: 〒227-0036 横浜市青葉区奈良町700
English address: 700 Nara-cho, Aoba-ku, Yokohama-shi, 227-0036
Telephone number: +81-45-961-2111
Opening hours: 9:30am-4:30pm (September-June, last entry 3:30pm). 9:30am-5pm (July and August, last entry 4pm). Closed Wednesday except national holidays
Nearest transport: Train: 3-minute walk from Kodomonokuni Station on the Tokyu Kodomonokuni line.
District: City Outskirts
Website: Official Website
Admission: Adults and high school students: JPY600. Elementary and junior high school students: JPY200. 3 years old and over: JPY100

:: Read reviews of Kodomo no Kuni (Children’s Land) on TripAdvisor.com

Cosmo World at night.: Haresh Sonar / Shutterstock.com

Yokohama Cosmo World

Who doesn’t like a good amusement park? Located right in the heart of Minato Mirai opposite the Cup Noodles Museum, Yokohama Cosmo World has attractions geared at all ages, from a toddler-friendly merry-go-round and cycle monorail to roller coasters and Virtual Reality Rides. It’s free to enter and you only have to pay for the attractions or rides you actually try out, making this amusement park a fun and wallet-friendly option for everyone. The London Eye-style Ferris wheel can also be quite fun to ride; we like looking at it from afar, as it makes up a part of Yokohama’s striking skyline.

Japanese name: よこはまコスモワールド
Japanese address: 〒231-0001 横浜市中区新港2-8-1
English address: 2-8-1 Shinko, Naka-ku, Yokohama-shi, 231-0001
Telephone number: +81-45-641-6591
Opening hours: 11am-8pm or 9pm or 10pm (varies from day to day). Closed Thursday except national holidays
Nearest transport: Train: 2-minute walk from exit 5 of Minatomirai Station on the Minatomirai line.
District: Minato Mirai
Website (Japanese): Official Website
Admission: Free

:: Read reviews of Yokohama Cosmo World on TripAdvisor.com

Colourful displays at the Cupnoodles Museum in Yokohama.: Uino / Shutterstock.com

Cupnoodles Museum Yokohama

Broke college students might love instant ramen noodles, but the whimsical Cup Noodles Museum is equally popular with children. The colourful exhibits are fun, but the real draw for young kids are the interactive workshops towards the end of the museum. Try making noodles from start to finish at the Chicken Ramen Factory – who knew kneading and seasoning wheat flour could be so much fun? Adults and children alike will also enjoy the My CUPNOODLES Factory section, where you’ll create your own original cup noodles package. There’s a limited number of spaces available for this workshop, so make sure you go early to snag a spot.

Japanese name: カップヌードルミュージアム 横浜
Japanese address: 〒231-0001 横浜市中区新港2-3-4
English address: 2-3-4 Shinko, Naka-ku, Yokohama-shi, 231-0001
Telephone number: +81-45-345-0918
Opening hours: 10am-6pm (last entry 5pm). Closed Tuesday or the following Wednesday when Tuesday is a national holiday
Nearest transport: Train: 8-minute walk from exit 5 of Minatomirai Station on the Minatomirai line.
District: Minato Mirai
Website: Official Website
Admission: Adults: JPY500

:: Read reviews of Cupnoodles Museum Yokohama on TripAdvisor.com

Zoorasia: Space Key / Wikimedia Commons

Zoorasia

Zoos can be less-than-fun places to visit in Japan – many don’t seem to provide enough room for their animals. Luckily, Zoorasia in Yokohama is more like a walking safari than a zoo. It’s spacious, and they seem to have taken care to provide spaces mimicking the natural habitat of each animal inside. Wander through eight ecological areas from the Amazon Jungle to the African Tropical Rainforest. You’ll see all kinds of animals: pygmy goats, camels, Sumatran tigers, and more. It’s highly kid-friendly, with play areas, cafes and restaurants, lots of benches and tables, and stroller-friendly walking trails. There’s lots to explore, so you’ll need to wear your most comfortable walking shoes. There’s a (paid) bus that takes you around if you get tired of walking.

Japanese name: よこはま動物園ズーラシア
Japanese address: 〒241-0001 横浜市旭区上白根町1175-1
English address: 1175-1 Kamishirane-cho, Asahi-ku, Yokohama-shi, 241-0001
Telephone number: +81-45-959-1000
Opening hours: 9:30am-4:30pm (last entry 4pm). Closed Tuesday or the following Wednesday when Tuesday is a national holiday
Nearest transport: Bus: In front of Yokohama Zoo Bus Stop, from Sotetsu Tsurugamine Station, or JR and Yokohama Municipal Subway Nakayama Station.
District: City Outskirts
Website (Japanese): Official Website
Admission: Adults: JPY800. High school students: JPY300. Elementary and junior high school students: JPY200

:: Read reviews of Zoorasia on TripAdvisor.com

Hamleys, Yokohama - image © Florentyna Leow

Hamleys Yokohama World Porters

Even in the age of iPads and touchscreens, there’s still room in the world for toys and gadgets. Families with kids should pay a visit to the Yokohama outpost of world-famous toy store Hamleys in the World Porters shopping mall. Whether your child loves Legos, dolls, board games, or just needs a space to play for an hour or two, Hamleys has it all. Be warned that it can get rather lively on weekends.

Otherwise, the World Porters mall has six floors of shopping and entertainment. It’s a mall at the end of the day, so nothing will be completely out of the ordinary. However, there are plenty of restaurants and shops, making it very convenient for families. It’s also right in the heart of Minato Mirai, in close proximity to other family-friendly attractions like Cosmo World and the Cup Noodles Museum.

Japanese name: ハムリーズ 横浜ワールドポーターズ店
Japanese address: 〒231-0001 横浜市中区新港2-2-1 横浜ワールドポーターズ1F・2F
English address: 1-2F Yokohama World Porters, 2-2-1 Shinko, Naka-ku, Yokohama-shi, 231-0001
Telephone number: 0120-258-858 (only from Japan)
Opening hours: 10:30am-9pm
Nearest transport: Train: 8-minute walk from exit 5 of Minatomirai Station on the Minatomirai line.
District: Minato Mirai
Website (Japanese): Official Website
Admission: Free

:: Read reviews of Hamleys Yokohama World Porters on TripAdvisor.com

Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise: Patrik Jones / Wikimedia Commons

Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise

When in Yokohama, there’s no better place to introduce your kids to the wonders of the ocean than at Hakkeijima Sea Paradise. This ocean theme park south of downtown Yokohama has an entire offshore island to itself, housing huge aquariums with over 120,000 sea creatures in it. Think sea lions, walruses, sea otters, sharks, stingrays, and more. You only have to pay an entry fee to enter the Aqua Resorts attractions and Pleasure Land rides; the parks, promenades, shops, and restaurants are open to all visitors otherwise. The amusement park rides like the Blue Fall and Surf Coaster are worth it if you have a taste for heights and thrills.

Out of all the aquariums in Aqua Resorts, Dolphin Fantasy may be the most appealing for all ages. However, we think it’s especially fun watching the giant mola mola, or ocean sunfish drifting lazily alongside the dolphins – it’s a peculiar-looking aquatic creature that reminds you just how weird and wonderful life on this planet is.

Japanese name: 横浜・八景島シーパラダイス
Japanese address: 〒236-0006 横浜市金沢区八景島
English address: Hakkeijima, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama-shi, 236-0006
Telephone number: +81-45-788-8888
Opening hours (island): 8:30am or 9am-9:30pm or 10:30pm (varies from day to day)
Nearest transport: Train: 5-minute walk from Hakkeijima Station on the Seaside line.
District: City Outskirts
Website: Official Website (English)
Admission (One Day Pass): Adults and senior high school students: JPY4,700 (December-February), JPY5,200 (March-November). Elementary and junior high school students: JPY3,400 (December-February), JPY3,700 (March-November). 4 years and over: JPY1,900 (December-February), JPY2,100 (March-November). 65 years and over: JPY3,400 (December-February), JPY3,700 (March-November)

:: Read reviews of Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise on TripAdvisor.com

Kanazawa Nature Park

Kanazawa Nature Park

Need a day out in nature with the kids? Head over to the Kanazawa Nature Park, which covers a vast, sprawling area of approximately 58.5 hectares – that’s a lot of walking. It’s divided into a “zoo area” and a “plant area” which means you’ll get to see animals roaming around in one area, and humans in the other. Jesting aside, the kids will love watching animals in an unfenced environment. Plus, all the forest space makes it a gorgeous green escape from urban Tokyo or Yokohama. Hiking and walking courses aside, it’s also wonderful to visit during spring and autumn for the blossoms and fall foliage.

Japanese name: 金沢自然公園
Japanese address: 〒236-0042 横浜市金沢区釜利谷東5-15-1
English address: 5-15-1 Kamariya-higashi, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama-shi, 236-0042
Telephone number: +81-45-783-9100
Opening hours: Botanical area: 9am-5pm. Zoo area: 9:30-4:30pm (last entry 4pm, closed Monday or the following Tuesday when Monday is a national holiday)
Nearest transport: Bus: 6-minute walk from Natsuyama-sakaue Bus Stop, Keikyu Bus from the west exit of Keikyu Kanazawa-bunko Station.
District: City Outskirts
Website (Japanese): Official Website
Admission (zoo area): Adults: JPY500. High school students: JPY300. Elementary and junior high school students: JPY200

:: Read reviews of Kanazawa Nature Park on TripAdvisor.com

Yokohama Travel Guide:

• Yokohama Travel Guide Overview
• Things To Do In Yokohama
• Places To Eat In Yokohama
• Yokohama Itineraries
• Yokohama With Kids
• Yokohama Cherry Blossoms
• Yokohama Fall Foliage
• Yokohama Districts
• Yokohama Ryokan
• Yokohama Hotels
• Yokohama Map
• How To Get To Yokohama
• Getting Around Yokohama
• Best Time To Go To Yokohama

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