We understand traveling with children can be sometimes challenging when you’re trying to keep the whole family happy. While all children might not find temples and shrines entertaining, Kyoto is a family-friendly city and we’re here to introduce a number of places you can visit to entertain the younger members of your group while still allowing adults to enjoy themselves too.
Arashiyama Monkey Park
Animals are always a good way to entertain the little ones. On top of Mt. Iwata in Arashiyama there is a park filled with monkeys. The Arashiyama Monkey Park is situated near the Togetsukyō Bridge and is about a 20 minute hike up the mountain- perfect for exercising those legs. Home to over 100 Japanese Macaque monkeys, visitors are able to feed the monkeys themselves by hand, and also witness a very entertaining feeding time.
OPENING HOURS
9:00 – 17:00 (summer), 9:00 – 16:00 (winter)
NEAREST STATION / BUS STOP
Randen Arashiyama Station
ALSO IN THE AREA
Toei Kyoto Studio Park
With samurai, ninja, and beautiful ladies dressed in Edo period kimono, Toei Eigamura is an Edo period theme park where you can watch the filming of samurai dramas, dress up in period outfits, test out your ninja skills, and even get your heart racing in a haunted house.
OPENING HOURS
Park hours change throughout the year.
NEAREST STATION / BUS STOP
Randen Uzumasa-Kōryūji Station
ALSO IN THE AREA
Rotating Sushi Restaurant
Watch your dinner rotate around a conveyer belt at these “sushi-go-round” diners. Not just delicious, they are a good way to entertain children as well. Most of these restaurants are very affordable, and for those who are not fans of sushi they often offer other dishes as well, such as karaage (fried chicken). Kaitenzushi-style restaurants are located all around Kyoto
OPTION: GEAR Theater Performance
This extraordinary show featuring four Roboroids and a Doll in an abandoned toy factory is performed entirely without words! With each Roboroid having their own specialty: miming, breakdancing, magic tricks, and juggling, as well as hypnotic lighting, atmospheric sound effects, and the overall steampunk-style setting, this is a type of entertainment that everybody can enjoy, bound to become an unforgettable experience.
Unlike some other venues, Gear Theater admits young children from the age of 4, and every first and third Saturday of the month is Kids Day, when all children regardless of age are welcome to enjoy the matinee performance.
OPENING HOURS
10:00 – 19:00
PERFORMANCE HOURS
14:00 and 19:00 (12:00 and 17:00 on Sundays and public holidays)
Please check the official website for performance dates, schedule, and ticket prices.
NEAREST STATION / BUS STOP
Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae Station, Kyoto Kawaramachi Station, Sanjō Keihan Station
ALSO IN THE AREA
