Kanagawa with Kids — What to Do and Where to Stay
Last Updated on July 16, 2024 by Kay
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Visiting Japan with kids and wondering what to see outside of Tokyo? Then why not visit Kanagawa Prefecture?
Kanagawa Prefecture is located west of Tokyo and is home to many famous cities like Yokohama and Enoshima as well as Hakone.
It’s a beautiful place to visit as it offers gorgeous mountain and sea views. There’s also so much for kids to do, which is why this is a popular place for families to live. And the best part is that most attractions aren’t far from Tokyo, making it an easy place to visit on a day trip or even to stay for a night or two.
In this article, I will share places to go in Kanagawa with kids as well as recommendations on where to stay.
Table of Contents
What to Do in Kanagawa with Kids
Enoshima Aquarium
Enoshima Aquarium, called Enosui for short, is a lovely place to visit with kids in Fujisawa, Kanagawa. It has all sorts of aquatic creatures ranging from those from the Pacific Ocean to penguins and seals. My daughter had a lot of fun at the outdoor dolphin show.
My daughter’s favorite place was the Jellyfish Fantasy Hall, pictured above, which has tanks of jellyfish alongside beautiful projections on the walls. She’s usually scared of dark places but I think the projected images of things like maple leaves made her forget her fear of darkness.
☔️ Recommended rainy day activity with kids in Kanagawa
Great Buddha (Daibutsu)
The Daibutsu, one of the largest bronze Buddha statues in Japan, is famous among Japanese and international tourists alike. It’s located in Kamakura, a small town in Kanagawa near Enoshima that’s sometimes referred to as the Kyoto of eastern Japan.
I’ve always found this place, although lovely, to be very busy over the past few years, but I thought I should include it anyway if you want to brave the crowds.
Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise
Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise is a sea-based theme park boasting four aquariums, an indoor play area, as well as an amusement park. Some rides might be too intense for little ones but there’s still plenty to enjoy.
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CUPNOODLES Museum
Even if your child is too young to really understand the world of the instant cup ramen, I think they’ll still have fun at the CUPNOODLES Museum, which is located in Yokohama.
Kids can create their own flavor of cup noodles at the factory, decorate the cup, and play in the CUPNOODLES Park. Eating at the NOODLES BAZAAR is a fun experience as well.
☔️ Recommended rainy day activity with kids in Kanagawa
Children’s Forest Wanpaku Land
Wanpaku Land is a huge outdoor park in Kanagawa with trains, various playgrounds, and tons of nature for kids to enjoy.
Kodomonokuni
True to its name, which means Children’s Land, Kodomonokuni in Yokohama is an excellent place to bring children. At almost 1 million square meters, it is massive and filled with playgrounds, trains, paddle boats, a farm and mini zoo, pony riding, an ice skating rink AND a huge swimming pool in the summer.
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If you are in the area, I absolutely recommend checking it out!
Hakone Open Air Museum
The Hakone Open Air Museum covers a large space, offering beautiful views of nature and sculptures. It also has a colorful piece of artwork where kids ages 12 can play.
Yunnesan
Also located in Hakone, Yunessun is a hot spring resort that boasts 23 different baths. If you feel a little weird about getting naked, they have a section where everyone can (and should) wear a bathing suit. Tattoos are also okay as long as they’re covered.
You can rent a bathing suit in case you don’t have one and they have sizes for babies up to adults, as well as swim diapers for babies and toddlers.
With different pools, water jungle gyms, and water slides, this place is an aquatic paradise for kids.
Where to Stay in Kanagawa with Kids
If you’re thinking about staying overnight in Kanagawa, here are my recommendations.
Washintei Hougetsu・和心亭 豊月(Hakone, Kanagawa)
Located in Hakone, this stunning ryokan provides many amenities for young children, including Bumbo chairs, bath chairs, body soap, cutlery, and bottle sterilizers.
Parents can use the ryokan’s public baths with their children. The ryokan also has many children’s DVDs and picture books that you can borrow to keep your kids entertained.
Children 1.5 years and up are provided with meals.
Senkyoro・仙郷楼 (Hakone, Kanagawa)
If you want to rent a private indoor or outdoor bath for your family, then I recommend staying here. There are rooms with a private onsen inside of it as well.
This ryokan is also baby-friendly, providing Bumbo chairs and diapers for little ones.
Hakone Shiunso ・鶴井の宿 紫雲荘 (Hakone, Kanagawa)
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The location of this ryokan is absolutely lovely, especially since you can see the Hayakawa River from the rocky open-air bath. If you visit in autumn, you’ll be able to see gorgeous autumn from the window of your room. Some rooms have private onsen as well.
This kid-friendly ryokan also provides amenities like baby soap, a baby bath, bath chairs, and diapers.
Yugawara Spa Resort Onyado Megumi・おんやど恵 (Yugawara, Kanagawa)
Located an hour from Tokyo Station by Shinkansen, Yugawara is a famous hot spring town known for its views of beautiful green mountains and the sparkling sea.
This kid-friendly ryokan has a play area for kids, baby food, meals for older kids, and rental strollers. There is also a private onsen that you can rent for your family that includes bath toys for kids! You can also stay in one of their rooms that includes a private onsen.
Wrap-up: Kanagawa with Kids
I hope this look at what to do and where to stay in Kanagawa Prefecture with kids has been helpful to you. It’s definitely worth taking the time to visit if you’re in Tokyo and want to escape the city.