Rainy day in Kyoto getting you and your family down? Or are you looking for an air-conditioned place to escape the sweltering heat? Well, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, I’ll share some ideas on where to take kids when it’s pouring outside and if they’re like my daughter, they will be bound to have fun!
Contents
- Explore Kyoto Station
- Visit the Kyoto Railway Museum
- See Kyoto Aquarium
- Spend the Day at Round 1
- Go to the Mall
- Play at Pure Heart Kids Land
- Go to Kyoto City Disaster Prevention Center
- Learn at Kyoto Municipal Science Center For Youth
- Have Fun at Kodomo Miraikan
- Wrap-Up: Kyoto on Rainy or Hot Days with Kids
Explore Kyoto Station
I love Kyoto Station, there are so many shops and restaurants to explore. ISETAN, a department store in the station, alone has eleven floors! The station itself is also beautiful.
Some notable places in the station include Ramen Street on the 10th floor (Kyoto Ramen Koji) and The CUBE shopping mall.
If the weather improves, check out the observation deck on the top floor of the station.
Visit the Kyoto Railway Museum
I mention this place in my article on things to do with kids in Kyoto. My daughter has a blast here and although part of it is outdoors, there is still plenty to see and do indoors.
Cost: 1500 yen for guests 18 years and up, 1300 yen for high school and university students, 500 yen for elementary and junior high school students, 200 yen for children three to five years old, and free for children 2 years and younger
See Kyoto Aquarium
This is located next to the Kyoto Railway Museum so you can fill an entire day with both activities. Similar to the Kyoto Railway Museum, there are some outdoor areas but not too many, which is why I recommend it even when the weather isn’t great.
Cost: 2400 yen for guests 19 years and up, 1800 yen for high school students, 1200 yen for elementary and junior high school students, 800 yen for children three to five years old, and free for children 2 years and younger
Spend the Day at Round 1
This is an indoor entertainment park that has a variety of things for people of all ages to do, such as bowling, an arcade, karaoke, a batting cage, and more.
There are two locations in Kyoto, Kawaramachi and Fushimi.
Go to the Mall
This is my go-to activity whenever it’s raining. Japanese malls are great for kids since they have arcades with rides for little ones and crane games, as well as play areas.
There are also lots of stores where you can buy things for babies and kids.
I recommend AEON MALL, in particular AEON MALL Kyoto. This is located near Kyoto Station and has stores such as Babies R Us, Toys R Us, and Gundam Base, as well as a NAMCO arcade. There is also an indoor space called VS PARK where you can do SNS trending activities but it seems like it’s more for children in elementary school and up.
Play at Pure Heart Kids Land
This indoor playground has tons for kids to do, such as ball pits, bouncy houses and slides, a little arcade, and toys to play with.
Cost: Depends on the plan but a day pass runs from 1300 yen on weekdays and 1600 yen on weekends. Children ages 1 and under are free.
Go to Kyoto City Disaster Prevention Center
If you want something educational for your child to do, you might want to bring them here. Even if you’re traveling from abroad, it might be interesting to see how Japan prepares for disasters (and good to know just in case). There are lots of interactive activities for kids, and you can do it with them too for a nice bonding experience.
Cost: Free!
Learn at Kyoto Municipal Science Center For Youth
This is a little far from the center of the city but if you happen to be nearby or want to make the trek, I think it’s worth it. As the name suggests, kids can learn about science and technology at this museum from over 100 hands-on exhibits. There is also a planetarium and dinosaur skeletons, as well as a realistic model T-Rex!
Cost: 520 yen for adults, 200 yen for high school and junior high school students, 100 yen for elementary school students, and free for ages 6 and under.
Have Fun at Kodomo Miraikan
This place is really popular and on a reservation-only system, but I’m mentioning it here in case you’re lucky enough to get a spot! It’s a city-run facility meant to support parents with any concerns they have when it comes to child-rearing, but they also have a play area for children.
My friend Lisa has taken her son here and she said he really enjoyed it. But she also told me that it is usually completely booked during weekends and she managed to get a spot because of a cancellation. As I check it right now, I can see that there is an available spot for this very moment so keep your eyes open for that if you want to go. Also note that you can only stay there for two hours (during your time slot).
The play area is only for children ages 0 to 6 and their application form is only in Japanese.
Wrap-Up: Kyoto on Rainy or Hot Days with Kids
Hopefully, this article has helped you decide on some fun places to take your kids when the weather isn’t that great in Kyoto.
If you’re in Kyoto during summer or it happens to be hot, read my article on how to keep kids cool in Japan.
