Kids Plaza Osaka: A Hands-on Museum and Indoor Playground
Last Updated on January 10, 2025 by Kay
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If you’re looking for somewhere fun and educational indoors to take your toddler or small child in Osaka, look no further than Kids Plaza Osaka.
My daughter and her friends love this interactive children’s museum and playground, and based on watching other kids, I imagine most kids do! As a local mom living in Osaka, I really can’t recommend this museum enough if you’re traveling in the city with kids.
Table of Contents
What is Kids Plaza Osaka?
Kids Plaza Osaka is a museum for preschool and elementary-aged children that introduces them to science, culture, society, and technology. This museum has almost three decades of history in Osaka and true to their motto, “learning by doing”, it is filled with three floors of activities for kids and very kind (mostly elderly) staff who are more than happy to help and encourage kids to try.
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This indoor playground is especially perfect for days when you want to escape the rain or heat as it’s completely indoors. It seems like the employees also speak English, which is immensely helpful if you don’t know Japanese.
After you arrive and pay for your ticket at the automatic ticket booth, I recommend starting off by heading straight to the fifth floor using the elevator and then working your way down.
Discovery Floor (Fifth Floor):
Science
When you first arrive on the fifth floor, you’ll be greeted by the Science section, which is filled with fun things for kids to learn while doing.
Kids can learn about fluid dynamics at the Pump Playground by rotating levers, pushing pumps, or going underneath a clear plastic dome and watching how water travels through a huge interactive display.
There is an area called Small Science Lab that introduces elements of nature that have actual insects, turtles, and small freshwater fishes that kids can look at, as well as a cave-like structure that kids might enjoy exploring (my daughter was too scared to go inside and screamed if even I tried to take a peek). Kids can also do activities like matching tails to fish.
In the からだ図鑑 (Picture Book of the Body) area, kids can see life-size illustrations of all the vessels, muscles, and bones that comprise the human body, as well as put together a skeleton.
My daughter especially enjoys learning about physics by sending small balls down various types of paths and seeing the differences in how the ball moves.
One of her favorite spots on this floor is the bubble area (Bubble Blowing Bonanza). With the help of the employees, she mastered being able to create huge bubbles on her own when she first visited at age three and was so proud of herself.
Kids can also get “encased” inside a massive bubble! My daughter absolutely loves it (If you want to see it in action, watch the video below.)
When we first visited, my daughter was three and too little to fully enjoy some parts of the science section, such as one where kids could sit on a cushion and the force of their weight would launch a ball. But when she became older, she was so curious about trying everything out and seeing what she could do and how to make things move or change.
Kay’s Tip ⭐️: There are free lockers on this floor so if you have jackets and bags, make sure to use them! You have to pay 500 yen to use a locker but you’ll get it back when you’re done. There’s a change machine as well if you need it.
Sometimes Kids Plaza holds special seasonal exhibitions as well on this floor. For instance, they introduced Japanese games for kids during New Year’s. My daughter and her friend enjoyed spinning Japanese umbrellas (called wagasa).
Society
In this section, kids can learn about the importance of barrier-free environments. For instance, at Barrier Town, they can experience what it’s like to go through station gates and get on the train while in a wheelchair.
Unfortunately, the wheelchair experience has been gone for a while and I’m not sure when they’ll bring it back.
My daughter and her friends have fun pretending they’re going through the ticket gates and running onto the train, especially since it isn’t a rushed experience like it tends to be when we’re actually commuting. They also like looking at the old-school ticket machines.
There is also an area where kids can try to guess what a shape or item is using only touch, and the view from the room is spectacular!
Culture
Unsurprisingly, the culture section (Multicultural Plaza) introduces children to various cultures. There are interactive dioramas as well as areas where kids use blocks to build pyramids, dress up in traditional cultural outfits, and play different musical instruments from around the world (my daughter loved the shadow puppets and striking different gongs).
When I first visited with my daughter when she was three, I thought she would enjoy playing all the bongos, especially considering how much I have to stop her from touching instruments at second-hand shops, but she probably spent less than a minute on each thing before running off. (There was too much to do!)
At age five, she absolutely went crazy on the bongos, so we jammed together and had a great time.
There is also a Kids Plaza Hall and a TV Studio, but my daughter wasn’t interested in trying them out, unfortunately.
If your child is at least 100 cm tall, they can go down from the 5th to 4th floor through a huge tube slide, which my daughter loved when she went on it at age five. Her three-year-old buddy was too scared to go down, though. Note that parents cannot go down the slide so you’ll have to take the stairs to meet your child at the bottom.
Notably, this slide is part of a white building-like structure in the middle of the Plaza, which spans from the fourth to the fifth floor. This is meant to be a “Kids Town”, which was made by an Austrian designer.
My daughter absolutely loves exploring this playground from top to bottom and then back again, which is a little maze-like (so make sure you keep your eye on your child because they can disappear in an instant!).
The playground also allows kids to climb up the walls in various ways. Some are too difficult for my daughter, like using a rope, but others, like the one pictured below, were just right.
(At age five, she can climb up but can’t quite get down so I have to get her!)
Adventure Floor (Fourth Floor):
This was my daughter’s favorite floor, mainly because of “Kids Street” where children can pretend like they’re adults and engage in societal activities such as shopping and working.
In one room there’s a small grocery store where kids can pretend to shop and scan their items. Kids are supposed to choose three items that total exactly 1000 yen. They don’t get any sort of prize, but it’s a great way for them to do Math and learn how to budget. If you want to make it more challenging, you can ask kids to only choose food items of a certain color.
Employees used to ring a bell each time kids successfully shopped for under 1000 yen but it seems like they’ve stopped doing this now.
When we first visited when my daughter was three, she was too young to try having her groceries add up to 1000 yen. But just shopping and scanning alone was loads of fun for her. The items are also very realistic but child-sized, so it’s easy for little ones to grab and put into their baskets.
We came and went from this area and I’m fairly certain my daughter spent at least an hour here on our first visit! Two years later and this spot is still my daughter’s favorite in Kids Plaza Osaka. She can spend ages in here and loves taking her receipts home to show her father. (And yes, kids get real printed receipts! How cool is that?)
If you’re visiting from outside Japan, this is an especially fun way for your child to experience what it’s like to shop at a Japanese supermarket.
Kids Street
As you may have guessed from the grocery store, the Adventure Floor simulates a little town with a clinic where kids can use stethoscopes, a salon with different magnetic hair pieces, a police station, a post office, and little food stalls.
My daughter loves the postal delivery activity as well where she can deliver postcards to shops and residences by matching the postal codes to the mailbox. She also got to wear a hat and she looked so cute!
When I went with a friend, she was so surprised to see her shy and introverted three-year-old running around excitedly while delivering postcards. It was so nice to see him out of his shell!
(When my daughter was three, she hilariously opened the mailboxes after kids had put a postcard inside, took them out, and then randomly put them into other mailboxes. But don’t worry, no one checks whether the kids were correct or not and there’s no score or prize to be won, it’s all about the experience.)
Kids Lab
This lab allows your child to do a little experiment to learn about science. They have two to three demonstrations a day and limited seats, so if you’re interested, I would suggest checking out the available times first and then signing up. Note that sometimes the Kids Lab is closed for the day.
The topic for the Kids Lab that my daughter and I attended was rainbows and how different types of light, such as from a candle or a string of lights, refract. My daughter absolutely loved it and enthusiastically answered every question the staff asked.
Note that the Kids Lab is in Japanese but there is a staff member who speaks English if you need help. Please also be considerate of other attendees and try to keep it down so that everyone can listen to the instructions.
Library
Kids can freely read different picture books in the library. Make sure you remove your shoes before going inside!
Next to the library, there’s a small playroom on this floor called Peek-A-Boo for babies and children up to age six. (And yes, Kids Plaza Osaka is baby-friendly! It has a nursing room and multiple changing tables. There’s an elevator as well if you have a stroller.)
Creativity Floor (Third Floor):
This floor merges technology with creativity. Kids can draw a picture on a tablet and then see their drawing process afterward on a big screen (my daughter loved this so much she did it twice).
You can also take colorful shots of your silhouette, which is sent on top of whales displayed on a big screen. Four people can do this activity so it’s fun to think of different poses.
There’s another room where you can move or jump on a small platform to make a model train move.
Dining and Food at Kids Plaza Osaka
Kids Plaza Osaka does not have any restaurants nor does it sell food.
However, you can bring your own food, such as a homemade bento or from a convenience store, and dine at one of the many tables in the Multipurpose Room on the 4th floor.
They also have several vending machines available where you can purchase drinks. It’s perfectly fine for you and your children to drink throughout Kids Plaza Osaka, just make sure that no one spills anything.
Kids Plaza Osaka allows free reentry (make sure to keep your ticket on hand!) so you can pop out and dine at one of the many restaurants nearby. I like to go to bb.q Olive Chicken Cafe because they have kid sets, tastes great, and it’s quick.
What’s Nearby Kids Plaza Osaka
There are lots of places to take your kids nearby. In fact, I’ve written an entire article about it!
Kids Plaza Osaka Opening Hours and When to Visit
Kids Plaza Osaka is open almost daily from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM except for every second and third Monday of each month and New Year’s holidays. (Click here for the schedule.)
As this place is popular with school groups, I would recommend visiting on a weekday afternoon at around 1 PM. Otherwise, it will likely be very crowded with school kids who are running all over the place (and without a teacher in sight). I haven’t visited on a weekend yet but I’ve heard that it is also quite busy.
If it’s really busy or you feel like popping out to get some food, it’s no problem. As mentioned earlier, as long as you have your ticket, you can come and go from the third floor as you please. Note that the last entry is 45 minutes before closing and around this time, the staff will start cleaning up the exhibits and preparing them for the next day. This means that you might not be able to do certain activities.
It’s easy for my daughter to spend the entire day here so make sure you give yourself ample time because if your child is anything like mine, they want to see everything and then do everything over and over again!
My daughter never wants to leave!
Kids Plaza Osaka Entrance Fee Cost
One thing I liked about Kids Plaza Osaka is that it is quite affordable, especially for younger children since children under age three are free!
If you live nearby and anticipate visiting often, I suggest investing in a 6-month or annual pass.
| Adult | One day: 1400 yen 6-month pass: 4700 yen Annual pass: 8700 yen |
| Children ages 3 to 6 | One day: 500 yen 6-month pass: 1700 yen Annual pass: 2700 yen |
| Elementary School to Junior High School-aged children | One day: 800 yen 6-month pass: 2700 yen Annual pass: 4700 yen |
You can pay for tickets at Kids Plaza Osaka using cash or a credit card.
For information about children’s ages in Japan according to the school system, read this article.
Outdoor Playground in Front of Kids Plaza Osaka
If your child wants some outdoor time, there’s a small playground right in front of Kids Plaza Osaka with several slides.
How to Get to Kids Plaza Osaka
One nice thing about Kids Plaza Osaka is that it’s located a three-minute walk from Temma Station, only one stop away from JR Osaka Station on the Osaka Loop Line.
It’s also right outside Exit 2 of Ogimachi Station on the Osaka Metro Sakaisuji Line.
If you’re traveling in Osaka with kids, you might also be interested in these other articles, all written from a local mom’s perspective:
- Best Things to Do in Osaka with Kids
- Osaka with Kids Itinerary
- Indoor Activities for Kids in Osaka
- Universal Studios Japan with Kids
- Where to Stay in Osaka with Kids