Have Fun in 3 Family-Friendly Snow Parks in Kanto
In Japan, real winter weather starts in late autumn. Mention winter in Japan, and people tend to think of Hokkaido and the Tohoku area, where there is plenty of snow. But there are lots of spots in the Kanto area where you can experience snow too. It’s great to go skiing and snowboarding at ski resorts, but for families with children, we recommend activities where you can play with snow at amusement parks and other facilities that are easy to access. Apart from the snow, the attractions in the amusement parks are just as fun!
1. Travel Light to Sagamiko Resort Pleasure Forest Snow Paradise - Kanagawa
At Sagamiko Resort Pleasure Forest in Sagamihara City, Midori Ward of Kanagawa Prefecture, a variety of activities such as hot springs, camping, and an amusement park can be enjoyed. There is also the Snow Paradise, a playground of around 6,000 square meters. It's sheer size makes it the largest snowy area in the Kanto region during winter.
Here, there are huge slopes and tube slides for sleds measuring 50 meters long and 30 meters wide. For just some frolic-in-the-snow fun, Chibikko Snow Play Mountain is where you can make snowmen and have snowball fights. Even beginners to snow can have fun here! Sleds can be rented, so you can travel light. Diaper-changing stations are scattered around the area: at the souvenir shop in the park (where a nursing room is also available), restaurants, and toilets in the Paddington Town area, in front of the Ferris Wheel, and other locations.
Stay for the day to catch a magical illumination at night. To get there, take a bus bound for Mikage at Sagamiko Station on the JR Chuo Line and get off at Pleasure Forest-mae.
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Location: 1634 Wakayanagi, Midori-ku, Sagamihara-shi, Kanagawa Event period: Please check the official website for the latest schedule. Rental fee：Rustic sled rental for ¥500 per day and tube slide for ¥600 (30 minutes of use). You may also bring your own sleds (plastic sleds only). Prices are subject to change. ※Please refrain from bringing your own ski set. |
2. Year-round fun in the snow at Tokyo Asobi Mare - Tokyo
The indoor amusement park Tokyo Asobi Mare, accessible in about 40 minutes by train from Shinjuku Station, will keep parents and their kids entertained all day. It has a Snow Town where snow can be enjoyed 365 days a year. Have a great time playing in the snow or sledding at a constant comfortable temperature of around 18°C to 20°C, regardless of when you visit Japan.
Boots (size 12-29 cm) and sleds can be rented for free. Apart from the Snow Town, there is also an indoor amusement park with go-karts, slides, bouldering, and trampolines.
A diaper-changing station and hot water for milk can be found in the facility's nursing room. The coin lockers (that are free of charge) are numbered and have pictures of animals, all the better for your children to remember which locker is theirs.
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Location: Bessho 2-chome, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo Beer Nagaike Shinkan Operating hours: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. (Last admission 6 p.m.) Admission fee： 【Standard】2 years old to adult ¥1,200 / infant (0-1 years old) Free 【Holidays (Saturday, Sunday and public holidays)】 ¥1,500 【Night time fee】 (weekdays from 4 p.m. / public holidays from 4 p.m.) ¥1,000 【Handicapped】 ¥700 (Only for disabled people with a disability certificate) |
3. Sled on the slopes and frolic at Snow Park Yeti - Shizuoka
Snow Park Yeti is located at the second station of Mt. Fuji in Susono City, Shizuoka Prefecture. Direct buses (liner buses) run from major stations in the Tokyo Metropolitan area such as Shinjuku and Shinagawa, so it can be easily accessed by families. It takes about two and a half to three hours to get there, making it a fitting spot for a day trip. There are slopes for beginners and families (where the slope has moving belts), and slopes for intermediate and advanced skiers.
In front of the town area, where the restaurant and the information desk are situated, there is the Snow Play plaza and a sledding slope highly recommended for families. Sleds can be rented for a small fee! The ladies changing room in the town area are also well-equiped with diaper-changing stations and a nursing room. When kids get hungry, lead them to the restaurant and order the Snowman Curry (a dish with rice in the shape of a snowman) or ConPota Ramen (noodles topped with plenty of corn).
Think your kids are ready to ski? Sign them up for skiing and snowboarding lessons (in Japanese language only) for children aged 3-5 years old. A dedicated staff and special equipment for kids (boots, boards, and helmets) ensures your kids are in good hands.
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2428 Fujiwara, Suyama, Susono-shi, Shizuoka Operating period: Please check the official website for the latest schedule. Operating hours: 【Weekdays】 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. (※ 4 p.m. on weekdays in March) 【Saturday・Sunday】 9 a.m.- 10 p.m. 【Public holidays】10 a.m. - 10 p.m. ※ Even during the open season, Yeti may be closed due to weather, poor conditions, etc. Admission fee： 【Holidays (Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays】 Adult ¥4,000 【Weekdays 】Adult ¥3,500 ※ Prices may be subject to change. |
Refer to the following for more information on the facilities mentioned in this article
Kanto
https://www.japan.travel/en/destinations/kanto/
Tokai
https://www.japan.travel/en/destinations/tokai/
Kanagawa
https://www.japan.travel/en/destinations/kanto/kanagawa/
https://www.japan.travel/en/travel-directory/kanagawa/
https://trip.pref.kanagawa.jp/
Tokyo
https://www.japan.travel/en/destinations/kanto/tokyo/
https://www.japan.travel/en/travel-directory/Tokyo/
https://www.gotokyo.org/jp/index.html
Shizuoka
https://www.japan.travel/en/destinations/tokai/shizuoka/
https://www.japan.travel/en/travel-directory/Shizuoka/
http://shizuoka-guide.com/english/index.html
Sagamiko Resort Pleasure Forest Snow Paradise
https://www.sagamiko-resort.jp/events/snowparadaisu.html
Sagamiko Resort (Promotional Video
https://youtu.be/osMt6tDaoZM
Asobimare (Promotional Video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-PS8zYCOe0&feature=emb_logo
Snow Park Yeti
https://www.yeti-resort.com/en/
Snow Park Yeti (Promotional Video)
https://youtu.be/vdbhIgzOUpQ
