9 Best Spots for Fun with Children in Kyoto

Kyoto has many historical spots for adults, such as shrines, temples, and Japanese gardens, but in fact, there are also many facilities that children can enjoy. This article introduces spots where the whole family, from children to adults, can play together! Many of the facilities are indoors, so we recommend using them on rainy days.

To learn more about Kyoto, click here.

Kyoto City Zoo (京都市動物園)

Recommended for babies! / No reservation required / Reasonable admission fee / Sightseeing spots nearby

The Kyoto City Zoo is the second zoo in Japan with a long history and is divided into six areas where a variety of animals live, including giraffes, elephants, and red pandas.. In addition to the animals kept in the zoo, visitors can also encounter a variety of wild birds, flowers, insects, and other living creatures. The zoo is also a hidden spot for cherry blossoms, which bloom in spring, with more than 100 cherry trees planted in the park.

Nearby are the Kyoto Kyocera Museum of Art, the National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto, and Heian Jingu Shrine, making it a perfect area for relaxing and sightseeing. Admission to the park is also very reasonable, at 750 yen for adults and free for junior high school students and younger.

Kyoto Aquarium（京都水族館）

Recommended for babies! / Near Kyoto Station / Online ticket purchase available / Cafe / Take your time and enjoy

The Kyoto Aquarium is located about a 15-minute walk from Kyoto Station. Although there is no ocean nearby, it is one of the largest inland aquariums in Japan, where visitors can enjoy dolphin shows.

The centerpiece of the aquarium is the giant salamander, which has been designated a special natural treasure by the Japanese government. Visitors can observe the salamander, which is now considered a rarity, up close and personal.

Other highlights include the “Kyoto Sea” tank, which recreates the entire sea of Kyoto, home to a wide variety of creatures, and an exhibit of the aquarium’s popular penguins.

Access is conveniently located a 15-minute walk from Kyoto Station and about a 7-minute walk from Umekoji Kyoto Nishi Station. There are also a variety of cafes and stores for you to take your time and enjoy.

cafe&deli comori

Recommended for babies! / Stylish / Relaxing / Online reservation available

This fashionable cafe in Shimogamo has facilities for babies and small children, including a kids’ space, a baby room, and stroller storage. Private rooms, mat seating, picture books and toys are also available, making this a restaurant designed with children in mind.

There is also a wide variety of kid’s menus that are both varied and cute looking. Of course, there are also meals and sweets menus for adults. Reservations can be made online, so it is recommended to make a reservation if you want to be sure of using the restaurant.

Kyoto Railway Museum（京都鉄道博物館）

Recommended for 1.2 year old toddlers! / No reservation required / Indoor facility / Reasonable admission fee for children / Restaurant

The Kyoto Railway Museum is recommended for those interested in Japanese trains! From steam locomotives to Shinkansen (Japanese Bullet Train), this facility is a must-see for railroad enthusiasts, with exhibits of valuable rolling stock, a driving simulator experience, and a steam locomotive garage.

It is a 20-minute walk from Kyoto Station, or a 10-minute bus ride. The museum has restaurants and box lunch shops, and we especially recommend the dining car booths. Visitors can enjoy light meals and coffee menus in a dining car that was actually used.

Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama（嵐山モンキーパーク いわたやま）

Recommended for children 2~3 years old and up! / Reasonable admission fee (cash only) / Unique / Outdoors

Arashiyama Monkey Park is home to about 120 Japanese monkeys living in the wild. Here you can walk along the mountain paths and see the monkeys living freely. You can also feed the monkeys at the rest area at the top of the mountain. You can experience monkeys to your heart’s content.

The summit of the mountain also offers a spectacular view of the city of Kyoto. On a clear day, you can even see Kyoto Tower. The long slide and other playground equipment are also available for both children and adults to play on.

From the entrance to the monkey area, there is a 20-minute mountain climbing course that provides a bit of a mountain-climbing experience. The path is well-maintained, so even small children can climb, but sneakers or other comfortable walking shoes are recommended.

It is conveniently located a 7-minute walk from Arashiyama Station on the Hankyu Railway. Admission is reasonable at 600 yen for adults and 300 yen for children, but please note that cash only is accepted.

SAMURAI and NINJA MUSEUM with EXPERIENCE (サムライ忍者体験ミュージアム)

Recommended for children over 3 years old! / Experience Japanese culture / Sightseeing spots nearby

The SAMURAI NINJA MUSEUM TOKYO With Experience is an activity museum that not only exhibits antiques, but also allows visitors to actually wear armor, the costume of the samurai, and experience shuriken throwing as a ninja.

The basic plan includes a guide who explains the history of samurai and ninja, and a samurai and ninja experience. For those seeking a more authentic experience, there is also a special plan that includes ninja training in ninja costumes and specialized techniques, as well as basic swordsmanship for groups to learn.

It is also only a 3-minute walk from Kyoto Kawaramachi Station. Nearby is Nishiki Market, a popular eating place, so please stop by together.

Toei Kyoto Studio Park（東映太秦映画村）

Recommended for children over 3 years old! / Experience Japanese culture / Tickets available online / Take your time / Restaurants

Toei Kyoto Studio Park is a movie theme park. The open sets that recreate the streets of the Edo and Meiji periods are sometimes used for actual TV and movie shootings. Visitors can enjoy dressing up in more than 30 types of authentic period costumes, and there are also a variety of hands-on attractions such as ninja experiences and sword fighting classes. This is a great spot for children.

There are several nearby stations, but it is only a five-minute walk from JR Uzumasa Station and Randen Taimata-Hiryuuji Station. There are plenty of stores, restaurants, and coffee shops on the grounds, so this is a great place to spend some time.

Diorama Kyoto JAPAN（ジオラマ京都JAPAN）

Recommended for children over 3 years old! / Reasonable admission fee / Sightseeing spots nearby

One of the largest diorama pavilions in western Japan is located inside Trolley Saga Station. Kyoto’s famous landmarks such as Kinkakuji Temple and Kiyomizu-dera Temple are reproduced in miniature and in great detail. Don’t miss the realistic model trains running through the streets of Kyoto.

You can take the Sagano Trolley Train to the Trolley Saga Station where “Diorama Kyoto JAPAN” is located. The Sagano Trolley Train is very popular as a sightseeing train, where you can enjoy the scenery of the four seasons. Please enjoy it as a set.

Kyoto International Manga Museum (京都国際マンガミュージアム)

Recommended for children above elementary school age! / Reasonable admission fees / Indoor facilities / Relaxing and having fun / Cafe

The Kyoto International Manga Museum is a facility that collects, preserves, exhibits, surveys, and researches manga. Although the words “preservation” and “exhibition” may conjure up images of historical materials on display, 50,000 of the 300,000 manga in the museum’s collection are available for free reading. Moreover, visitors can bring them to the grassy area outside the building and lie down to read them.

The “Manga Expo” corner features Japanese manga translated into English, French, Thai, and other languages, as well as comics published overseas. It is a great place to enjoy manga even if you cannot read Japanese. In addition, on Saturdays and Sundays, workshops for drawing portraits and manga are held, offering a variety of experiences.

It is a 2-minute walk from Karasuma-Oike Station, and nearby are Nijo Castle and Nishiki Market. Admission is reasonable, so we recommend using the museum for a break when you are tired of strolling outside. There is also a café inside the museum.