Last Updated on October 8, 2025 by Vlad
Tired of crowded, overpriced, and overstimulating Tokyo attractions? Let your kids run wild at Kodomonokuni (literally “Children’s Country”), a massive 240-acre wonderland where they can milk cows, zoom down a 115-metre roller slide, and paddle boats until their legs give out. No massive queues, no sensory overload, just pure, old-school fun.
Straddling the border between Tokyo and Kanagawa, it’s the kind of spot that rarely features in guidebooks. But after multiple visits with our son, I reckon it’s one of the best-kept secrets for families and a cornerstone of our guide to the best family-friendly activities in Yokohama. For expats, it’s a beloved regular haunt; for tourists, it’s a welcome escape from the city’s madness.
Kodomonokuni at a Glance
- 📍 Location: Yokohama, Kanagawa (easily accessible from Tokyo)
- 👨👩👧👦 Best For: Families with kids aged 3–12 (though teens can still enjoy the pools and pedal boats, and there are lots of things for toddlers too)
- 💰 Cost: Incredibly affordable. Adult entry is only ¥600, older kids pay ¥200, while those aged 3-5 pay ¥100
- ⭐ Highlights: 115m roller slide, farm animal interactions, massive pools in summer, pedal boats, and huge green spaces
- 🚆 Getting There: ~1 hour from Shibuya Station on the Den-en-toshi and Kodomonokuni lines
- ⚠️ Pro Tip: Closed on Wednesdays! Always check the calendar before you go
- 🌐 Official Website: Kodomonokuni English Site – For the most current hours, closures, and event info
Getting There Without Losing Your Mind
The Train Journey:
• From Shibuya, take the Den-en-toshi Line to Nagatsuta Station (about 40 minutes)
• Transfer to the Kodomonokuni Line – it’s literally a single-line train that only goes to one place (you can’t stuff this up)
• Get off at Kodomonokuni Station – the final stop (about 7 minutes)
• Walk 3 minutes to the park entrance
Total journey: About 1 hour from Shibuya Total cost: ¥510 each way
🍱 Food Shopping Pro-Tip: Don’t wait until Kodomonokuni Station – the Lawson there gets absolutely slammed. Instead, stock up at Nagatsuta Station before hopping on that tiny train:
• Vie De France Cafe – grab fresh pastries for breakfast or morning tea
• Kiyoken – proper Japanese bento boxes (warning: they can be a bit heavy to lug around the park all day)
• Lawson – for quick snacks, drinks, and picnic essentials. If you’re new to the glorious world of Japanese convenience stores, this is your perfect training ground!
What You’ll Actually Pay
Here’s the refreshing bit – Kodomonokuni won’t absolutely rinse your wallet like other Tokyo attractions:
Entry fees (cash only at the game – you cannot pay by card!):
• Adults: ¥600
• Elementary/Junior high students: ¥200
• Kids 3-5 years: ¥100
• Under 3: Free
Pro-Tip: Grab a ¥1,000 ‘value ticket’ at the entrance for ¥1,200 worth of credit. Perfect for rides and animal feed.
Compare that to Tokyo Disneyland at ¥7,000-10,000 per person, and suddenly this place looks like an absolute bargain.
If you’re wondering why cash is still so popular in Japan, you’re not alone – many places like Kodomonokuni stick to the old-school way of doing things.
Things to Do at Kodomonokuni: Our Top Picks
Unlike the flashy theme parks in central Tokyo, Kodomonokuni feels like someone took the best bits of a farm, an adventure park, and a massive backyard, then smooshed them all together. The beauty of it? Kids can have an absolute ball without you spending a fortune.
The star attractions:
Free Playgrounds Everywhere
Before you start throwing money at activities, know this: there are heaps of free playgrounds scattered throughout the park where kids can just be kids. Climbing frames, swings, slides – all the classics. Your kids could easily spend hours here without you spending a cent beyond the entry fee. There are different playgrounds for different ages and abilities – meaning there is something for everyone.
That 115-Metre Roller Slide
This thing is legendary. It’s not your average playground slide – it’s a proper downhill adventure on rollers that’ll have your kids queuing up for “just one more go” about 47 times. Our son went back at least 5 times in a row, even with the wait. Just make sure you’ve got cardboard or a slide mat (they sell them there), or your bum will pay the price.
Farm Animals That Actually Want to Hang Out
• Feed goats, cows, and sheep (¥100 for a bag of feed)
• Milk cows on weekends and holidays (free, but spaces are limited. You may need to go there early to book a spot for later in the day)
• Pet rabbits and guinea pigs at the Kids Zoo (¥200-250 entry)
• Pony riding around a 110m track (¥400-800 depending on age)
Don’t miss: The farm’s soft-serve ice cream and fresh milk – made from their own cows. It’s ridiculously good and feels like the proper payoff after watching (or attempting) cow milking. You’ll find it near the farm area.
Water Play That’ll Save You in Summer
• A 200-metre artificial stream called “Seseragi” (mid-March to early October)
• Proper swimming pools with 7 different types (mid-July to August)
• Bring bathers, towels, and a change of clothes – kids will get absolutely soaked
Summer pool pricing (includes entry):
• Adults: ¥1,200
• Kids 6-15: ¥500
• Kids 3-5: ¥400
Pedal Power Adventures
Forget electric rides – everything here runs on good old-fashioned kid power:
• 5 types of bicycle-themed attractions (Helicycle, funny bikes, rollingcycle, challengecycle, kids F1 cars – ¥200-300 per ride)
• Cycling course (1.6km) with tandem bikes – perfect for riding with your kids (¥300 adult, ¥200 kids 3+)
• Pedal boats on the pond (¥700 for 30 mins, 2 people)
• Row boats if you’re feeling fancy (¥500 for 30 mins)
Fair warning: those pedal boats look way easier than they are. Bring another adult to share the workload, or your legs will be absolutely screaming the next day. Trust me on this one.
Getting around: The Akapoppo loop bus (it looks like a train!) will take you around the park for ¥300 per person (kids 3+ included). Handy for tired little legs, though it may not run when the park’s packed, nor does it run that frequently.
Seasonal Highlights Worth Planning For
Cherry Blossom Season (Late March – Early April) About 1,000 cherry trees bloom throughout the park. Pack a picnic, grab a spot under the trees, and do hanami properly without the Ueno Park crowds. Absolute magic.
Summer Pool Season (Mid-July to August) If Tokyo’s humidity is doing your head in, this is your escape. The pools are brilliant for cooling off, and the park is shaded enough that you won’t completely melt.
Autumn Colours (Late November – Early December) Japanese maples and ginkgo trees turn the park into an Instagram goldmine. Less crowded than famous autumn spots, too.
Winter Ice Skating (Mid-December to February) Outdoor skating rink with a roof – proper winter fun without freezing your bits off.
• Adults: ¥1,500 (includes skate rental)
• Kids 6-15: ¥800
• Kids 3-5: ¥700
BBQ Season (March to November) Fancy a BBQ? You can hire a grill pit! You’ll need to book online in advance. It’s a massive draw for Japanese families making a full day of it – we’ve never had time to do it ourselves, but if you’ve got the energy, it’s an option.
Essential Info for Parents
Opening hours:
• 9:30am – 4:30pm (5pm in July/August)
• Last entry 3:30pm (4pm in July/August)
• Closed Wednesdays (unless it’s a public holiday), and December 31, January 1
What to bring:
• Cash – and LOTS of coins (especially ¥100 coins for rides and animal feed)
• Your own lunch from Nagatsuta Station (food stalls at the park get slammed on weekends)
• Comfy shoes (this place is massive)
• Rubbish bags (bins are harder to find than a quiet spot in Shibuya)
• Change of clothes if it’s warm (water play is irresistible for kids)
• Translation app on your phone – not all staff speak English. While an app is handy, knowing a few essential Japanese words and phrases will make your day even smoother
Smart moves:
• Arrive early – the place is huge and you’ll want the whole day
• Leave before closing time on weekends – the last two trains get absolutely rammed
• Check the weather forecast – this is an outdoor park, so rain will kill the vibe
• CHECK IT’S NOT A WEDNESDAY (more on this nightmare below…)
Reality check:
• You won’t get to do everything – the park’s too massive, and that’s fine
• Kids can happily spend hours at the free playgrounds and slides, without you spending a cent
• This place was designed for Japanese families, not overseas tourists – embrace it!
Lessons We Learned the Hard Way (so you don’t have to)
The Great Wednesday Disaster
Picture this: early morning train from Yokohama with my son and mother-in-law. The kid was absolutely buzzing – talking non-stop about all the things he wanted to do (not to mention the night before!). We’d stopped at a convenience store, loaded up on drinks, snacks, and food for a proper picnic. Everyone was excited.
We rock up to the park entrance and… it’s shut. Closed. Not a soul in sight.
Turns out, I’d completely failed to check that Kodomonokuni is closed every Wednesday. Not sometimes. Every. Single. Wednesday (unless it’s a public holiday). The look on my son’s face was absolutely gutting, and my mother-in-law’s “I-told-you-to-check” expression didn’t help.
To salvage the day, we ended up heading to Shinagawa Maxell Aqua Park instead. It actually turned out pretty well, but – always, ALWAYS check it’s not a Wednesday before you go.
When Milking Cows Goes Wrong
On a visit that actually happened on the right day, my son eagerly signed up for the cow milking experience. He was having an absolute ball – right up until nature called and the cow decided to… well, let’s just say the milking session came to an abrupt halt. The poor kid scattered like someone had set off fireworks. We still laugh about it today.
The Paddle Boat Workout From Hell
On my first trip to Kodomono, I thought I’d be a hero and take the family out on a pedal boat. It looked easy afterall – a simple float around the pond, right? Wrong. After 30 minutes of pedalling against what felt like Olympic resistance, my legs were absolutely cooked. I couldn’t walk properly for two days. Either bring another adult to share the workload, or stick to shorter sessions. You’ve been warned.
A Bit of History
Kodomonokuni was built in 1965 to celebrate the wedding of Prince Akihito and Princess Michiko (who later became Emperor and Empress). The land itself has a wild past – it was used as a military ammunition storage site during WWII. You can still see old tunnels and mysterious doors built into hillsides throughout the park. The kids think they’re secret spy bases, which adds an extra layer of adventure.
Why Kodomonokuni is Better Than Tokyo’s Theme Parks
Look, I love DisneySea as much as the next parent, but sometimes you want a day where:
• Your kids can actually run wild instead of standing in queues
• You don’t need a second mortgage for entry tickets
• Nature does the entertaining instead of screens and characters
• You can sit on actual grass instead of concrete
Kodomonokuni nails all of this. It’s less polished, more authentic, and way more relaxing.
Your FAQs Answered
Is Kodomonokuni good for toddlers? Absolutely brilliant. The petting zoo, gentle playgrounds, and wide open spaces are perfect for little ones. Plus it’s completely stroller-friendly.
Wait, it’s closed on Wednesdays? Yep, every single Wednesday except public holidays. Don’t be like me and rock up with excited kids only to find locked gates. Learn from my pain and check the calendar before you leave.
Can we bring our own food? Yep! In fact, I’d recommend it, especially on weekends when the food stalls get smashed. There are heaps of picnic spots throughout the park.
How long should we plan to spend there? A full day, easy. We’ve never managed to see everything in one visit – there’s just too much to do.
Is it crowded? Nothing like Tokyo’s major attractions. Golden Week and cherry blossom season get busy, but it’s still manageable. Weekdays are absolutely cruisy.
What if it rains? Most activities are outdoors, so rain pretty much ruins the day. Check the forecast and reschedule if needed – it’s worth waiting for good weather.
The Bottom Line
Kodomonokuni is the kind of place that reminds you why you moved to (or visited) Japan in the first place. It’s thoughtfully designed, ridiculously affordable, and gives kids the freedom to just be kids without parents having a meltdown about safety or queues.
Whether you’re chasing goats, conquering that massive roller slide, or dodging cow business during milking time, this park delivers proper family memories. And at ¥600 entry, you can afford to come back again and again.
Just do yourself a favour and check it’s not a Wednesday before you drag everyone out there. Learn from my Wednesday disaster – that’s a mistake you only want to make once!
Have you visited Kodomonokuni? What did your kids love most? Drop a comment below – I’d love to hear about your adventures!