As wintry weather hovers over Japan, parents are constantly on the lookout for indoor places for their kids to play. I'm not a fan of cold weather, so I prefer outings in January and February to be in the comfy confines of climate-controlled museums and movie theaters. That's good enough for me, but my kids need fresh air and activity, so an ideal winter play space involves a warm interior with the potential for some outdoor fun nearby.
My first Child's Play column in 2013 described our neighborhood favorite in this category: the Tokyo Gas Museum. Spacious and toasty indoors, the Tokyo Gas Museum is only a few steps from a playground, an open field, a shopping center and the monorail out to Odaiba. When cold or otherwise inclement weather descends, but my kids still need to get out of the house, that was our plan A.
Today, let me tell you about plan B: Tokyo Dome City. Most people naturally associate Tokyo Dome City with its stadium centerpiece, but the surrounding complex has a lot more to offer. Whether you're wrangling toddlers or teenagers, there is enough to do at Tokyo Dome City to keep you and your brood busy all day.