YOGA

We went to Ikejiri Institute of Design's IID Green Day event. The main reason was to attend the parent-child YOGA class.

Instructor Tonmi's parent-child YOGA is more about stretching and relaxing rather then a hardcore workout. Kids of all ages were there w/ their moms. Some doing yoga together, other younger kids were roaming around, playing with other kids, trying to copy the poses. It was a very easy-going class that I thought it would be a great experience for kaito.

The fee for the class was 1000 Yen for 1 parent+ 1 child.

If you're interested in attending a class with your child check out Instructor Tonmi's blog. She has classes in Ikejiri, Meguro and Shibuya. Seems that she also makes trips to teach private classes.

http://ameblo.jp/taloha/

The event itself was also fun with a flea market, a bunch of other workshops to do with your kids, cafes, food booths.As a part of the event, hammocks were set up at Setagaya park (right next to the school) so everyone can experience it.

Here's kaito in a hammock for the 1st time.

IID GREEN DAY VOL7

http://www.r-school.net/2010/04/iid-green-day-vol07.html

PARACUP: Marathon with the baby

We participated in PARACUP 2010!
Well actually kaito daddy ran the 10km marathon, so kaito and I went to cheer.

This charity marathon event called PARACUP is "A gift of 'Run' to children across the world". You can chose the 10 km marathon/ half-marathon/ 10 km walk along the Tamagawa river.

At the venue, there are several booths. One so you can donate old clothes, stationary, soaps, etc., a foot bath booth, and food/drink booths where you pay/donate however much you want to get the food, drink, etc.

There were so many people pushing strollers in the 10 km walk that I def. want to walk with kaito next year!

The event takes place by the river at the Athletics Stadium so if it's sunny great but there's no shade so it would be good to bring a tarp. But if it's raining, going with a baby is probably difficult.

kaito daddy's result was 10 km/59 mins (a so so result) but it was fun and easy to cheer him on cause the course makes you run back and forth, passing us 4 times.

It was a good way to spend a weekend with the baby.

PARACUP
http://www.paracup.info/index.html

Harajuku YAO

Went to a friend's son's 2nd B-day party.

It was a cozy little party with 5 families at Yao, a cafe that's about 10 minutes from Harajuku Station.

The food was great and fun cause the course they ordered was a wrap party course...you were able to make your own tortilla wraps with your favorite filling (chicken, fried shrimp, salmon, veggies, different sauces, etc). The ambience was a very comforting one, making me want to go back for a relaxing lunch with maybe a glass of wine.

And obviously, as it was a kid's party, the cafe was kid friendly so if you're in the area perhaps stop by for lunch or coffee.

http://www.cporganizing.com/yao/

(Japanese site only)

celeb de tomato @ futakotamagawa

Celeb de Tomato opened a store in Futakotamagawa's Takashimaya (9th floor)!

It's bigger than the one in Daikanyama and since it's in a department store, you can easily change diapers, or use the nursing room.　Futakotamagawa is a very baby friendly area that at this particular Celeb de Tomato, they give kids tomato juice free of charge!　No additives so kaito was gulping down each spoonful!
I love to order the tasting plate that allows you to taste 4 different kinds of tomato juice.　

The salad and pasta lunch course is also recommended and reasonable as it includes dessert and coffee (Courses start from 1500 Yen).　You can also buy some tomato juice to bring home!


The 5th floor of Futakotamagawa's Takashimaya main building has a big baby lounge with a space that allows you to feed your kid.　With the rainy season coming up, hanging out in the department store would be a good way to spend a rainy day.

＜celeb de tomato＞
http://www.celeb-de-tomato.com/

breakfast at 'bills'

New York Times claimed "bills" to be the world's best breakfast place and it opened in Yokohama too!

kaito's 1st short trip was to bills in Shichirigahama.

The entrance at bills has a bunch of stairs so be careful if you go on your own with a stroller. Also, the bathroom is small so you won't easily be able to change diapers. Going by car is best. But, I'm sure the bills that opened in Akarenga, Yokohama won't be like that.

If you get the chance to go to bills, the Ricotta cheese pancakes is a MUST! Don't even think about sharing, 1 plate per person!
You can chose your own toppings for the scrambled eggs.

Afterwards, we walked around Kamakura and bought 'Hatosabure" cookies to take home.
Enjoying a yummy breakfast while watching the ocean at bills in Kamakura is totally worth getting up early in the morning! Can't wait to check out the one in Yokohama!

http://bills-jp.net/

Earth Day Tokyo 2010

This weekend (17th,18th) is Earth Day Tokyo 2010.

The event takes place in Yoyogi Park and there are a bunch of booths & shops, some with organic cotton baby clothes, others with hammocks to try and yummy food booths! They have food that doesn't use dairy products, bio food and booths from shops like YAFFA ORGANIC CAFE and my favorite treehouse cafe HIDEAWAY.

But don't forget to bring you own plates and forks.They have a section where you can wash the plates after you eat so don't worry.

I thought the "J-WAVE x Change" booth was great. All you need is clothes & a CD that you don't want anymore and you can trade it in for what other people brought. They even had baby clothes!

If you have time check out, Earth Day Tokyo 2010! It's a day to think about the EARTH with your kids.

It was such a peaceful day. kaito was too peaceful that he fell asleep the whole time we were there (LOL).
＜Earth Day Tokyo 2010＞

http://www.earthday-tokyo.org/

Omotesando's Maisen

Maisen, known for their Pork cutlet, is delicious and very kid-friendly.

Lunch is about 1000 Yen (with free refills of rice /cabbage) and is very filling that you can share with you child.

Be sure to call and reserve the zashiki(floor seats) so you can let the babies/kids roam around.

http://mai-sen.com/

My Gym

April is the season for a fresh start in Japan. If you're looking for a mommy & kid friendly lesson, My Gym is the place to be.

My Gym is a fitness facility from the States that is targeted for children ages 0-13. They have different classes and programs in English to suit your child. Parents paticipate in the 1 hour classes with their kids until they are age 3 1/4 which is a pretty good workout.

There's trampolines, swings, a pool of balls, slides, rock climbing...it's definitely stimulating for the kids.

Even if you're not a member, you can rent out the gym and throw a birthday party.

The gym is in Hiroo and Futakotamagawa.

http://www.mygym.jp/

Aoyama: BENOIT → Children's Castle

It's ok to splurge on lunch once in awhile...right?

Well, BENOIT - a French bistrot produced by Alain Ducasse, is a kid friendly cafe that lets you enjoy a course starting at 2000 Yen.

And the menu will change from April 15th making it a little easier to order (price-wise).


The day I went, we celebrated a friend's b-day so we ordered a birthday cake which can be made from 2000 Yen.

BENOIT
http://www.benoit-tokyo.com/en/index.html

BENOIT's food is fabulous but the location is also perfect cause right across the street is "Kodomo no Shiro - Children's Castle".

So after mommy is full and happy, next is the baby's turn.
"Children's Castle" has a 500 Yen entrance fee but the kids can play all they want there and with their facilities you don't have to worry about changing diapers and breastfeeding. (They have weekday passes for 3000 Yen which is good for 1 year)
.
kaito's favorite room was the music floor. They had a space that was ok for babies to crawl around in so babies who don't walk yet can enjoy it too. Samba time was today's special event so kaito was mixed in with the older kids dancing the samba. He loved playing the piano too.

National Children's Castle
http://www.kodomono-shiro.or.jp/english/

A perfect day to spend the day in Aoyama,which keeps both the mommy and baby in smiles. You might even be able to shop if your child falls asleep after such an eventful day.

0123 Kichijoji

0123 Kichijoji is a great place to spend the whole day.
It's a 10 minute walk from Kichijioji.

It is a play house with wooden floors and walls giving the place a very warm atmosphere.

On the 1st floor there's a playhall with lots of different sections...like wooden blocks section, kitchen section, costume section, arts and craft section, a piano.

There's also a yard where the kids can run around bearfoot.

The second floor has a little library and a lunch room with kid size tables & chairs.

It'll cost 150 Yen to make the membership card but after that, it's free everytime.

http://www1.parkcity.ne.jp/m0123hap/kichijyoji/index.html

(Japanese site only)

Chinatown → HOTEL NEW GRAND → Yamashita Park

Another one of our favorite locations by Chinatown is HOTEL NEW GRAND.

Instead of eating in one of the restaurants in Chinatown, just walk thru and enjoy the atmosphere while perhaps eating a 'Nikuman'. Then walk over to the Hotel.

The main tower (not the new tower) is what I recommend cause Napolitana Spaghetti was created at this hotel and it can be enjoyed at "The Cafe" on the 1st floor. You can overlook Yamashita Park while enjoying your dish.

After a nice relaxing lunch, you can then enjoy a walk in Yamashita Park. You can see the seagulls and huge boats upclose. The cherry blossoms are beautifull this time of year.

If you decide to go by car, you should park at the Yamashita Park Parking and then walk around Chinatown→HOTEL NEW GRAND→Yamashita Park.

http://www.hotel-newgrand.co.jp/english/index.html

Sumo at Yasukuni Shrine

Once every year Hono Ozumo takes place at the Yasukuni Shrine and it's a great way to enjoy sumo for free.

I went with Sota last year and it was great to watch sumo outside under the cherry blossoms.

It seems that this year it will take place tomorrow.
http://www.yasukuni.or.jp/english/

Rokugodote's Cherry Blossoms

Kaito and Sota spend a beautiful sunny Saturday under the Cherry blossoms of the Rokugo bank.

http://www.o-2.jp/english/tour/07rokugo.html

Flower Paradise at Mother Farm

We went to Mother Farm to be surrounded by 3,000,000 rape blossoms.
A very kid-friendly and fun place to go on the weekend.
http://www.motherfarm.co.jp/en/

Maternity & Baby photos

Studio Navel is a very friendly, homey studio to have your maternity & baby photos taken.
(All the staff are women, which makes is even more relaxing.)

http://www.studio-navel.com/