Another day, another play area! We are on a seek and find quest for even more new (to us) play areas in Saitama. Call it a hobby, or an obsession, it keeps munchkin #4 highly entertained and keeps me on my toes. My overall impression of Kid’s Park is that it is mediocre, however, DD3 LOVED it, so I would recommend it for anyone with a preschooler. I am erring on the side of caution and giving it three (out of five) stars, because while DD3 loved it, it was because it has toys, outlined below, that she is really into right now.
Kids Park is small, so when I first saw it I was quite disappointed by the look of it. However, on further inspection I realised they use the space really well and they have toys that are ideal for toddlers and preschoolers. That includes (please click on the photo for more information);
DD3’s favourite was definitely the fake food in the play kitchen. The majority of it is the type you cut in two; velcro keeps the two pieces together and you can cut through it with a play knife. She loves this type of play food more than anything else right now and that is why she was so excited by this play center. She also really enjoyed the ball pool, kinetic sand and bouncing castle.
Like so many of the play centers these days the pricing system is a little convoluted and their advertising is misleading. They currently advertise that you can play for “one coin”, i.e 500 yen, on a weekday. It is misleading because it is 500 yen for the child and another 500 yen for the adult and it is only if you stay longer than an hour and a half. However, that is for the full day and you can come and go as you please. Which is just as well as there are no toilets in the play center! There are toilets in the mall right next door though. You can bring food in and eat in the play area too, but they only have two small tables for eating at. They also have lockers so you can store your handbag and/or belongings. The general system is 100 yen for 15 minutes, but if you have a Mama and Papa’s card for Saitama you can get 15 minutes free. Children under 1 years old are free. You have to fill out a form to become a member, with your name, address and age and that of the child’s the first time you visit and once a year after that. It is currently 324 yen to become a member, but iko-yo.net have a coupon you can download that is valid until May 31st that waives this charge. They validate a parking ticket for Dai Ichi car park for THREE hours no matter whether you spend 15 minutes or all day at the play area.
I found Kids Park through Iko-yo.net. I previously wrote, circa 2012, that I didn’t find iko-yo a good source of information. That was because they didn’t list many of the play centers and attractions I had visited with DS and DD1 as it was. Even big ones such as Kidzoona (which they do list now). And I never got “new” information from the site. Since then though they have greatly improved their information for Saitama, particularly in the last year. They are still missing a few places, for example Aruzo Net’s great free play area or Sweets Fantasy Pacc’n in Higashimatsuyama. However, in the last year, I have found a couple of locations I had never heard of before; for example this play center Kids Park and Niko Niko Garden in Ageo. It was also where I learned that the kids center, (now) Wai Wai, in Aeon Sayama had been revamped and reopened.
Official site URL: http://www.amuseum.jp/store/konosu_kp.html
Access
Kids Park Konosu is located on the 3rd floor of Elumi Shopping Mall right beside Takasaki Line Konosu Station. It is a section in “Amuseum” amusement center. The nearest car park to the play center is the third floor parking. Amuseum is on the far wall in the far corner to the entrance from the car park.
Elumi is an old mall that is quite average in style and layout, but what it lacks in decor it makes up for in events. Elumi is the shopping center that displays Japan’s tallest hina doll pyramid in Spring. And in December they have a really good Lapland Santa. To name, but a few.
Concealed in the back corner of the third floor of Cocoon 2 is a veritable preschooler’s paradise. Bornelund’s Kid-o-kid recently celebrated its one year anniversary. It still looks like it was only opened in the last few weeks. The equipment is very well kept, pristine, bright, colourful and educational to boot. It isn’t particularly large, but it is very well laid out. There is a wonderful selection of fun and clever play areas to challenge a growing mind and body. Great entertainment for children younger than school going age guaranteed!
Katsusehara Memorial park in Fujimi is a great park for hanami (cherry blossom picnic) and play dates with toddlers. It was one of my favourite parks for meeting my own friends for a good chat when all four of my kids were under six. The main reason is that the playground is enclosed by a colourful fence with heavy gates. The heavy gates afford an added safety for small children and allow adults to chat in peace without having to worry about children running off. It is a small park too, so you can keep an eye on children easier than in a large park.
There isn’t a lot in the playground, but just enough for smaller children. It is best suited to toddlers and preschoolers. Equipment in Katsusehara memorial park includes spring rides and a climbing/slide combo piece. There is a sandpit too, which is a big hit. There are sinks beside the sandpit to wash your hands and it also doubles as a drinking fountain with a sprout at the top of the basin. In a separate area of the small park there is a flying fox which is popular with older children. Beside that is a roller slide which is also popular with older children, younger ones too. There is a large open space in the park, which is in the middle of a residential area, which is always in use for football, soccer, throwing ball etc. The park is very well maintained and it is a popular place to picnic.
There is no official parking, some people park along the side of the road, but this is frowned upon. There is coin parking nearby. It is close to Tobu Tojo Line Fujimino station. It is open 24 hours. There are toilets in the park, right beside the enclosed playground.
Last week the Kawagoe Kinome branch of McDonalds re-opened as a much better, classier, family friendly branch of McDonalds. The new branch has a McCafé by Barista and a Playland, McDonald’s hallmark free children’s play area.
There are quite a few Playland branches in Saitama including locations such as Ageo, Shiki, Tokorozawa, Kawaguchi, Koshigaya, Kumagaya, Honjo, Iwatsuki, Moroyama, Konosu, Ogawa and quite a few in Saitama City. More about their playlands: