Kitamoto Children’s Center – free indoor play center “jidokan”
We’ve been spending a bit of time at the Kitamoto Children’s Center this summer, as it is a great space for a bit of psychical activity as well as quiet play time. My older kids particularly love the climbing wall here, which is free to use once the kids are supervised.
Kitamoto Children’s Center
Kitamoto Children’s Center is part of the relatively new Kitamoto City Hall. The facilities are public and free for anyone to use. You are required to sign into the children’s center. There are quite a few rules that you are expected to follow and respect, more than any other children’s center I have ever been to.
The Rules
One standard rule they have is no eating or drinking outside the designated areas. But the Kitamoto Children’s Center also have a long list of non standard rules such as:
- Children must take their socks off to play.
- Some of the play zones within the center are specifically for children of a certain age and they are quite strict about limiting its use to that age group only.
- They are also quite strict about accompanying children under 8 at all times, so even if you have for example a 7 year old and a 3 year old, it is expected that they play in the same area at the same time.
So while the facilities and equipment are excellent, for a family with more than 1 child the rules interfere with free play. Despite that, I do think it is one of the better children’s center in the prefecture. Moreover, the equipment they have makes up for their stringent rules.
Equipment
One of the more popular attractions is the climbing wall on the 3rd floor. They allow children of any age use it and they even have some climbing challenges marked out, just like they have in bouldering gyms. Beside the wall they have a zorb, which children of any age can use.
The 3rd floor has a veranda with a selection of bikes and trikes. One of the tricycles three kids can ride together. Needless to say that’s a big hit! There are also some push along rides indoors for children under 3.
Another popular attraction is the relatively large ball pool, with a slide into it. It is on the 2nd floor. This particular ball pool is only for the use of children under 7. They have a smaller ball pool on the 3rd floor for children of school going age. Beside the ball pool there is an open play area where they currently have kinetic sand. There is a play house in this area plus a selection of toys, including Lego and Magformers.
For Babies and Toddlers
The 0 to 3 year old zone is also on the 2nd floor. They have a nice selection of wooden toys. A lot of the toys and equipment in Kitamoto Children’s Centre are Bornelund.
Facilities
Each floor has toilets and kids toilets with a changing mat. The 2nd floor has a rest room where you are allowed eat. There is a drinks vending machine on each floor. Parking is free and plentiful. They hold events. No information in English and no English spoken. Below the children’s center, there is a lovely children’s library.
More articles on climbing
- Monolith bouldering gym in Kawagoe
- Tree climbing in Shinrin Park
- Even toddlers can climb at Sports Authority
Other things to do in Kitamoto
- Kitamotoshi Kodomo Park | KITAMOTO
- Make your own POCKY at Free Factory Tour 2021
- Surprisingly interesting School Lunch History Hall | KITAMOTO
- Jougaya Embankment Cherry Blossom Bank
- Only one in the world: Saitama’s famous cherry blossom | KITAMOTO
- Kitamoto Children’s Library
- Kitamoto Neputa Festival
- Only one in the world: Saitama’s famous cherry blossom | KITAMOTO