Ojima Komatsugawa Park

The free little zoo is the surprise here, with a playground and garden making it an easy half day for younger kids.

Apartment-style rooms with space for a family to spread out, in an area with easy train access and plenty of everyday shopping nearby.

Earthquake, storm and smoke simulations make this free center much more exciting than the phrase safety museum suggests.

A good Kinshicho base with suites that can fit up to six, plus a playground and useful everyday shopping within an easy walk.

Train kids can walk through old subway cars, try simulators and see how the whole underground system actually works.

The plates are ridiculously cute and much better executed than most character cafes, but getting a reservation is the hard part.