Kids Dome Sorai

Though it's not located in Niigata, Kids Dome Sorai is definitely worth a day trip into Yamagata.  Located in Tsuruoka city, Sorai is a beautiful space for kids to explore, play, and create in.

The building itself is split into two areas, with the upper half being a playground with nets, ropes, climbing holds, and slopes for sliding.  Built into it is a small library corner with hammocks and books, as well as another space for babies and toddlers to play in.  When we went there, the entire place was perfectly clean, and Sorai staff were always on hand to watch out for the kids' safety.

The second area is a workshop for arts and crafts.  It is stocked amazingly well, with any and every kind of material and medium available.  We made some Christmas cards and pin badges, but there were also kids building with wood and using a 3D printer (the 3D printer requires a separate reservation).  Like the play area, there are plenty of staff to assist with any questions or help the kids might need.

If you have visited the Children's Creative Center in Ikutopia, Sorai is like that but on a grander scale.  It's perfect for a short road trip, and both kids and adults can have a lot of fun there.

Children from 0-12 are welcome at Sorai, and prices can be found on their homepage below.  If you're visiting on a weekend, reservations are required, and can be made online here.

Kids Dome Sorai homepage (No English)

Joetsu Aquarium Umigatari

Joetsu Aquarium Umigatari is a spacious and interestingly designed place to visit with your family and make some penguin friends.

Built in 2018, the building is quite modern and clean, and has a unique layout starting you up on the top floor with a view of the Joetsu coastline, and then working its way back down to the 1st floor.

Along the way, you'll see not only fish, dolphins, beluga whales, and jellyfish, but also a projection mapping of the four seasons, and the biggest population of Magellanic penguins in Japan.

Like most aquariums, there is a dolphin show, but I found it to be cramped in comparison to Marinepia's stadium area.  Instead, I'd recommend trying to catch the feeding time for the beluga whales, when you can see the staff doing some up close training with them.

The penguin enclosure is impressive, as you'll be walking among the birds (just be careful not to get too close), and there are several areas below their enclosure where you can watch them swim.  The penguin area, as well as the carp pond and the touch pool, are all outside, so your experience may depend on the weather.

Joetsu Aquarium Umigatari (limited English-language page)

Shirone Kite Museum

Shirone, in the southern ward of Niigata City, is well-known for its giant kite festival, held annually in June.  If you can't make it to the festival itself, the Shirone Kite Museum is a fun place to spend an afternoon and learn about the history of the festival and the amazing kites that fly there.

The museum is filled with beautiful kites, big and small, with designs ranging from the traditional samurai and dragons to modern cartoon characters and realistic birds and insects.

On the second floor there is a workshop where you can build and color your own kite (for 300 yen) and then fly it in a wind tunnel!

In addition to the kites, there are also many displays about traditional crafts and life in Shirone over the past century.

The Shirone Kite Museum is open on most days from 9am to 5pm.  Entry is 400 yen for adults and 200 yen for children (elementary up to high school), but on weekends children are free.

Shirone Kite Museum homepage (No English): http://www.shiteikanrisha.jp/ootako/index.html

Yuzawa Nakazato Forest Adventure

Yuzawa is famous throughout Japan for winter sports, but even in the off-season there are fun things to do there!

At Yuzawa Nakazato Forest Adventure you can climb wooden and rope bridges high up in the trees before zip-lining back down to the ground.  Everyone wears a harness with a belay system, so you're safe at all times, and the staff give a comprehensive explanation of how everything works.  At the start of the course there's also a practice area where you can get comfortable with how to move from tree to tree.

Forest Adventure has a beginner course (Canopy Course), which is for anyone over 110cm, and an advanced course (Adventure Course), which requires children to be at least in the 4th grade and over 140cm.  We tried the Canopy Course, which has 4 different routes, and spent about an hour and a half there.  We had a great time, and though at first it is a little scary to be up so high above the ground, the harness makes you feel so safe that you'll quickly stop worrying and just have fun!  The website below (no English) has additional photos and few video clips.

The Forest Adventure operates from the end of April until early November.  Reservations are required in advance (phone number is on the homepage).  The price for the Canopy Course (kids and adults) is 2,800 yen.

Yuzawa Nakazato Forest Adventure homepage: https://www.yuzawa-nakazato.com/summer/forest-adventure/

Lotte Arai Resort Playground

The Lotte Arai Ski Resort, in Myoko City, is well known for its slopes in the winter, but there is also a great time to be had in the off-season!  Renovated in 2017, the hotel has a brand new facility with climbing walls and a large trampoline area.  We spent about 2 hours there, which was more than enough time to try the 4 different play areas.

There is a large bouldering wall with beginner and advanced routes, and a "wonder wall" that uses projection mapping for a handful of games.

We played one game that has you climb around the wall touching colored circles to make fireworks.

The "fun wall" area has 8 themed walls with a harness system so it's easy and safe for young kids (4 years and older) to descend from the top.

Finally, there's a big space full of trampolines to bounce around and try some of the special jumps that are posted on the walls.  The entire resort is beautiful, clean, and the staff are very friendly.  In addition, many of them speak English, and all signage in the area is in multiple languages.  Outside of the hotel there is also a zip-line, a tubing area, and an athletic play area up in the trees.  We didn't have a chance to try those, but I'm sure we'll be back again soon to check them out!

Here's a photo of their pricing information, which can also be found on their website below.

Lotte Arai Resort (in English): https://www.lottehotel.com/arai-resort/en/activities/playground.html

Cafe Quasta

Board games and card games are some of our favorite activities as a family, especially when it's too hot or too cold to be outside.  I've written here before about several shops in Niigata where you can buy games, but it can be hard to know which games will be the best for you and your kids.  Also, sometimes games can take up a lot of space, both on the table and on your shelves.  That's where Cafe Quasta comes in.

(photo from Cafe Quasta website)

Cafe Quasta is a board game cafe in the Chuo ward of Niigata City, which serves drinks and has an impressive collection of board and card games.  Like a karaoke box, you pay by the amount of time you spend there, during which you can try out any of the games there (or bring your own from home).  All of the cafe's games are well organized and in perfect condition, and if you have any questions the owner is happy to explain the rules and walk you through a few rounds.

Drinks must be purchased at the cafe, but you're free to bring your own food and snacks.  Cafe Quasta is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, open from 3:00pm to 9:00pm on weekdays, and from 1:00pm to 9:00pm on weekends.  Weekdays prices are from 300 yen (1 hour) to 1400 yen (all day), and weekends start at 400 yen (1 hour) to 2200 yen (all day).

The cafe has a really friendly and relaxing atmosphere, and I definitely recommend it for a rainy (or hot summer) day.

Cafe Quasta website: http://quasta.jp/

Stand up paddle boarding in Kashiwazaki

At Arahama Beach in Kashiwazaki City, you can find "Go Surf Daigo", where you can try stand up paddle boarding.  Stand up paddle boarding is a bit like surfing, but it's much easier and slower paced.  You can sit, kneel, or stand on the wide board, and row with a paddle.

For 4000 yen per person, you get a board, a paddle, a lifejacket, and 2 hours to use them.  The first hour is a lesson, during which Daigo (I think that's his name) will accompany you into the water and show you everything you need to know.  He was really friendly, and he took many photos for us with his waterproof camera, which he sent to me at the end of the lesson.  It's really relaxing and my son had a lot of fun!

Go Surf Daigo Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DAIGOSURF/