Yu Kids Play Land at Hinode Aeon Mall

I'm still trying to get caught up on what we've been up to since we've been in Japan!  Minus the fact that we still don't have any of our household belongings, we're into a pretty regular schedule now.  Peter goes to work, we run errands, Bennett has started getting into a regular napping schedule, and we have a fun playgroup that we're part of.

A couple of weeks ago, because it was raining (lately it seems like it's always raining!), we decided to go to an indoor play land at one of the local malls for our playgroup.  It's called Yu Kids and it's located at Hinode Mall.  And it's AWESOME.  I wish I had gotten better pictures so that you could really get the whole effect, but hopefully you can get a feel for it from these pictures.  Everything was white or neon, glowing, bouncy, or spinning.  They had an area that just blew balloons around in the air, and the kids went crazy in there!  Lots of bounce house type sections, slides, and then these cool twisting and turning apparatuses that the kids could climb on and try to hold onto as they spun around.  They also had these big balls that hung down from tree-looking things that the kids could swing on.  It was seriously so cool and William and Clara and all of their friends had a blast.  A 5 time punch card was only ¥2400, so not totally cheap, but not too bad and the kids played so hard, that I know we'll get our money's worth!  We will definitely be going back to play some more!

Hinode Aeon Mall GPS Coordinates: 

35.735070, 139.275263

Kickin' it in SA: Kiddie Park

Kiddie Park. One of San Antonio's iconic landmarks--and it's all for kids! Claimed to be America's oldest children's amusement park, it was built in 1925 and has maintained all of its original rides! And the rides are classics. Where else can you go and ride a miniature horse and buggy??? It's just so charming.

This has become a favorite playdate location for us. 

William loves it all, and this last time we went I put Clara on all of the rides for the first time and she loved it as well! She couldn't get enough of the "roadster" ride and went on it at least three times. 

And I love it because it's not too big; an hour spent is sufficient. But, it's easy to spend the day there as well! They've got plenty of picnic tables if you'd like to pack a lunch, or you can grab something at their concession stand. Plus it's all outdoors and has lots of little rocks for your little ones to pick up, play with, and inevitably put in their mouths. :)  (If you're a San Antonio local, or are coming here to visit, be sure to check Groupon regularly for deals at Kiddie Park! Buying a big book of tickets, rather than the unlimited ride wristband, even if you don't get them at discount, is the way to go because you can use them over an extended period of time.) 

So, if you have little ones, go and experience Kiddie Park! You won't regret it! For more ideas on what to do in San Antonio with kids, check out my other Kickin' it in SA posts here and here!