Introducing Historia Terrace Itsukidani Kodomokan

Hi everyone, I’m Kanao, a writer for Sarukuma.

Today I’m taking you to Itsuki Village in Kuma District to visit
Historia Terrace Itsukidani Kodomokan — a free indoor play space that’s a hidden gem for families exploring rural Kumamoto.

The Kodomokan (Children’s Hall) is located inside the Historia Terrace Itsukidani complex.
Right as you walk in, look to your right for the red lettering that says “Itsukimura Kodomokan” — you can’t miss it.

The exterior of Historia Terrace Itsukidani features a bright yellow roof and deep navy blue walls.
It’s a stylish, eye-catching building that stands out beautifully in the countryside setting.

The parking lot is spacious too, with room for 42 cars.

Inside Historia Terrace Itsukidani, there’s also a place to grab a meal.
It’s called Kinai Cafe, and they serve delicious lunches made with local Itsuki Village specialty ingredients ♡

I visited on a Saturday, and the cafe was lively and full of customers.
The dining area has table seating, and high chairs are available, so families with little ones will feel right at home♩♩

Can you guess what this is?

The answer is… a free reading space!

It’s located right near the entrance, with a wide variety of books to choose from.
With desks and chairs available, you can settle in and enjoy a relaxing read here!

Surrounded by warm wooden surfaces and bathed in soft orange lighting, it’s the perfect peaceful spot to lose yourself in a good book.

They even had a giant Anpanman encyclopedia — my son was completely fascinated.
It was so popular that the kids were practically taking turns wrestling over it.

OK, I got a bit sidetracked — back to the main attraction, the Kodomokan! (laughs)

Here’s the pricing:

・Preschoolers & adults… Free

・Elementary students… 200 yen

There’s no time limit either, so you can stay as long as the kids are enjoying themselves and leave whenever they’re ready.

Even if you’re a preschooler or adult visiting for free, please be sure to check in at the front desk. Here’s why…

Ta-da! ✧＼\ ٩( ‘ω’ )و /／✧

You’ll receive these adorable admission cards♡
The one on the left is for the Kodomokan, and the one on the right is for the exhibition room.

※ The exhibition room charges admission for adults and elementary students and up. Please refer to the photo above for details.

Even free visitors get a card, which is a lovely little keepsake from your visit to Itsuki Village♩

※ These cards are special — you can also use them at the neighboring Kinai Cafe!
Show your card at Kinai Cafe to receive…

・With a meal order: 1 free drink

・With a drink order: 100 yen discount

How generous is that?
Definitely make the most of this perk during your visit.

What makes Historia Terrace Itsukidani Kodomokan special

A traditional noren curtain hangs at the entrance with the words “Kodomo no Mise Donguri” (Children’s Acorn Shop).
Duck through the curtain and inside you’ll find…

…heaps of wooden play food!
(Each variety is neatly sorted into its own basket, making everything easy to find.)

Tomatoes, carrots, and other vegetables, apples and other fruits.
There’s even shrimp and fish for seafood, plus steak and other meats!
This little shop really has it all♡

Shopping carts and a toy cash register make for a complete grocery-shopping role-play experience.

After shopping comes cooking! There’s even a play kitchen complete with a stove and sink.

My son cheerfully said to his friend, “Mikan yakokka~” (“Should we grill the orange?”), only to be scolded with a firm “No way!” — laughs.

The exchange between the kids was so adorable, I couldn’t stop smiling.

There’s also a wooden ball pool with a slide attached.
The rim of the ball pool has grooves so kids can roll the balls along the edge for extra fun.

The adults who climbed in could be heard groaning, “Ouch — my feet hurt!” as they played.

The wooden balls in the pool are crafted from 8 different types of wood.
Each kind of wood has its own unique color and texture.
A reference chart is provided, so it’s fun to play matching games — “This ball must be from this tree, right?♩”♡

Just inside the entrance to the Kodomokan, there’s something called “Ochashitsu Kozoan” (a small tea house).

My first reaction was a giant question mark — “???” (laughs)

I peeked inside and…

…there was a small enclosed room with a low ceiling (which has gaps so adults can peek in from above) and full walls.
The floor is covered with woven mats, with a small table and chairs inside.

It’s such a cozy little hideaway with the woven mat flooring that adults will probably feel like curling up for a quick nap.

There’s even a little window-like opening so parents can keep an eye on their kids from the outside.

To get inside, you crawl through a tiny entrance called a “nijiriguchi” — a traditional sliding door used in Japanese tea ceremony.
You slide the door open to enter.
It’s just the right size for kids to crawl through, but a real squeeze for adults.

For little ones, it’s like a magical secret base — pure excitement♡

With this many wooden toys to enjoy for free and unlimited play time, both parents and kids leave more than satisfied.

If you’re traveling through Kumamoto, be sure to add Historia Terrace Itsukidani Kodomokan to your family itinerary♡

Shirataki Park (Itsuki Village, Kuma District) — Autumn leaves, water play, and the start of illumination season♪

Itsukigen Park (Itsuki Village, Kuma District) — A cheerful park with big play equipment and Japan’s clearest stream

[Closed] CAFE Minamoto (Itsuki Village, Kuma District) — A popular spot for lunches made with local ingredients and game meat

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Frequently Asked Questions

※ Information is current as of the visit. Pricing and hours are subject to change. Please confirm before visiting.