Introducing Kosodate Tsudoi no Hiroba Midorikawa

Hello, this is Aikero, writer for SaruKuma!

Today I’m introducing a wonderful spot in Nozuru-machi, Uto City:
Kosodate Tsudoi no Hiroba Midorikawa.

Kosodate Tsudoi no Hiroba Midorikawa is a child-rearing support center attached to Midorikawa Kodomoen (kindergarten) in Uto City.
Have you ever visited a child-rearing support center?
“I’m curious, but it feels like a bit of a hurdle to actually go…”

Many parents feel this way, and I was one of them.
If you’ve been to children’s halls but never tried a support center, I hope this article helps you discover what Kosodate Tsudoi no Hiroba Midorikawa is all about (^^)/

By the way, nearby is Setoya, a cafe and photo studio we’ve featured on SaruKuma before.
Their parfaits are amazing, so do stop by if you’re in the area!

Setoya (Amizu-machi, Uto City) — A cafe and photo studio that opened in March 2021! Takeout available, perfect for a drive break ♪

Kosodate Tsudoi no Hiroba Midorikawa is the kind of place moms genuinely enjoy and want to return to!
I used to drive here from central Kumamoto City regularly until my son started preschool (●＾o＾●)

Hours: 9:30 AM – 2:30 PM
Days: Monday – Saturday (varies by month)
Visitors: Open to everyone, regardless of whether you live in Uto City or not
Lunch: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Events: Advance phone reservation required
More on event details and reservations later (^^)/

The location is right next to Midorikawa Station.
It’s set back one road from the main street, so I recommend confirming the location on your GPS or maps before going.
Coming from Kumamoto/Uto, pass the pedestrian bridge near Midorikawa Station and turn right at the road sign shown in the photo.
From the Ouda direction, turn left at the same sign — this lets you avoid narrow streets and arrive smoothly!
The parking lot is in front of the kindergarten yard.
I’ve rarely had trouble finding a spot during regular visits or events, so don’t worry!
The handmade signboard is adorable!
Note that the entrance to Kosodate Tsudoi no Hiroba Midorikawa is separate from the kindergarten yard gate.
On the rightmost side facing the kindergarten yard, there’s a gravel parking area (no parking allowed here).
Walk along this gravel path toward the back (^^)/
And here’s the back kindergarten yard along with the entrance to Kosodate Tsudoi no Hiroba Midorikawa!
Midorikawa Kodomoen children play here in the mornings, so always remember to fasten the upper latch when entering or leaving.
The building on the right is Kosodate Tsudoi no Hiroba Midorikawa.
Here’s the kindergarten yard.
In the morning, kindergarten children play here, so support center visitors can use the yard from around 11 AM through the afternoon.
There are trees offering shade, perfect for letting kids run free!I can already imagine kids playing hide-and-seek here (●＾o＾●)Mud play, hill climbing — kids can do everything they love!
Inside, you’ll have a temperature check upon entry.
The room layout changes depending on the event, but kids can play freely on tatami mats or on the floor!
The tatami room gets lovely sunlight, perfect for relaxing (╹◡╹)There are two restrooms.
Kosodate Tsudoi no Hiroba Midorikawa even has a shower room!
It’s accessible directly from outside, so kids can really go all-in with mud play.
Don’t forget a change of clothes (^^)/

There are also two hand-washing stations.
Step stools are provided, so encourage your kids to do it themselves!♡

By the window of the tatami room, you’ll find attendance stickers.
On your first visit, you’ll receive a sticker card to bring back each time and add a new sticker!
There are sensory bottles that babies love, pull-string toys,and these sparkly toys are always a huge hit!
Dolls, puzzles, origami,plenty of picture books, and even paper-carton trains are popular!
There’s even a nostalgic black rotary phone!By the window, there’s a fish tank.
As the warning sign says, please make sure not to tip the tank — observe together with your child (^^;)
The kind staff play with the kids and chat with parents — it’s a wonderful place to take a breather from parenting.Naps are welcome too — futons are available!For breastfeeding, just ask the staff and they’ll partition off a corner of the tatami room with a curtain.

Highlights of Kosodate Tsudoi no Hiroba Midorikawa

Every month, Kosodate Tsudoi no Hiroba Midorikawa hosts exciting events:
・Painting play
・Yoga class
・Garden Leaf Flower class
・Volunteer training
・Parenting class
・Tea gathering (sawakai)
・Birthday celebrations (open to non-birthday kids too)
・Cooking / Rhythm play (alternates monthly)

※The monthly calendar is published in Uto City’s bulletin. Visitors from outside Uto can ask the staff during a visit, or check the newsletter posted in the room.

★Events require advance phone reservations★
Reservation start date: First weekday of each month, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM (if the 1st is a weekday, the 1st; otherwise the next weekday after a weekend/holiday)
Phone: 0964-22-0321 (Kosodate Tsudoi no Hiroba Midorikawa)
Fee: Free
Application: Up to 3 preferences accepted; if space remains 10 days before the event, additional sign-ups are possible

Of course, kids enjoy these events — but there are also gatherings just for parents, like the tea gathering!
We got to cover a tea gathering this time, so let me share the atmosphere with you!Children can join the tea gathering too, but small children and babies stay with the staff to play.
So moms can fully relax and enjoy themselves during the event!Usually a kimono-clad teacher leads the session, but on this day a Kosodate Tsudoi no Hiroba Midorikawa staff member taught us instead.Rather than just sipping tea, you learn proper tea ceremony manners — casual but authentic. That’s the joy of it!
First, before drinking the tea, you’re served a traditional sweet.
Children get kid-friendly sweets.
On this day, adults enjoyed kintsuba, while kids had marubouro!After enjoying the sweet, you whisk your own matcha tea.
That soft “shaka shaka” whisking sound is just lovely.
Then you sip the tea.Children whisk their own tea too.
It’s quite rare to give kids this kind of authentic experience from such a young age!
Ice and milk are prepared for kids, so they can enjoy tea right alongside the adults!I happily took part too (●＾o＾●)

Where else can you join a casual tea ceremony with your kids in tow? I think Kosodate Tsudoi no Hiroba Midorikawa might be the only place!
This event was actually my first introduction to Japanese tea ceremony.
After that, the monthly tea gathering became one of my favorite traditions.
After events, you can head home or stay and chat with the other moms!
Many visitors are repeats, so before you know it you’ve made friends (^○^)
You can absolutely bring a bento box or baby food and have lunch together with your child!
Staff will even warm up your dishes for you!
On this day, many visitors had babies and headed home around lunchtime, but you can also play hard until the 2:15 PM cleanup time and let your little one sleep on the way home (^○^)September is wrapping up, and here’s the current event availability.
If you’re intrigued after reading this article, please give them a call to check!

Kosodate Tsudoi no Hiroba Midorikawa is packed with events.
On Saturdays, dads and kids visit too!
With staff watching over the children, parents can relax and chat with each other — and outdoor play is wonderful as the seasons turn cooler!
The relaxed atmosphere will have moms wanting to come back again and again!
Do come visit Kosodate Tsudoi no Hiroba Midorikawa (●＾o＾●)

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Frequently Asked Questions

※Information is current as of the time of reporting. Prices and hours are subject to change. Please confirm before visiting.