Welcome to Ashikita Town Children’s Plaza

Hello travelers! I’m Kanao, a writer for Sarukuma 🌱

Today I’m thrilled to introduce a hidden gem located in Ashikita Town, Ashikita District:
Ashikita Town Children’s Plaza (Ashikita-cho Kodomo no Hiroba).

This wonderful indoor facility opened its doors in December 2020 and has been a favorite with local families ever since (^^)

The parking lot is impressively spacious!
With generous spacing between each spot, even larger vehicles and rental cars can park comfortably without any worries ◎

The facility also includes a community center and library all under one roof.

The library is beautifully designed and even has a charming picture book corner for kids ♪
A spotlessly clean nursing room is also available on the library side, making this a great stop for families with babies ☆

Now, let’s step inside!

Inside Ashikita Town Children’s Plaza

The Children’s Plaza includes:

・Reception Counter

・Children’s Plaza (Community Hall)

・Wooden Toy Play Area

・Infant & Toddler Room

・Multipurpose Room

・Outdoor Plaza

Lots to explore ♪

Right by the entrance, there’s a convenient storage area for belongings, where you can leave outerwear, backpacks, and other bulky items.

After entering, you’ll go through:

① Temperature check & hand sanitizing

② Sign-in at the reception counter

At reception, you’ll fill in your arrival time, name, and city or town of residence.

This is the Wooden Toy Play Area.

It feels so open, bright, and beautifully clean!
It’s packed with all kinds of wooden toys, and there’s even a play kitchen set in the back ◎

The wooden ball pit is hiding some fun surprises — it includes characters from Anpanman (a beloved Japanese kids’ anime) tucked inside, so searching for them turns into a treasure hunt!

Here’s what my son spotted on this visit… haha

His beloved Anpanman was nowhere to be found, but he did discover
Cheese (Anpanman’s dog) and Snoopy instead… haha

This is the Infant & Toddler Room.

With traditional tatami mat flooring and small dividers, the space is thoughtfully designed so even babies as young as 0 can enjoy themselves safely ◎

And here’s a delightful little detail!

The tatami borders feature Kumamon, Kumamoto’s famous black bear mascot ♡
My son adores Kumamon, so this little touch absolutely made his day!

There are even special bins for toys that have been mouthed by little ones.

Staff regularly clean and sanitize these toys, so you can rest assured about hygiene ◎

Right next to the Infant & Toddler Room is the Nursing Room.

Of course, you’ll find a nursing chair and a diaper changing station (please take used diapers home)…

…and there’s even a hot water dispenser for preparing baby formula! (Air conditioning is also available ◎)

Plus, you’ll find a sink, hand soap, and tissues — every little detail thoughtfully covered (^^)

And here we have the Community Hall!

This area features oversized building blocks and a firm trampoline-style play mat.
(The toys here are rotated regularly, so there’s always something fresh to discover.)

After school, local elementary school kids often stop by, and this hall is their favorite hangout spot (^^)

This is the Multipurpose Room.

Beyond wooden toys, you’ll also find Magformers and other creative building toys here.

Some of the pieces are small, so do keep an eye on little ones who might put things in their mouths.

Here’s a special treat — from the Multipurpose Room, you can watch trains go by ◎
The friendly staff even let you know whenever a train is approaching!

Everyone gathers to watch and wave goodbye to the train — such a sweet, magical little moment ♡

There’s also a comfy sofa positioned by the window so that even the smallest kids can peek out and enjoy the view ◎

And here’s the Outdoor Plaza.
It’s equipped with a slide, play kitchen sets, and more ◎

The area is fully fenced, so kids can run around safely.

There’s also a dedicated light snack area right here ☆
It’s such a relief to have a spot where you can grab a bread roll or quick bite when little tummies start rumbling!

Personally, I absolutely love this thoughtful detail!

There’s a low sink at child height so kids can wash their own hands!
Usually I have to lift my son up to wash his hands, but here he can do it all by himself — such a lifesaver!
(There’s also a baby keeper seat in the bathroom ◎)

Normally there’s no time limit, but currently a 2-hour usage limit applies! (Don’t worry — you’re welcome to come back multiple times in the same day ♡)

It’s almost unheard of to find such a fantastic free playground — definitely worth a visit during your Kumamoto trip ♡

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Frequently Asked Questions

※ Information is current at the time of reporting. Prices and hours may change. Please confirm before visiting.