Tokyo & Kyoto for 11-year-old girl into Minecraft and YouTube
March 15, 2016 7:39 AM
Japan travel question, with some specific wants. My 11-year-old niece loves Minecraft and YouTube, and has expressed interest in learning to code. What are some things that might interest her in Tokyo & Kyoto on a short trip?
My 11-year-old niece is going with her parents to Tokyo & Kyoto later this month, spending a few days in each city. They've been to Japan several times and don't lack general tourism ideas, so I was trying to come up with suggestions for her tech-ier passions like Minecraft and YouTube videos (lots and lots of very popular channels of which I, an old man getting older, has never heard). She also was exposed to some light coding in school and I'm told she enjoyed it. Is there anything specific in Tokyo & Kyoto for her to enjoy, and perhaps to inspire her? All I could think of was the Sony Showroom in Ginza, but that isn't what it was in the heydays. There's Akihabara, but what's there beyond wandering around, if she's not super into manga/anime? If you have particular places (or late-March events), please share. Maybe a fun digital arts-themed park or playground or museum? is there anything she could go/see/do physically with respect to, say, Niconico or Japan-specific media/arts companies? (If you also have something different that you think of as great fun for a kid, then please feel free to share that too. She has been to Tokyo Disneyland already.) Thanks.
My 11-year-old niece is going with her parents to Tokyo & Kyoto later this month, spending a few days in each city. They've been to Japan several times and don't lack general tourism ideas, so I was trying to come up with suggestions for her tech-ier passions like Minecraft and YouTube videos (lots and lots of very popular channels of which I, an old man getting older, has never heard). She also was exposed to some light coding in school and I'm told she enjoyed it. Is there anything specific in Tokyo & Kyoto for her to enjoy, and perhaps to inspire her? All I could think of was the Sony Showroom in Ginza, but that isn't what it was in the heydays. There's Akihabara, but what's there beyond wandering around, if she's not super into manga/anime? If you have particular places (or late-March events), please share. Maybe a fun digital arts-themed park or playground or museum? is there anything she could go/see/do physically with respect to, say, Niconico or Japan-specific media/arts companies? (If you also have something different that you think of as great fun for a kid, then please feel free to share that too. She has been to Tokyo Disneyland already.) Thanks.
The Miraikan in Tokyo has a pretty amazing exhibition about video games that's on until May 30. Not to be missed, really.
posted by My Dad at 9:05 AM on March 15, 2016
posted by My Dad at 9:05 AM on March 15, 2016
I suggest you contact Joseph White, of the independent games studio Lexaloffle.
posted by snarfois at 9:24 AM on March 15, 2016
Lexaloffle is located at Pico Pico Cafe in Kichijouji, Tokyo. Pico operates as a public cafe in the weekends and also hosts a monthly show-and-tell event for designers called Picotachi. If you find yourself in Tokyo looking for somewhere to write code or push pixels, or you just want to say hi, please drop by!They make lovely games like Voxatron and Jasper's Journey, which your niece will probably enjoy. You may be able to set up a meeting / demonstration at Pico Pico Cafe, or otherwise I'm sure he will have suggestions.
posted by snarfois at 9:24 AM on March 15, 2016
Space Museum TenQ (Tokyo Dome area) has some incredible technology and interactive exhibits suitable for kids and adults (and it's English friendly). It looks like their current special exhibit is for the show Thunderbirds are Go.
posted by Gortuk at 9:36 AM on March 15, 2016
posted by Gortuk at 9:36 AM on March 15, 2016
Be aware that spring break starts around the end of this month (at my kids' school it starts on 3/26) so kid-friendly places will be really crowded after that. If she's going to go to any temporary exhibits/events (like the Miraikan video game exhibit) she should definitely try to go on a weekday as early as possible before 3/26.
posted by Bugbread at 4:29 PM on March 15, 2016
posted by Bugbread at 4:29 PM on March 15, 2016
Kyoto Station itself looks like a giant Minecraft construction. There are upper (and less crowded) floors that give you more perspective.
Even better would be the Umeda Sky Building in nearby Osaka, which has the added benefit of a cool sky deck with views of lots of other tall buildings.
posted by chimpsonfilm at 2:02 PM on March 16, 2016
Even better would be the Umeda Sky Building in nearby Osaka, which has the added benefit of a cool sky deck with views of lots of other tall buildings.
posted by chimpsonfilm at 2:02 PM on March 16, 2016
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And I know you said she's not as much of an anime fan, but if they end up in Odaiba anyway, the Fuji TV station is worth a tour. The building is so unique, and there's a lot of neat stuff to see. Also, if they did end up in Akihabara, Super Potato is a great shop for gaming enthusiasts.
In Kyoto, this is a little lower tech, but the Fushimi Inari shrine with the torii gates is REALLY cool. If she's into building and Minecraft and things, seeing those rows and rows of gorgeous red torii gates would probably be pretty awesome.
posted by helloimjennsco at 7:51 AM on March 15, 2016