Trip reports
An Educational Day Out in Sustainable Kawasaki
Kawasaki is a commuter haven in the north of Kanagawa that straddles the edge of Tokyo along a border carved out by the Tama River, which flows south out to Tokyo Bay. As well as great access to Tokyo, the international airport at Haneda and neighboring Yokohama, the coastal area has an industrial vibe too, with factories that light up in evening creating a somewhat unique atmosphere to this part of Kawasaki.
As well as offering a lot of family-friendly locations, the rest of the city also offers a variety of learning opportunities, perfect for the young, curious minds you may be looking to keep engaged on your trip to Kanagawa. Let’s explore some sustainability-minded venues that can also keep the kids entertained.
Trip Summary:
- Encounter freshwater fish and more at the modern Kawasui aquarium
- Admire preserved traditional thatched buildings at Japan Open Air Folk House Museum
- See the starry sky at Kawasaki Municipal Science Museum
Travel to first spot:
- JR Kawasaki Station is a 20-min ride along the JR Ueno-Tokyo Line.
- It’s a 5-min walk to the Kawasaki Le Front building. Head to the 10F reception.
Kawasui Kawasaki Aquarium
Kawasui is an aquarium for the modern age, perched on the 9th and 10th floors of Kawasaki Le Front department store, adjacent to JR Kawasaki Station. Opened in 2020, Kawasui is somewhat different from your standard aquarium or zoo. Offering a ‘waterside oasis’ vibe, Kawasui brings together living creatures from around the world—particularly emphasizing freshwater fish and their habitats. From the Tamagawa, to Africa and Asia, each zone caters to different species, with English signage helping explain what’s what.
Alongside real flora, cinematic projections help create a more immersive environment, while the interactive “LINNĖ Lens Screens” dotted around the space use 4K cameras and AI to help you identify fish species in real-time, with English support too. For younger visitors, find a petting area with birds, rabbits, and guinea pigs, as well as cat cafe and dog park.
Kawasui encourages its guests to respect and consider our environment, with its own plastic/waste reduction initiatives at its onsite restaurant and gift shop, sustainably sourced seafood at the restaurant, and cleanup activities at Tama River. Come away with both a sense of awe and an elevated understanding of our natural environment.
Travel to next spot:
- Take the JR Nambu Line direct to Noborito Station, and then take the Odakyu Line one stop to Mukogaoka-Yuen Station.
- It’s a 15-min walk to the east entrance of Ikuta Ryokuchi Park — the museum is just a minute’s walk from this entrance.
Japan Open Air Folk House Museum
To the northern side of Kawasaki, you can find the city’s largest green space at Ikuta Ryokuchi Park. It’s a hilly region that offers a variety of paths to explore, but one of the most alluring attractions is undoubtedly the Japan Open Air Folk House Museum (Nihon Minka-en).
Here you can find a collection of 25 preserved Edo Period structures—many of which are Important Cultural Properties—including many with distinctive gasshozukuri-style steep thatched roofs. Visitors will feel like they have time slipped back into the Edo Period as they explore the outdoor, spacious setting.
Appreciate and learn about past traditional lifestyles as well as the importance of preservation and cultural understanding. At some of the buildings, enjoy traditional crafts—like indigo dyeing or bamboo craft making—as well as seasonal events, such as at the kabuki stage.
Travel to next spot:
- The science museum is a 5-min walk through the park towards the south.
Kawasaki Municipal Science Museum
A short walk away, you’ll find the Kawasaki Municipal Science Museum. This small, free exhibition lets you explore and take a glimpse at Kawasaki’s past geology and natural ecosystems, as well as the types of creatures that live at Ikuta Ryokuchi.
For a small fee, you can also gain access to the planetarium, which opens at several set times a day (weekday access is more limited) and allows you to see the starry skies in incredible beauty and stunning detail, thanks to their MEGASTAR-Ⅲ FUSION system’s projections. You can also explore some astrology exhibits on the second floor, as well as walk along the outside viewing deck, overlooking the park.
And finally
If you’re already at Ikuta Ryokuchi Park and have time to see more, consider a walk around the park or following some of the gentle hiking trails for great views — like the observation deck at the top of Mount Masugata. To the western edge of the park, you’ll also find the Taro Okamoto Museum of Art.
