Volume 39, Number 09

Kids

Kids Get Pampered
Because kids need to take time out too
by Anais Lombard

Time for your moment of Zen. But how to relax with hordes of kids running around? Weekender looks at three ways for you and your children to chill out.

Tamako, Lala, Choco and Kukuru are four of the nineteen cats you can go pet at Cat Café Calico. The bright comfy space full of couches, pillows, and cats, is a feline heaven for all animal lovers and children. It’s also a great technique to teach your kids about the different breeds. Abyssinian, Persian or Egyptian Mau, Calico’s owners want to show as many varieties as possible. Don’t hesitate to ask the trained staff about your kid’s favorite cat and while you’re having a juice or a hot cocoa you can play and pet the cats. Find them hiding in a cat house or underneath a sofa. You can also buy tiny bags of dry cat food to feed them. Let’s not forget to mention the newcomers, kittens Sakura and Momo (the cafe gets new kittens every other months). Downside? You might have trouble getting your children off your back to get a kitten. Meow!

Kichijoji JR station. ¥800 for an hour. 11am–11pm. See http://homepage3.nifty.com/calico or call 04-2229-8353. Email: cafe_calico@nifty.com.

New York based nail specialist Dashing Diva proposes an exclusive kids’ manicure at their Tokyo salons for little girls aged eight and under. Manicures are always a peaceful moment, and getting your nails done side by side with your daughter is a great way to take a break and indulge yourself while your little girl is taken care of. As mummy is getting pampered, girls get a half hour treatment especially catered to fit their needs. On the menu are nail clipping, filing, cuticle pushing (no cutting!) and a dot of moisturizer. Then the kids can pick from one of the 150 nail polishes: sheer, shimmers or cream, in pink, brown or clear, with cute color names like Angel’s Wings or Nectarina Tina. In addition, they can add tiny nail stickers of hearts, tiaras or flowers on one or several nails. Not into the manicure? Here’s the alternative: the salon also offers kids’ pedicure, perfect to get those footsies in shape right in time for the summer.

Manicure ¥2,100, pedicure ¥3,150. Omotesando salon: tel. 03-5774-0226. For additional Dashing Divas locations: www.dashingdiva.co.jp.

Tired of the city? Feeling like the children (and you) could use a little change of scene? How about a trip to Hakone Kowakien Yunessun, a spa and amusement park only two hours away from Tokyo by train. Think 25 different types of theme pools, including three water slides, a pool cave, waterfalls, and a kids’ park. You can find activities to suit the entire family and it is ideal if you want to give your kids an introduction to onsen customs. Plus, it’s a wonderful way to experience the different bath habits from around the world.

Explore the Ottoman Empire with the Turkish Hamam, for a taste of Jordan, float in the Dead Sea Spa with imported salt from the Dead Sea itself, and for a trip back in time, you can head up to the Ancient Roman bath. After all that traveling we strongly recommend the whole family hit the Green Tea spa to relax. And if you feel like you can’t keep up this world-marathon, why don’t you stop for coffee? In the Coffee Spa pool that is, where you can get a little boost.

¥3,500 for adults, ¥1,700 for children. For more information: www.yunessun.com/english/yunessun.html.