It rains a lot in Japan. Aside from the fact that we're not really used to it as Israelis, the reality is that it rains here for about a third of the year. I'm always looking for activities for my daughter, because it's hard for me to stay home with her for too long—she gets bored quickly. We have lots of cute spots near our home, but sometimes we take her to stations a bit farther away in Tokyo and try something new.

Here are a few of our recommendations for activities with young kids in Tokyo when the weather isn't ideal:

1. Sunshine 60 Observatory Tenbou – Seeing Tokyo from Above

I love this place because it's the kind of spot I'd visit with friends even if I didn't have kids. It's conveniently located and offers an incredible view of the city from above. It's close to a major train station and has easy stroller access inside. There's a cute café with photogenic (and tasty) menu items—especially the drinks. For Israeli kids who aren't used to Japanese food, it might be a good idea to bring something from home, since there aren't many kid-friendly options.

So what do you actually do there with kids? For younger children, there's a sweet play corner with space to crawl, along with books and toys. For slightly older kids, there's an area with artificial grass where they can run around. What's especially cool is that the design of this area changes with the seasons, so every few months the place looks different. I've been there twice and saw many people bringing blankets and having indoor picnics.

Afterwards, you can walk around the mall downstairs—there's a huge Pokémon store and lots of shops with brands kids love. Sometimes there are performances on the main stage. When I was there, there was a kids' character show I didn't recognize, but occasionally there are also more random performances or shows that aren't really suited for kids.

Location: Ikebukuro, Tokyo

Price: ¥700–¥1,200 per adult / Free for children under 4

Website: https://sunshinecity.jp/observatory/