KidZania Complete Guide: Everything to Know Before You Visit-Highlights and How to Enjoy It

KidZania is built on the idea that “learning exists within fun,” and is designed so kids can first and foremost enjoy the experiences themselves.
Its greatest feature is that, in the process of enjoying themselves, kids naturally gain a wide variety of insights and lessons.
Trying jobs using lifelike facilities and tools helps develop a sense of responsibility, cooperation, and the ability to think and act independently.
By accumulating successful experiences, kids gain confidence and may also discover their interests and what they “love.”
Another key point is that kids receive the exclusive currency “kidZo” as wages, which they can use to shop or deposit at the Bank. Kids can learn not only how to earn money, but also how to use it, all while having fun.
It is a perfect facility for families who want to spend meaningful, educational time while traveling.

When kids work at KidZania, they can receive the exclusive currency “kidZo” as wages.
kidZos from other countries can also be used in Japan.
In addition to shopping, kidZos can be deposited at the Bank, allowing kids to learn how the economy works while having fun.
From here, we will introduce services and ways to enjoy KidZania using kidZos.

At KidZania in Japan, you can also experience aspects of Japanese daily life and culture that can be hard to experience through sightseeing alone.
There are jobs closely tied to daily life, such as courier services and railways, letting you naturally feel Japan’s accuracy and high service mindset.
There are also many Activities that let you experience Japanese culture, such as sushi chef and dashi artisan experiences.
Values such as greeting, waiting your turn, and careful procedures are reflected throughout the Activities, allowing you to feel “real life in Japan.”
Because KidZania also offers jobs unique to Japan, families who have experienced KidZania in other countries can enjoy a fresh experience as well.

Another great point about KidZania is that kids can take home the “results” of their work as keepsakes.
For example, video data filmed at the Commercial Studio or audio data recorded at the Radio Station can be received as downloadable data.
There are also many experiences where kids make pizza or softcream themselves and enjoy it on the spot.
Kids can feel that they “created it themselves,” and it is also appealing that they can share it with family after returning home and look back on it again.

KidZania Tokyo is located on the North Port 3rd floor of Urban Dock LaLaport Toyosu 1.
The nearest stations are Toyosu Station on the Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line and Toyosu Station on the Yurikamome Line. It takes about an 8-minute walk from either station.
Toyosu Station is about 30 minutes from major Tokyo stations such as Tokyo, Ikebukuro, Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Shinagawa.

KidZania Koshien is located in LaLaport Koshien in Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture.
It is about a 14-minute walk from the nearest station, Koshien Station on the Hanshin Railway.
It is also easy to access from Osaka, taking about 30 minutes from JR Osaka Station and about 1 hour 30 minutes from Kansai International Airport.

KidZania Fukuoka is located inside Mitsui Shopping Park LaLaport Fukuoka in Hakata, Fukuoka Prefecture.
It is a 9-minute walk from the nearest station, Takeshita Station on the JR Kagoshima Main Line.
You can also access it by train, but if you are departing from JR Hakata Station, using a direct bus from the bus terminal is recommended. With the direct bus, you can reach it in about 20 minutes.

KidZania Fukuoka uses a two-shift system only on holidays and during holiday seasons.

This is an establishment at KidZania Tokyo where you can experience the work of a veterinarian (surgeon / anesthesiologist) and assistant trainer, as well as a horseback riding experience.
In the veterinarian job, the surgeon and anesthesiologist work together to perform abdominal surgery on a horse.
As an assistant trainer, you can experience caring for a horse while communicating with it and fitting it with tack.
In addition, a simulator-based horseback riding experience is also available.
There are three courses by difficulty, and if you complete the master course, you will receive a results sheet.

At KidZania Tokyo’s Ponzu Factory, you can become a staff member and try making flavored ponzu.
After learning about how fermented foods work and gaining knowledge about food hygiene, you blend ingredients using a dedicated dispenser and fill bottles to finish the product.
Another feature is that by imagining a scene of gathering around the dining table with family and thinking up recommended “flavored ponzu menu” ideas, kids can deepen their interest in “food.”

At the Commercial Studio at KidZania Tokyo, you can appear in a commercial as a commercial talent.
While looking at a script, you practice English lines, put on costumes, and sometimes use props as you take on the filming.
After rehearsal, in the actual take you perform in character in front of the camera.
The filmed video data can be downloaded to a smartphone or computer for enjoyment.

At KidZania Koshien’s Sushi Shop, you can try authentic sushi making as a sushi chef.
Using sushi rice and a variety of toppings, you learn artisan techniques while making sushi that varies by season, such as nigiri sushi and gunkan-maki.
Practice how to shape and roll while adjusting the amounts of sushi rice and ingredients, and complete delicious sushi. You can taste the sushi you made on the spot.

At KidZania Koshien’s Video Production Studio, you can appear, film, and edit as a video creator to produce an original video.
In a colorful filming booth, you switch between two types of high-quality cameras and film yourself and items from a variety of angles.
In editing, you use dedicated software to add visual effects and sound effects, and finish the video with originality.
You can experience the full flow from filming to completion while making use of your own ideas.

At KidZania Koshien’s Train establishment, you can use a simulator to take on the job of running a train on time while keeping passengers safe.
In a driving simulator that realistically recreates real routes, you train to become a full-fledged train driver. You can choose from three difficulty levels for driving.
You can also experience the conductor’s job of opening and closing train doors and making onboard announcements.

This is an establishment at KidZania Fukuoka where you conduct extravehicular activity training at a space station as an astronaut and a flight director.
Split into the space station and a ground operations control room, you work together through communications to aim for success in a camera replacement mission.
As an astronaut, you use dedicated tools to replace a camera safely and accurately.
As a flight director, you communicate using tablets and specialized terms to support the mission.
By coordinating while performing the mission, this establishment lets you learn the importance of teamwork and cooperation even when working from separate locations.

At KidZania Fukuoka’s Business Innovation Center, you can experience two jobs: business designer and DX (digital transformation) engineer.
As a business designer, you learn about global social issues and come up with business ideas using cutting-edge technology, then present them.
As a DX engineer, you develop a robot system that uses AI technology to sort recyclable waste.
This is an establishment where you can learn the entire process of facing social issues, envisioning solutions, and turning them into reality.

At KidZania Fukuoka’s Dashi Shop, you can try making delicious dashi as a dashi artisan.
First, you learn about a variety of ingredients such as ago niboshi (dried flying fish) and kombu (kelp), and taste them to experience umami (savory taste).
Then, you choose combinations of ingredients to make dishes taste better and complete a carefully selected “dashi pack.”
Another nice point is that you can take home the original “dashi pack” you made as the result of the experience.

At KidZania Tokyo’s English Premium Tour, three Activity courses are available, and you can choose one course you like.
In addition, a special workshop for Japanese cultural experiences is also included, allowing you to enjoy culture unique to Japan.

At KidZania Koshien as well, you can choose one course you like from three Activity courses.
It is also a nice point that the tour includes Japanese cultural experiences such as “wearing samue and taking photos” and a tatami artisan workshop.

First, we will introduce the flow from entry to experiencing your first Activity.
At the entrance reception desk, you receive a JOB Schedule Card and 50 kidZos, and get ready for the Activities.
After entering, head to the establishment you want to experience and use your JOB Schedule Card at the activity reception desk.
If you choose an experience that ends before the meeting time for your first reserved Activity, you can make one additional reservation.
You can check meeting times and duration on the information board in front of each establishment.
You can also check meeting times on the digital signage inside the facility.

The “Bank” establishment at KidZania tends to be especially crowded right after opening and for about 30 minutes before closing.
For that reason, it is recommended to plan your schedule so you use the Bank between Activities.
When you open an account, a cash card is issued, and you can check your balance and withdraw kidZos at the ATMs inside the facility.
However, deposits are accepted only at the counter, and you cannot deposit kidZos at an ATM, so keep that in mind.

If you have time before the next Activity, try “part-time job” Activities that take about 15 minutes. (They are offered only at KidZania Tokyo and KidZania Koshien.)
A variety of part-time jobs are available, such as delivering flyers and catalogs, surveying pedestrian traffic volume, and conducting questionnaires.
You can check participating establishments at the Job Information Center or the Information Desk, and the salary is 3 kidZos.
This is a great option for those who want to use waiting time effectively.

Because KidZania respects kids’ independence, guardians cannot participate in Activities together with kids or enter establishments.
Guardians are allowed inside only some establishments.
You can observe what is happening during the experience through glass or monitors, and taking photos and videos is also possible.
Parents Lounge is provided inside the facility, so you can feel at ease.
Temporary exit is possible until 30 minutes before closing, but if you have a child ages 0 to 5, one guardian must remain inside the facility.