[BENEFIT]TOYSRUS Membership (point) Card

There are several Toysrus in Yokohama (store list)

And Toysrus Japan has point (membership) card system. We found that they have the application form in English. The membership is free of charge and we can get 1 point per 200 yen (of purchase). They have also "bonus points" or "double ~ ten times points promotion" systems from time to time. And when the point reaches 500, we can use it as 500 yen at Toysrus.

There are also sales only for card holders (for example, a toy was ¥999 for card holders while it was ¥1,399 for non-holders the other day).

You can ask for the card at the cash desk.


This is the application form in Japanese.


This is the one in English and the card.


Once you become the member, you can check your points or change your account information online. Here is the Toysrus member page guide (opens a new window) .

[INFO]Giving Birth in Japan: Information in English

One of our members found a website on pregnancy and giving birth in Japan. We contacted the author and she kindly accepted our link request.

Here is the page:

http://www.kcc.zaq.ne.jp/babyroom/english/index.html

We added the URL to the Link page, too.
We are also preparing a kind of handbook about pregnancy and giving birth in Yokohama. We are going to collect the experiences (questionnaire). If you can help with this project, please contact us!

[BENEFIT]Yokohama Port Open Day (2nd June) Free Entrance Facilities in Yokohama

On the Yokohama Port Open Anniversary Anniversary (2nd June), there are many facilities in Yokohama which will be free to enter.


-Free under high school kids (under 16 years old)
Yokohama Zoorasia Zoological Gardens, Kanazawa Zoological Garden
Swimming Pools (Asahi, Konan, Sakae, Hodogaya, Tsuzuki, Rinetsu Kanazawa, Shimizugaoka Park)
Suports Centers in each ward (for private use only)

-Free under College students (under 19 year old)
Yokohama City Museum of History, Yokohama Museum of Art (Collection Only), Yokohama Doll Museum, Osaragi Jiro Memorial Museum, Hamagin Space Science Museum, NYK Maritime Museum, NYK Hikawamaru, Mitsubishi Minatomirai Industrial Museum

-Free up to College students
-Silk Museum, Yamate Museum

-Free for every visitor
Yokohama Archives of History, Museum of Yokohama Urban History, Yokohama Museum of EurAsian Culture

[EVENT}Let's Climb Up the Jack Tower 2nd June, 2013

Yokohama City Kaikou Kinen Kaikan (Port-Open Memorial Hall), which has a tower called Jack, will have an event "Let's Climb Up the Jack Tower" on Sunday, 2nd of June. We can go up the stairs of the tower which is usually not open for public.

Date:Sunday, 2nd June, 2013
Place: Yokohama City Kaikou Kinen Kaikan (7 min from Kannai, 2 min from Nihon-Odori station)
Fee: ¥100 for insurance
The first 200 people can join the event.
Children under 7 years old need to be accompanied by an adult.
The event is provided by Jack Supporters.

[EVENT]Yokohama Kaikousai Festival 2013 横浜開港祭2013

The 2nd of June if the anniversary of the opening of the Yokohama port (154th anniversary in 2013).The 32nd Yokohama Kaikosai Festival is held on the second weekend in June.

Source:Website
Date:8the and 9th June.
Place:Mainly around Rinko Park,also around Minatomirai, Yamashita Park etc...


Events are divided into three parts: Marine Events, Land Events and Stage Events. Here we are going to pick up Marine and Land Events.

Marine Events

-Rose Yokohama Bay Cruise
¥100, first come, first served
Pukari Pier in the Rinko Park
8th June (SAT) & 9th June (SUN)
1)10:00-11:00
　 2)12:00-13:00
3)14:00-15:00
9th June (SUN)

-Japan Self Defense Ship "Yamagiri" Exhibition
10:00-16:00 on SAT, 9:00-16:00 on SUN
Schedule may be changed.
Shinko Pier, berth no.8

-Loyal Wing Tea Cruise
9th June (SUN) 14:45-16:15
Tickets available on 8th June (place unannounced yet)
for 100 people, ¥1000/person.
From Osanbashi pier.

-Marine Shuttle
150 people, once on 9th June.
11:30-12:30 from Yamashita Park.

-Rubber Boat Steering Experience for kids
¥100, elementary school and up.
8th June (SAT)
10:00-12:00
13:00-15:00
9th June (SUN)
10:00-13:00
In front of Rinko Park

-Sea Kayak Experience for kids
Kids can enjoy sea kayak after taking a lecture by the instructor.
8th June (SAT) 10:00-16:00
At Nihon-maru Memorial Park

-Aqua Marine Fukushima, a small fish pool
8th Sune (SAT)
10:00-16:00 9th June (SUN)
10:00-12:00
13:00-16:00
At Rinko Park

-HAPPY BOX Hanjin Shipping Exhibition
8th and 9th June. 10:00-16:00
At Rinko Park

-Ship Parade
Performances of the ships owned by the Immigration, Yokohama City Fire Bureau etc.
9th June (SUN)13:50-15:10
In front of Rinko Park

-Beam Spectacle in Harbor
Firework, water, light beam and sound effect show.
9th June (SUN)20:20-20:50

-Seyamaru Exhibition
Seyamaru, which will be sent to Sanriku (Tohoku) as a part of supports for Tohoku, Japan, will be presented before it leaves.
At Pukari Pier.

Land Events

-NTT EAST Stamp Rally
You can receive a stamp if you find the right answer to the questions about Yokohama.
8th & 9th June, 10:00-18:00 at around Rinko Park

-Port Opening Street
Booths about old-day Yokohama and Yokohama oriented products.
At Rinko Park, Kaiko Area. 10:00-18:00

-World Gourmet Carnival
10:00-20:00. We can enjoy world foods and desserts.
At Rinko Park, Food Area.

-Garbage separation Station
Please separate and throw away the garbage from this festival there for recycling.

-Wakuwaku Kids Land
Petting zoo, Dog Run, exercising with (professional) sports players etc.
At the Cup Noodle Museum Park 10:00-17:00.
-Kaiko Cafe
Light meal and drinks.
10:00-18:00 in front of the Main Stage.

-4th Yokohama Sweets Paradise
12 pre-chosen Yokohama sweets are sold and first 1000 visitors can taste 3 of them for 300 yen and vote on 8th June. The grand-prix will be chosen by judges on 9th among the top 4 chosen by the 1000 visitors.
8th June (SAT) 11:00-18:00 (the vote will be 11:00-13:00).
9th June (SUN) 10:00-18:00 (the grand-prix selection will be 11:00-12:00)
At Rinko Park.

-Rescue vehicles exhibition
10:00-16:30 at Rinko Park.

-Ocean Land
Workshops on the ocean and the creatures in the sea.
10:00-18:00

-Short Film Festa
On the screen next to the Main Stage 10:00-18:00.

-Rental Cart Trial
There are 2-seaters with an instructor so young kids can enjoy it.
8th June (SAT) 10:00-16:00
At Rinko Park

[HEALTH] Free Cancer Check-ups for Yokohama Inhabitants (2013)

Free cancer check-up coupon will be provided to you by the City of Yokohama.
It will be as follows in 2013 (Apr-March2014, or Heisei 25 fiscal year).

Those who turned following ages in the last fiscal year (2nd April 2012 to 1st April 2013) and who were Yokohama inhabitants on 20th April 2013 will receive free coupon(s).
Cervical cancer check-up: 20, 25, 30 and 35 years old.
Cervical, breast, and colon cancer check-up: 40 years old.
Breast and colon cancer check-up: 45, 50, 55, 60 years old.


*The free coupon(s) will be sent in the end of June. *You can take the check-up for free before receiving the coupon by showing your health insurance card at a hospital/clinic to verify your birthday. In this case, please turn in the coupon(s) to the hospital/clinic when you receive it.
*The check-up is available at assigned hospitals and clinics in Yokohama. There are many of them, so you can just ask your (local) doctor.

[Note]I don't know if the city have English or other language version coupon. From my experience, the coupon was in a rather large envelop of A4 size.
And my doctor said cervical cancer check-up is not enough and I took endometrial cancer check, too, which was not free.

There are also "Support System of Cancer Check-up" by the city which is not completely free but at lower costs. It will be explained in another post.

[EVENTS] Yokohama Hand Made Marche 25th - 26th May, 2013

Yokohama HandMade Marche

There will be more than 1000 booths of crafts, illustrations, arts, accessories, toys, foods etc.. where you can take a look or purchase.
25th&26th May, 11:00-18:00 at Pacifico Yokohama. Hall D.
Entrance: 700 yen (free for elementary school children and under)
Advance ticket (500 yen) is available online but it is all in Japanese:(

There are some workshops but many of them are already full.

Source:Official Website

[Event] Free concert （ゆかいなコンサート） on 30th May,2013

Free concert for babies, children, & protector by Green Field.
It is music variety show with the audience.(Children songs, animated cartoon songs and talk by the veteran female singer.Balloon and stunt by a clown.)

Date: Thu. 30th May, 2013 (Open:10.30, Start:11.00, Curtain falls:12.00)
Fee: Free (No application, Capacity:450 people)
Place: Asahi Public Hall @Asahi ward office (7mins from Soutetu Line Tsurugamine Station)
Address:1-4-12,Tsurugamine, Asahi-ku,Yokohama, 241-0022
Map: (In Japanese)  http://www.city.yokohama.lg.jp/asahi/guide/shisetsu/koukyou/kuyakusho/

*In case it will be full house, they might decline to enter.
*You are requested to refrain from coming by car.

[EVENT] Kanagawa Rinkai Railway 50th Anniversary on 26th May, 2013

Kanagawa Rinkai Railway （神奈川臨海鉄道）is a rail freight transport company in Yokohama.

Date: Sunday, 26th May, 2013, 10:00-15:00 (entrance until 14:30)
Fee: Free

Place: Honmoku Yokohama Station (the station for the freight train)
15 Nishiki-cho, Naka-ku, Yokohama
Access: There will be a free shuttle bus from JR Negishi station to the Honmoku Yokohama station on the day.
Or, from Negishi station by Yokohama Municipal bus, get off at Mitsui Bussan Mae stop, and walk one minute.
From Yokohama, Sakuragicho, Ishikawacho station, by Yokohama Municipal bus, get off at Wadayamaguchi stop and walk for 10 minutes.

*There is no parking (even for bikes) so please use public means of transportation.
*It won't be canceled in case of rain.


Contents: An exhibition of train cars, a mini-SL train, a model train exhibition, a train goods shop,and also the exhibition by the police and the fire fighters.

Source (PDF)

[EVENT] Family Refreshing Time events at Nonbirinko in 2013

Nonbirinko (Naka ward Parenting Support Base in Kannai) provides us Family Refreshing Time　（親子でリフレッシュタイム）. Here is the schedule of the year 2013 (April 2013-March 2014).

Let's Play with rhythms (for 18months-pre-school child and parent(s), 20 families)
Date: Wed. 7th August / Wed. 5th February 2014, 11:00-11:40 (for each date)
Fee: 500 Yen


Family Eurythmics (for 1-3 years old child and parent(s), 20 families)
Date: Wed. 29th May / Wed. 6th November, 10:20-11:00 for 1 y-olds and 11:10-11:50 for 2-3 y-olds (for each date).
Fee: 800 Yen


Mamayoga (for those 3months after giving birth, you can join this with your children, 10 families)
Date: Wed. 17th July / Wed. 15th January 2014, 14:00-15:30 (for each date)
Fee: 300 Yen


Power Yoga (for those 3months after giving birth, you can join this with your children, 12 families)
Date: Wed. 4th September 10:30-12:00
Fee: 300 Yen


The lecture on Tea (16 people)
Date: Tue. 4th June (How to prepare good tea: Darjeeling First Flush/ Thu. 31st October (Halloween Tea Party), 10:30-11:15 (for each date)
Fee: 500 Yen


*The membership at Nonbirinko required.
*Reservation starts at 10:00 am two weeks before each date.
(For example, if the date is 29th May, the reservation starts on 15th May).
*Please get the application form at Nonbirinko and turn it in at the counter or send by telefax (045-663-9715).
*The fee should be paid on the day. Please prepare small changes.

[EVENT] Free Bone Density Test for Mom and Dad at Nonbirinko, 30th May, 2013

Bone Density Test for Mothers and Fathers.

Date: Thursday, 30th May, 13:30 - 15:00
Place: Nonbirinko (Naka ward Parenting Support Base, 9F Celte JR Kannai Station)
Fee: Free


They will check your bone density for free!
No reservation required, first arrived, first served. You may not be able to have the check if there are too many people.

If you are not the member of Nonbirinko, please register yourself and your children first at the counter.

It is the heel bone density test, please come in the socks easier to take off (stockings or tights are not recommended).

Source (in Japanese):http://nonbirinco.com/wp/calendar/monthlyevent/

[CULTURE] Buddha Bellies Cooking School Tokyo

Buddha Bellies Cooking School Tokyo provides us a lunch time cooking class in English. They have six courses on major Japanese cuisine.

The class is held in a very friendly atmosphere with a small group. Their class is very well organized so that we can easily represent the cooking at home.


Address:2-4-3 Kanda-Jinbocho, Uekuri Bldg. 2F Chiyodaku, Tokyo, Japan 101-0051
Very close to the A2 Exit of Jimbocho station (Toei Mita Line, Shinjuku Line and Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line)

The class is held at Book On Japan gallery.
Please check out their website for more information.
They also have a Facebook page.

*The photo is Shokado Bento box.

[EVENT] Events at Konan International Lounge in June 2013

Konan International Lounge (Kamiooka) are going to have some events especially for foreign people.

1) Bento for Children (for nursery school, excursion, or sports day etc.)

Date: Saturday, 1st June, 2013, 10:00-14:00
Place: 11F Yumeooka Office Tower Cooking studio (near Kamiooka Station)
Fee: ¥1200, reservation required
Please confirm the detail in the PDF.

2) Bogo Cafe (Mother Tongue Cafe)
This will be held several times in the year and the next one is:
Date: Tuesday, 4th June, 2013, 12:00-14:00
Place:Konan International Lounge Class room (13F Yumeooka)
Fee:¥200, no reservation
More details in the PDF.

Source:Yokohama Konan International Lounge website (in English).

[NEWS] The First Official Meeting of IMCY, MON 20th May, 2013

I am glad to announce that we are going to have our first meeting!!

Date: Monday, 20th May, 10:30-12:00
*You can come anytime.
Place: Naka Citizens' Activity Center/Naka International Lounge Meeting Space& Kids' Space
34 Nihon Odori, Naka-ku, Yokohama (next to Naka Ward Office)
Google Map
You can see the photos of the entrance and the meeting space from here


There are toys and books for kids in the kids' space.
We are already registered as a group and can use the meeting space for free.

We are going to discuss:
-What we can do as a group
-What kind of information is needed
-About ourselves to break the ice!

Please come and join!

英語が不得意な方でも大丈夫です。ふるってご参加下さい。

[REGULAR EVENT] Kangaroo Salon at Tsurumi International Lounge

鶴見国際ラウンジ　カンガルーサロン
Tsurumi International Lounge holds Kangaroo Salon for international families every 2nd and 4th Monday from 10:00-12:00.

The meeting is for foreign families (parents/caretakers and children who haven't stated school yet) who don't speak Japanese as a native language. They provide information and Japanese lessons on childcare; diseases, nursery school or kindergarten, vaccinations, bento, emergency or in case of disaster etc.

They also read stories or do some cultural exchange.

Please bring your Maternal and Child Health Handbook.
This meeting is free of charge.

Reservation required:
Tel: 045-511-5311
E-mail: tsurumilounge@*yoke.or.jp (please erase * at sending)
The page with a flyer in several languages:
http://www.tsurumilounge.com/article.php/20130330191500390

Source in Japanese:
http://www.yoke.or.jp/admin/more.php?post_id=53&category=5&language=ja

[EVENT] Hodogay Flower Festa ほどがや花フェスタ 18th May, 2013

Hodogaya Flower Festa

Date:Saturday, 18th May, 2013
Postponed to 19th May in case of heavy rain
From 9:45 to 15:00
Place: Hoshikawa Ground（星川グラウンド）5 min walk from Sotetsu Line Hoshikawa station.
Google Map (One stop on the rapid train or 4th stop on the local train from Yokohama station. Express trains don't stop at Hoshikawa)
No car parkings

Contents:
-Flowers and vegetables market
-Pressed flower workshop for kids
-Flower arrangement workshop (need reservation 334-6304)
-Tohoku products shops
-Concerts(Brass Band, Chorus, Taiko etc.)
-African Events (Exhibition of African flowers, Egyptian food etc.)
etc...
Poster(PDF)

[MOM'S CHAT] English Playgroup in Hongodai, Yokohama

THIS EVENT IS ALREADY FINISHED

MOM'S CHAT is an English playgroup take place every month in Hongodai, Yokohama.

Here is the information of the May meeting.

Date:Thursday, 16th May, 2013
10:00-12:00
Nursing Room (1F) of Earth Plaza @ Hongodai Sta. http://www.earthplaza.jp/english/directions.html



1. Kid's time ; sing, dance, or read with kids in English (from English instractor)
2. Learning time; learn some English phrases that you can use in your daily life with kids (from English instractor)
3. Free talk time; let's talk in English
*the theme; What did you do in GW? What's the most impressive event during GW?
4. Craft time; let's make name tags for you and your kids (materials are provided by staffs)

We split the bill of the room and materials we use, so it depends how many moms can join. (Usually 200-300 yen per person. Less than 500 yen)


You can have lunch after the gathering at the nursing room until 13:00 if you want.

[Document Upload] Smile Port New Comers Info

Hi, everyone. One of the Childcare Support bases in Yokohama, Smile Port (Minatomirai, Nishi-ward) holds "International Parents Meeting" every 4th Friday morning and one of the mothers attending it prepared a very practical booklet for newcomers in Yokohama. Please download the file from the "Documents"page (tab) .