Jidou Kaikan

Posted on March 16, 2007 by Ekatherina Touma

Sometimes living in a cold city like SapporoThe largest city in HokkaidoThe Northernmost of the 4 major islands of the Japanese archipelago. and the fifth largest in Japan by population. It is home of the famous Sapporo Breweries and hosts the annual Yuki Matsuri (Snow Festival)., where snow doesn’t melt until April can be a big problem for mothers. Sapporo has many beautiful parks where children can play in summer, however in winter most children are stuck indoors. Only mothers can imagine how difficult it is for children to spend most of their days at home with only parents to play with.

Jidou Kaikans are small places, usually inside elementary schools, that have huge diversity of toys and games for children of all ages. It can never be boring there! Children get to meet and know each other, so do their mothers. When their kids are busy with new toys, mothers enjoy their time chatting and sharing their life styles. Since almost ever region of the city has its own Jidou Kaikan, people who meet there usually live very close to each other and soon become very good friends.

Some Jidou Kaikans have libraries, where children can spend time reading the books. Most of the time books can be borrowed for a week or so. It gives children nice opportunity to read greater variety of books without costing their parents much money. Libraries usually have dining table, where kids can take a snack in quiet atmosphere.

Many Jidou Kaikans even have a space for a sleepy child to take a nap, with warm blanket on the floor. Precautions are taken so that sleeping children are separated from playing kids.

The most wonderful days are when elementary students come to organize “toy markets” for little kids. They make handicrafts from paper, cloth or whatever comes to their mind and give them to children. Little ones are so excited on such occasions; they can get anything they like from their elder friends. As the market is about to finish elementary students sing popular songs and dance with the kids. Everyone leaves with warm feeling inside and the cold snowy weather doesn’t seem so chilly anymore!