What a Community Center is Like in Tokyo Japan

TAP is what you would call in English a community center and jyudoukan in Japanese. It is mostly for children, teens and new parents, but the library is open to anyone. TAP was open on December 1st 2011 in Minato City. It is paid for by tax dollars/yen but it is managed by a non-profit foundation or zaidan houjin in Japanese. In Minato City there are a total of six places like this and about 4,500 in Japan (from Hokaido to Okinawa).

They are open all week from 10:00 to 20:00 except for national holidays. Children from 0yo to 6yo must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Children from 7yo to 18yo may come and go as they please. English pamphlets are available if you have any questions. The top guy who runs the place (Kanchou) speaks English very well.

This is a wonderful place to go if you have nothing else better to do. They also have bus hikes (trips) to children orientated places in Tokyo, summer camps, autumn camps, English lessons for children 0-6, after school program (not free), arts and crafts time, cooking workshops, new mother workshops, children festivals, seasonal festivals and much more.

Here is the first floor information desk. They have tables and chairs for you to have your lunch at. This is the only space allowed for eating. They also have a vending machine for drinks.

Here is the area for children 0-6. Parents must at least be around and not leave there children unattended. That little house was made of Tetra packs.

Here is another room for the children can enjoy. They can cook some delicious food or take a trip on the wooden train.

This is the nursing room where you can go if you need some privacy.

Another area which has a space for children to play with LEGOS a wooden train set and other toys they have.

Here is the reading corner where they have story time in Japanese and English. They also have English programs for children here.

They have a ton of books you can check out. They have books in Japanese, English, French, Spanish and many more languages.

Here is the second floor entrance where children can play computer games, read manga, play board games, play Nintendo WII, or just relax.

Here is the after school program room.

This is the gym where children/teens can play many different sports. They can play volleyball, badminton, soccer, basketball, table tennis, baseball, dodgeball, rollerblade and even ride a unicycle.

On the fourth floor they also have a sound proof room for bands to practice a dance studio for dance groups to practice and a theater for special events and dance lessons.