Hello, My husband has been offered a job with the office located in Roppongi, Minato. The company would provide accommodation in Roppongi itself and I wanted to understand a little bit more about that area, particularly around childcare. We have a three-year-old who I'd like to go to daycare there - there doesn't seem to be many nurseries in the area. Does anyone know what it's like living with kids in that area? Are there many young families?
Hello and welcome to EasyExpat.com Roppongi is a commercial area of Minato City (and also well known for being a nightlife district), which has become a center for a variety of business activities since many foreign company and embassies have placed their headquarters in this part of Tokyo. Therefore, there is a large expat community and you should accommodate easily and you will also see that you will find a high concentration of facilities and services for foreigners. You will easily find many establishments offering English services.
In term of childcare you will find a few daycare centers and kindergartens in Roppongi (you will need to register for a place a.s.a.p. as they can be quite competitive). There are also many nurseries also welcoming expat kids. Here are some of them: EtonHouse International Pre-School Roppongi: This preschool offers a bilingual English-Japanese curriculum for children aged 2 to 6 years old. It has a rating of 5 stars on Google Maps. ABC International School: This school offers a variety of programs for children aged 18 months to 18 years old, including preschool, elementary school, and middle school. It has a rating of 5 stars on Google Maps. Home Daycare Roppongi: site in Japanese but they offer an English-email service: homedaycare@jcom.zaq.ne.jp Tokyo Children's Garden: an innovative, Reggio Emilia inspired, bilingual preschool. Toddler's Play Room "Appy Azabu": This playroom offers a variety of activities for children aged 0 to 3 years old. It has a rating of 5 stars on Google Maps (I could not find an English version of the site unfortunately). Note also that the Roppongi Hills complex has a number of child-friendly amenities, such as a toy store, a toddler toilet facility, a small complimentary play area, and nappy changing and nursing rooms. https://www.roppongihills.com/en/facilities_service/kids/ Hopefully it would be a good start for you and you will be able to settle fine in Roppongi. Please give use some news and share you views and tips on the forum for other expats PS: If you're interested, the Minato International Association hosts diverse events aimed at foreigners, including Japanese language classes and cultural introductions. Check out their website for more information: http://www.minato-intl-assn.gr.jp