With a scenic waterfront and numerous innovative and exciting children’s activities, Kōtō provides an idyllic family vacation setting. Its waterside gardens and parks feature leafy and serene alternatives to the city center’s skyscrapers, while the malls, museums and amusement parks keep you entertained no matter the weather.

Get a wider picture of this picturesque and exhilarating district from above on the Palette Town Ferris Wheel in the Odaiba zone. Beside the wheel look for an array of intriguing spaces. Watch a concert or dramatic performance at the adjacent Zepp Tokyo and browse the shops of Palette Town. Find out about the future of cars and marvel at the vintage vehicles on display in the Mega Web amusement park.

The car museum is next to the extraordinary Venus Fort, a shopping mall that better resembles Renaissance Italy, with its marble sculptures, fountain and temple.

Gaze up at the four upturned pyramids that form the Conference Tower of the Tokyo Big Sight. This large complex hosts art installations and events.

A little farther north, you’ll find KidZania Tokyo. Let your kids dress up in costumes and take on adult roles, such as fire fighter and baker. They can bring home anything they make.

Walk east to the Yumenoshima area and enjoy a meal at the Yumenoshima Marina with a view of the boats. Relax in the district’s vast namesake park and study the exotic vegetation on display in the glassy Yumenoshima Tropical Greenhouse Dome.

The ward is in the southeastern corner of Tokyo and overlooks Tokyo Bay. It is well connected to most of the city’s transportation links. Make sure to visit neighboring wards of Chūō, Sumida and Edogawa.

Kōtō is an all-weather destination, with children’s centers and theme parks as entertaining as its leafy parks and botanical displays.