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First ‘Children’s Smile Spot’ opens at Ueno Okachimachi station

By on July 3, 2023

You could be forgiven for thinking it’s a children’s dental clinic.

It’s not.

It is Tokyo’s first subway station amenity set to open on July 7 at Ueno Okachimachi station, designed to make things a little better for moms and dads with babies or small kids in tow.

The wide-door toilets providing access to the disabled sometimes have baby changing facilities but these are located only at selected restaurants, buildings and malls.

As part of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s effort to make Tokyo more kid-friendly to tourists and residents alike, it helped put together the Children’s Smile Spot (Kodomo no sue-mye-rue spot-to), the first of its kind to open inside a subway station. Essentially, it is a changing area where a parent can safely and securely change a baby’s nappy, breastfeed or clean up any mess to avoid an unpleasant train ride.  It features a nursing station, a stroller rental service, and vending machines for baby essentials. In this day and age, these facilities at public places have become a necessity for on-the-move parents.

The nursing station which runs from 8 am until 8 pm, has a nursing sofa, shelf, ventilation fan, and a door with locks for privacy.

There are two minor annoyances though: One– There is no hot water available onsite but the nearby vending machine (liquid formula) helps in an emergency; Two – The room has no trash bin. This means parents need to have a plastic nappy sack ready for the used baby wipes and dirty nappy. Parents like to travel light. If you plan to use the facility, always have a small towel or cloth handy to dry your baby’s bottom but disposable nappies and wipes are available at a vending machine. Drinks for sale include green and brown tea, water, sports drink, fruits and vegetable juice.

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The stroller rental service run by JRE BabyCal is open everyday from 8 am – 9 pm. Stroller rent starts at 250 yen for the first hour and an additional 100 yen for every 30-min. extension. Rental fee for 12 hours straight is just 1,500 yen plus an additional 100 yen for each 30-min extension. The stroller brand for rent is Combi SC51, a light type buggy for infants and toddlers up to 4 years old weighing no more than 18 kg. To reserve, click here.

 If your kid is about to throw a fit  because you won’t buy the toy he wanted at the store, the “Childcare Support Space” car on any TOEI subway line could help your child switch gears.

The Bureau of Transportation under the Tokyo Metropolitan Government operates these trains  to help moms and dads with small children travel in peace!

 

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