Over the course of my adult life, I¡¯ve made ¡ª and forsaken ¡ª countless New Year¡¯s resolutions. So many that by my mid-30s I had stopped making them altogether. Then a few years ago, I began using Jan. 1 to commit myself to small parental self-improvements that were feasible enough that even I could pull them off.

My first successful resolution was this: to provide my kids with at least one ¡°cultural experience¡± a month, a vow just vague and ambitious enough to work. Tokyo is brimming with cultural experiences, and by making such an open-ended resolution, I began to see opportunities everywhere. Temples, festivals and museums were easy, but I also wanted my brood interacting with the arts, and since Yoyogi Park is one of our main stomping grounds, the Omotesando area near the park¡¯s Harajuku entrance became one of our first places to explore. Known best for high-end shopping and the pulsing youth culture of Takeshita-dori next door, Omotesando is not usually considered a place for child-centered fun, but look beyond the boutiques and you¡¯ll find a handful of interesting places for kids and adults alike. And if the kids don¡¯t respond, then the park is just a 10-minute stroll away. Here are just a few places within walking distance.

Let¡¯s start with some books and food. On a side street near Exit A1 of Omotesando Station you¡¯ll find family-centered shopping at Crayon House (). The first floor has a good selection of kids¡¯ books in both English and Japanese, while the third floor has an impressive array of imported and domestic toys. Much of what¡¯s here is pricey and packaged to sell, but there are several sample play centers, usually showcasing the creative wooden sets that the Scandinavians craft so well.