It's the coldest part of the year in Japan. Combine frigid weather with cramped apartments, rambunctious kids and a dose of cabin fever and you have a parent's recipe for frustration. However, in Tokyo there are countless options for indoor family fun, and with the season in mind, I've created a list of some great options for inside playing and learning. Moving west to east, I hope that these suggestions help you find entertaining spaces to learn and play away from the house and out of the cold. The list is far from complete, and was chosen with minimum outdoor walking times in mind.

Out of all the indoor locations that my family likes to spend leisure time, the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka is among the best. It's a long walk from most major stations, but it makes this list because it's worth every step. It only takes advance bookings, though, so make sure to buy your tickets via the museum website or a Lawson convenience-store ticket machine before heading out.

Venture into central Tokyo to Shinjuku and you have several great options for indoor fun. The Fire Museum is free, fascinating and has direct access from Yotsuya Sanchome subway station. Only a few blocks from there is the Tokyo Toy Museum, which can entertain any child from toddler to tween. Want to venture further in the frosty air? The massive (and warm) greenhouse facility in Shinjuku Gyoen is less than a 10-minute walk from either of these museums.