American mother living in Japan sends the internet WILD after revealing how different the country’s PLAYGROUNDS are to those in her home country
An American mother living in Japan has parents in the US ready to pack their bags and head abroad, after sharing just some of the differences between raising children in each country.
Mother-of-one Nickelle Mickelsen and young daughter Romee moved to the Japanese island of Okinawa over a year ago, after husband Garrett was stationed there.
The 31-year-old has documented her family’s journey as they navigate life in Japan, which she has declared “one of the most kid-friendly cultures” she has ever experienced.
In a one-minute TikTok video, the mother showed off the impressive playground at Comprehensive Park in Okinawa, Japan.
Nickelle Mickelsen shared just some of the differences between raising children in the US and Japan
The mom showed off the impressive playground at Comprehensive Park in Okinawa, Japan, in a recent TikTok video
Nickelle said the parks in Japan had nothing to offer that she had “ever seen before” in America (pictured of an American playground pictured)
“So parks in Japan are like nothing I’ve ever seen before. I’m going to show you what the one we came to today looks like,” Nickelle begins the clip.
She then shows a series of videos highlighting her favorite things about the enormous playground.
She starts by showing just one side of the impressive playground, a bright multi-coloured structure with an array of child-friendly equipment.
The play area also has several slides, all in different colors, lengths and shapes, and a small jumping floor like a trampoline at the top.
Nickelle wrote that there are “so many slides” in the breathtaking structure and showed off some of her family’s favorites, including a curly one, a long and winding one, and a bumpy one.
The outdoor area also included a rock climbing structure, a ropes course and even a mini zip liner.
There was even something for the parents: there was a vending machine that served both hot and cold drinks.
Although the video was just over a minute long, TikTok users were impressed – and slightly jealous – with the facilities.
The family has lived on the island of Okinawa in Japan for more than a year, moving when husband Garrett (pictured left) was stationed in Japan
She showed off a series of videos showing off her favorite things about the massive playground, including its multiple slides
The mum showed off a series of videos highlighting her favorite things from the huge playground
TiKTok users were impressed by the very impressive park and wished they had one like it near them
‘Ugh, I miss parks in Japan! So even clean the toilets!’ one user wrote wistfully.
“If this happened in the US I would be in the park every day,” said another.
‘Japan is on a whole different level and I’m here for it!!’ said another enthusiastically.
“In the US you have to pay to go to these kinds of parks,” said another.
In another video, Nickelle shared some of her favorite parent-friendly features of her new home.
Number one was the baby rooms in the public areas – complete with padded changing tables and disposal for nappies.
“So it never stinks,” she explained.
The rooms also have a hot water dispenser for making bottled milk or warming milk to feed the little ones.
In another video, Nickelle shared some of her favorite parent-friendly features of her new home, including the matching pajamas, slippers and toothbrushes for kids in hotels
The fun versions of strollers for kids are also a hit with both kids and adults in Japan (Romee pictured in car stroller)
There are also sanitized and free strollers available in public areas – including airports – and a children’s play area in restaurants
Breastfeeding or pumping is never a problem either, with Nickelle saying it’s ‘always easy to find a nursing room’, and when you do it’s completely private and comfortable.
Sanitized and free strollers are also available in public areas – including airports – and they even come in fun car shapes so kids can enjoy them too.
It doesn’t stop there: hotels offer free pajamas, slippers and toothbrushes for children.
Eating out with young children is also no problem, with play areas in restaurants and a gift for the children after the meal.
“It’s the little things that make such a difference,” Nickelle enthused.