Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on June 2010

The Kids Hotelier promotion at the Rihga Royal Hotel in Shinjuku (www.rihga-tokyo.co.jp) offers a treat for the whole family this summer. The deal includes an overnight stay in a suite, complimentary breakfast, and use of the hotel’s pool and sauna. But the real attraction is the “on-the-job training” for children aged 5-12. Throughout the day, kids will experience what it’s like to perform various hotel duties, including doorman, front desk clerk and room service. Pint-size gourmands will particularly enjoy the restaurant training, in which a Rihga Royal chef offers lessons on how to make omuraisu or fried rice. At the end of the day, the hotel manager will present the kids with a “paycheck” (a ¥500 gift card) and a free ice cream “passport,” good for an entire year. Kids under 5 can participate by wearing the hotel uniforms, and the entire family will get a commemorative DVD or photo CD. Call 03-5285-1121 for more details.