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Do you struggle, every time, to decide where to go on a long holiday?
Theme parks, aquariums, zoos — all wonderful, but crowded, and they cost money.
“Isn’t there somewhere close by where the whole family can have fun?” Surely you’ve racked your brains over that more than once or twice.
Today, we’d like to suggest pool as one answer.
Surprised? Read on.
Pool, a game children lose themselves in
Picture the moment a child picks up a cue.
At first, they can’t quite get into a stance.
But when their ball strikes the object ball and it goes rolling along — in that instant, their eyes light up.
“One more time!” comes out on its own.
Pool is a sport in which, simply by playing, children naturally come into contact with the way physics thinks.
Aim here, and where does it go?
How hard do you hit to make it roll that far? — no difficult explanations needed at all.
Just hold the cue, aim, and stroke.
Through that repetition, the foundation for logical thinking grows, little by little.
And they also pick up thinking backward without even trying.
Asking “if I pot this ball, where will the cue ball go next?” is exactly the skill of working back from a goal to plan your actions.
Before you know it, your child is staring at the table with a serious face — that moment will surely come.
👉 On thinking backward and pool
For a child’s first time: the Step-Up 10 Game
No need to worry that “the rules look hard.”
Proposed by the Yokohama Open Organizing Committee, the Step-Up 10 Game is an original any-ball game in which you may aim at whichever ball you like.
There is no tricky rule about order, and every ball that drops brings a sense of achievement.
The whole family having fun and getting a little better together — that process makes it the perfect doorway into pool.
A sport parents will love, too
It isn’t only the children; there is plenty for parents to like as well.
Low-impact exercise
There’s no hard running, no pouring sweat.
Yet it engages your core and trains your inner muscles.
Not tiring, yet you move your body just enough — ideal exercise for the quiet stretches of a long holiday.
👉 On the beauty and health benefits of pool
While the children are absorbed, the grown-ups take their time, together
The moment your child’s ball drops into the pocket, the whole family high-fives: “Yes!”
Sharing that smile and that cheer — that alone makes it a special day.
And while your child gazes intently at the table, you glance at your partner beside you.
Eyes taking aim, a profile bent over the cue — a serious face you never see in everyday life may catch you off guard.
A favorite drink in hand, you savor such moments slowly and talk quietly with your partner.
It may turn into a night when you suddenly remember the days when you were first together.
Sharing the same time as a family, while the grown-ups have their own way to enjoy it — that is the richness of a place like a pool hall.
Different skill levels, the same table
Pool is one of the few sports where a strong player and a beginner can gather around the same table.
Besides your own turn, there is the pleasure of watching a good player up close.
The “Wow!” you feel when you see a brilliant run-out right in front of you — that, too, is something only pool gives.
Few physical barriers, so children can enjoy it too
Pool is not a sport of hard running or contests of stamina.
With few physical barriers, it can be enjoyed regardless of build or age.
That is why children can play on equal terms with adults at the same table.
And pool nurtures thinking naturally, through play.
“If I aim here, where will it roll?” — a child, serious-faced, studying the table and thinking.
In that gaze is someone trying to grasp angle and touch by intuition.
Trying to work out the next shot backward — those small, gathered moments of focus quietly become the foundation of logical thinking.
And that accumulation can one day burst into full bloom.
Japanese junior players are making their mark on Asian and world stages; as with other sports, this is a game in which starting young lets you grow a great deal.
And of course, not only as a competitive sport but as a hobby for life — a small spark during a long holiday might open up a new world for your child.
Pool in Yokohama, as a family
Yokohama has a number of pool halls where families can drop in easily.
No special equipment or clothing needed, and you pay by the hour.
With no joining fee and no prepaid passes, you can come with the easy mindset of “let’s just try it once.”
For your long holiday outing, please add pool to the list.
You might just hear your child say, “I want to come back!”
👉 See the Yokohama Billiard Hall Guide
👉 Billiards resources from Japan and around the world, organized by purpose: Billiards in Depth (latest updated hourly)
