The 4- and 5-year-olds could barely contain their excitement as they previewed the “Hello From Japan” exhibit at the Children’s Discovery Center. The exhibit officially opens Feb. 13.

One minute the preschoolers were singing “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” in Japanese in the “pop pop Karaoke” room, the next they were serving up sushi from behind the counter of a pretend restaurant. The frenzy of activity peaked as they took turns pulling a rope to ring a bell at a make-believe Shinto shrine.

“Hello From Japan” offers visitors a glimpse of two distinct areas of Tokyo that exist side by side: the colorful, bustling streets of the modern Harajuku district and the more traditional, tranquil setting of a Shinto shrine park.

“It’s about how the two coexist — the very modern and traditional,” said Liane Usher, the center’s president. “(This exhibit) was ideal to bring here because it connects with our cultural initiative and the fact that Hawaii has such close ties to Japan.”

Through the end of February, the nonprofit center is also offering classes and workshops that correlate to the exhibit, including a Japanese calligraphy class and workshops where participants can learn to fold origami hearts and make felt sushi. The Kids in the Kitchen program explores Japanese cuisine.

The playful exhibit first introduces visitors to the child-sized streetscape of the Harajuku district.

Here, keiki can hop into a blue truck, don a hard hat and vest, and explore Tokyo’s custom-designed manhole covers. The ones in the city of Sapporo are decorated with snowflakes representing its famous Snow Festival.

They can try their hand at writing Japanese characters, known as kanji, on tablets or sit in a Purikura Photo Booth to take selfies with customized frames and stickers.

It’s all so “kawaii,” which means “cute” in Japanese.

Leilani Phillips and Ava Bella Curnow, both 4, had fun putting on tiaras in the Dress Kawaii booth.

“Gonna be a rock star,” said Jessica Higa, 4, as she donned yellow, star-shaped sunglasses.

Higa managed to sit still for a good five minutes at the Mascot Maker station, where kids traced parts of animals on paper to create a mascot. Mascots, or “yuru-kyara” in Japanese, represent everything from businesses to sports teams. Don Quijote’s mascot, for instance, is Donpen the penguin.

An arched bridge connects the two districts, leading from the modern cityscape of Harajuku to a serene park that allows visitors to explore the traditional, nature-based practices of Shinto, an indigenous Japanese religion.

“This is my favorite,” said Bradley Reisinger, 4, referring to the bell at the shrine, which comes with illustrated instructions below on how to make an offering.

The children explored the lush bamboo forest, with creatures chirping and protective Jizo statues underfoot.

The park also features a wishing tree where written wishes can be hung on branches, and a fortunetelling machine that dispenses fortunes for a penny.

Even adults can learn something new, like the fact that Daisuke Inoue was the Japanese businessman who invented the Juke 8, the first karaoke machine.