IT·Science Talk

Looking for a beginner telescope for my 9-year-old niece

My niece has become very interested in space, she knows all the planets and asks me questions I can't answer. I would like to give her a telescope for her birthday next month.

Budget is modest. I read that cheap telescopes are often disappointing and can make a child lose interest. Is that true? Would binoculars be a better start? We live near Tokyo, so the sky is not very dark, but we can see the Moon and some planets.

Thank you for any kind advice!