23 fun things to do in Tokyo with kids
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Tokyo is a wonderland for kids. There is so much to do and see, interact with and eat!
Japan is incredibly good at making attractions hands-on and kawaii (cute). It’s a wonderful destination for families with entertainment for all ages and interests.
1. Tokyo Disney
Tokyo Disney is not actually in Tokyo, but in Chiba prefecture right next door, so it makes a great day trip from Tokyo.
Disney and Christmas
Disney is also less busy in winter which makes it a great time to visit. It’s also especially magical during the Christmas period, from 8 November until 25 December 2022. There is a special Christmas parade, fireworks to Christmas songs, a huge Christmas tree and decorations, plus there are limited edition Disney Christmas souvenirs.
Disney and New Year
Also from 1 – 16 January, Disney celebrates New Year and it’s a unique time to see Mickey and friends dressed in traditional Japanese clothes. There is also a New Year parade, themed souvenirs and menus.
Tokyo Disney also has some unique attractions compared to other Disney parks in the world. So if you’re a Disney fan don’t miss this park!
Tokyo Disney has the famous and newly created Beauty and the Beast ride which is a magical experience in dancing teacups. It’s open for anyone who can sit unassisted, but it’s very popular so plan accordingly!
I can’t talk about Tokyo Disney without mentioning the popcorn! Tokyo Disney and DisneySea are famous for their unique popcorn flavours like white matcha chocolate, garlic shrimp, black pepper, curry and chocolate orange just to name a few!
Flavour popcorn
Popcorn stands offer unique popcorn buckets with closing lids which are so incredibly cute! They are also very useful as you can close the lid when going on rides, and when birds get hungry! It has a strap to go around your neck and next time you refill for 100 yen less so you can try ALL the flavours!
Tips:
- Download the Tokyo Disney Resorts app to assess wait times, but also to book standby passes as soon as you enter the gate for the most popular rides. AND you can use this to find which popcorn stands are in operation!
- Family and friend groups like to wear matching clothes and especially hats/headbands! This is quite useful to find your group in a crowd. This means the Disney store is super busy at entry time though. So visit the Disney Store in Shibuya before your trip to Disney so there’s no need to stop and shop on entry to the park.
- The shops are also super busy around sunset, so try and do your shopping at quieter times during the day.
- Disney hotels – If you’re a Disney fan and want to do both Tokyo Disney and DisneySea you could consider staying at one of the wonderful Disney hotels on-site to save travelling in and out of Tokyo. Most official Disney hotels are on the expensive side, but there are a few more affordable options. We stayed at the official Tokyo Disney Hilton hotel (Hilton Tokyo Bay) on-site and it was amazing. It also took just a few minutes on the shuttle which was very convenient with tired children at the end of the day!
Disney tickets
Tokyo Disney and DisneySea tickets are notoriously difficult to book outside of Japan. Sometimes the official Disney site won’t accept foreign credit cards, the convenience store booking options aren’t in English and you usually can’t buy tickets at the gate.
Other options:
*Book an official Disney hotel such as the Hilton Tokyo Bay with a package that includes Disney tickets. (If you plan to do both parks, this is a good option to save travelling in and out of Tokyo city after a long day at Disney.) Call the hotel direct to book the package however.
*Book through Klook if they have tickets available.
When to buy Disney Tickets
Disney tickets go on sale 60 days in advance at 10am JST.
Hours: Usually 9am – 9pm (check the official site for seasonal changes however)
How to book: Try the official Disney Resorts website (may not accept foreign credit cards), Klook, or through a hotel stay-and-play program such as at Hilton Tokyo Bay .
Address: 1−8 Maihama, Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture 279-0031, Japan
Access: If you are staying close by at a Disney Hotel, walk to the gate or get the cute Disney monorail to the park. Note, you can use your IC card for the monorail. Or, take a train to Maihama Station and walk 5 minutes.
2. DisneySea
DisneySea is a unique theme park next to Tokyo Disney and it’s also marvelous.
The park has different themes throughout such as a Venice canal city, Agrabah village and a mermaid under-the-sea adventure world for little ones in the most gorgeous neon colours.
If you only have one day and need to choose one park, I would suggest Tokyo Disney for smaller children aged under 10. There seems to be more for little ones to see and do at Tokyo Disney.
DisneySea however, has many rides for older kids and adults. If you have two days and love Disney, do both! Small kids can always play in the Mermaid world in DisneySea and will be delighted by the scenery even though there are less rides for them.
Picnic mat
Before the Disney parades start in Japan, people get ready alongside the route with their picnic mats on the ground. It’s a good option to bring along a small fold-up, plastic mat to sit on. Also, bring some convenience store sandwiches or snacks as Disney here allows it and the food in the park is limited.
Hours: 9am – 9pm (check the official site for seasonal changes however)
How to book: Try booking through the Disney official site, Klook, or from a hotel stay and play package such as Hilton Tokyo Bay (must call however to book packages).
Address: 1-13 Maihama, Urayasu, Chiba 279-8511, Japan
Access: If staying at a Disney hotel, conveniently walk to the gate or take the Disney monorail (IC card). By train, exit at Maihama Station and walk to the gate.
3. teamLab Planets
teamLab Planets is an immersive art experience where visitors remove their shoes and walk through water, becoming one with the art.
Previous visitors to Tokyo may have been to the teamLab Borderless exhibition which is of a similar theme, however, this is now closed and teamLab Planets is the current experience.
As it’s so interactive, kids love it. They can touch and experience the art with their hands and feet throughout the space.
Hours: 10am – 8pm (weekdays) 9am-9pm (holidays) Closed: 6 & 25 October and 10 November
Cost: Adults (18 Years and above) 3,200 yen; junior high school/high school 2,000 yen; children (Ages 4-12) 1,000 yen; under 3 years of age free; Disability discount 1,600 yen
How to book: You can buy tickets up to two months in advance here.
Address: teamLab Planets TOKYO, Toyosu 6-1-16, Koto-ku, Tokyo
Access: Take a train to Toyosu Station and walk 1 minute from there
teamLab Borderless in Odaiba is closed
The insanely popular teamLab Borderless was closed on 31 August 2022, however, it will relocate to Toranomon-Azabudai in central Tokyo in 2023.
teamLab Planets in Tokyo in Toyosu will be open until the end of 2023.
4. Kidzania
Kidzania is not unique to Tokyo, as it has locations throughout Asia. But it is such fun for kids and if you come from a country without it, spend a day here. The great thing about Tokyo Kidzania is the lack of age restrictions on activities. Kids of all ages can try anything whereas other countries seem to have certain age restrictions.
Kidzania is also a great winter activity for kids in Tokyo as it’s completely indoors.
Kids can try different professions of their choice throughout the day earning Kidzoos. They can later spend these at the shop, spend on some special activities or save for another time.
Kids can try out being firefighters, bakers, pilots, car designers, singers, and maintenance workers (who abseil) just to name a fraction of the opportunities! And they get to dress up! It’s really the cutest.
Parents aren’t really very involved, so be prepared for a lot of waiting around, watching, and coffee drinking but it is cute!
English Wednesdays
Kidzania Tokyo offers English Wednesdays where some activities are conducted in English. However, even if that doesn’t suit your schedule, the staff are able to communicate with children and get the message across of what they should be doing.
Hours: You have two options to book: Morning from 9am until 3pm or afternoon from 4pm until 9pm. You can arrive up to 30 minutes before your allocated time.
Cost: It’s best to check the website as there are so many different options, but a basic morning weekday pass for an elementary school student is 4,500 yen and an adult pass is 2,160 yen.
How to book: You can reserve tickets on the Kidzania Tokyo website. The website is in Japanese, so use google translate on the page if necessary. Please note, you will need to sign up as a member before you can reserve. This is the usual practice throughout online booking sites in Japan.
Address: 2-4-9 Toyosu, Koto-ku, Tokyo
Urban Dock LaLaport Toyosu 1 North Port 3F (It’s inside the shopping mall)
Access: Take a train to Toyosu Station and then walk 8 minutes
5. Animal cafes
Animal cafes of all different types are all over Tokyo and there are so many to choose from.
There are hedgehogs, owls, micropigs, cats and more! We visited a hedgehog cafe and a cat cafe and our kids loved both!
Thankfully at the hedgehog cafe, the staff made sure each little friend had sufficient time out so they could rest and relax.
You are able to feed the pricky cuties dried bugs with tweezers while wearing safety gloves. One hedgehog even fell asleep in my daughter’s hands, it was so relaxed.
Harry’s Hedgehog cafe in Omote Sando is quite small, so 30 minutes is ample time to play and watch. They also have some other furry friends to look at like chinchillas and mice.
Cafe Moff is a cat cafe in the cool electronics district of Akihabara. Here you can buy little jelly squares to feed the cats. They get pretty excited when they see the jelly, so be prepared! There’s no need to book ahead, just turn up when you’re ready for a cuddle.
Cafe Moff Akihabara
Address: Floor 1 Yodobashi Camera Multimedia, Akihabara.
Access: via Akihabara station, which is huge and services several JR and metro lines.
Admission: One hour is 1500 yen, with the option to extend. This includes a drink.
Hours: open every day from 10am-8pm.
Harry’s Hedgehog Cafe Harajuku
Access: Meiji-jingumae “Harajuku” station, via the Chiyoda or Fukutoshin lines.
Admission: 1430 yen per customer for 30 minutes.
Hours: Saturday and Sunday 11am-7pm, Monday to Friday 12-7pm.
6. Ride bikes in Yoyogi Park
Riding bikes in Yoyogi Park is affordable and fun for the kids, and adults!
Yoyogi Park is an oasis in the city, located in the heart of Shibuya and adjacent to Harajuku Station and the Meiji Shrine.
It’s a great place to have some down-time after braving the hectic streets of Harajuku, Shibuya, or Omote Sando.
The park is a popular destination, particularly on the weekends, when people gather to listen to
music, watch live shows, or enjoy a picnic bento in the gorgeous gardens.
Renting bikes
Try to visit during the weekday when the park is much quieter. Bike rental is not available on Mondays however.
In the spring, many people gather here to view the cherry blossoms during Hanami, the Japanese custom of enjoying beautiful flowers. Year-round this is a great destination for joggers, who can enjoy a long and winding running track through a verdant forest in the city.
One great option for those with kids is to hire bikes and enjoy the well-maintained route around
the park. The bikes are fantastic, with sizes for everyone, and helmets available for hire. They also offer tandem bikes, scooters and bikes with training wheels.
Hours: Yoyogi Park Cycle Centre is open from 9am-4:30pm, closed Mondays.
Admission: Admission is free. Yoyogi Park Cycle Centre has affordable rates for bike rental, for a nominal fee of 100 yen for a child and 210 yen for an adult per hour.
Access: Yoyogi Park is a short walk from Yoyogi Koen Station on the Chiyoda Line.
7. Zauo fishing restaurant
The Zauo restaurant chain has branches in many regions of Japan, however in the Kanto region (greater Tokyo), you can visit Zauo in Shinjuku, Meguro, Shibuya, Kameido Eki Mae, Tokorozawa and Yokohama.
This is a great family-friendly interactive lunch option. Our kids really enjoyed catching the fish, but don’t really like eating it, so luckily there was a karaage (fried chicken) kids’ lunch set option.
There are many dining options to choose from, including making your own sushi! We didn’t go with this option but definitely will next time!
Diners receive three fishing tickets for each fishing set ordered. We had three adults so we received nine tickets in total. As the kids had a lunch set they didn’t have their own tickets, but they were able to use ours to go fishing.
Once you catch a fish, you swap the tickets for your catch. For example, a red snapper = 5 tickets, a horse mackerel = 3 tickets, and a prawn = 1 ticket. Then you decide how each item will be cooked. We got our red snapper half sashimi, half fried. It was delicious. You can also choose to have fish boiled, deep-fried, or to be made into sushi.
In addition to the fish, the meal also includes a plate of nigiri sushi, some tempura, rice and miso soup. If you are still hungry you can always buy more fishing tickets at the table.
Hours (Shibuya branch): weekdays 5pm – 11pm; weekends and holidays 11:30-3:30pm and 5pm-11pm.
Address: High Manten Jinnan Building B1F, 1-9-3, Jinnan, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0041
Access: take the train to Shibuya station and walk 5 minutes.
8. Unko (poo) Museum
This place is more like a fun colourful, kawaii (cute), poo emoji experience rather than a ‘museum’, but it’s a unique experience for sure!
The weirdest part is sitting on a colourful toilet upon entry next to your friends and then looking down to see a colourful plastic poo appear in the bowl!
The museum is actually not very big, so it’s good to combine it with other activities in the area such as the Gundam Statue (very close) or the Lego Discovery Centre.
The ‘museum’ is also inside a shopping mall with a Hello Kitty shop as well as many other cute shops to wander around and look at.
It’s a pretty funny experience and caters to most kids’ sense of humour, and so it’s worth it if you’re nearby just for the sheer weirdness.
Hours: 11am – 8pm (Mon-Fri); 10am – 9pm (Sat & Sun)
Cost: 1,600 yen for adult (junior high school and older); 900 yen for child (elementary school); free younger than elementary school.
How to book: You can buy tickets at the entrance to the museum, but it can get busy and you could miss out, it’s also 200 yen more expensive at the door. To ensure you have a ticket, you can buy online at Klook beforehand.
Address: DiverCity Tokyo Plaza, 〒135-0064 Tokyo, Koto City, Aomi, 1 Chome−1−10 ダイバーシティ東京プラザ 2階
Access: Take a train to Daiba Station then walk 8 minutes.
9. Ice Skating at Midtown, Roppongi (Mitsui Fudosan ice rink)
Midtown Roppongi is a great place to experience the winter, magical feels. The beautiful Hinokicho Park next to the rink is illuminated to make an exciting entryway to the ice rink opposite.
The ice rink is surrounded by fairy lights in the trees and on the ground. Every few minutes, the rink is lit up in rainbow colours for an extra special experience.
You can also book a skate helper (penguin/snowman pal) to guide around little, wobbly people on the skates and we took precautions by hiring helmets also.
When you get hungry and tired, the beautifully designed MidTown Mall is directly opposite full of meal options including the juicy Craft Burger restaurant. There are also many Japanese options.
Ice skating at Midtown Roppongi
If your schedule allows, do this activity on a weekday. It’s much less busy than a weekend and also cheaper.
Period: 18 November (approx) until 27 February (approx)
Hours: 11:00 – 21:00 (reception until 20:00)
Cost: 2,000 yen per adult; 1,500 yen per child
Weekends and national holidays: 2,500 yen per adult; 2,000 yen per child
10. Tokyo Dome
For residents of Tokyo, the Tokyo Dome is best known as the home of the Yomiuri Giants baseball
team.
Baseball is the most popular sport in Japan, and the Giants are an extremely popular team,
with the stadium able to accommodate up to 57,000 baseball-crazy fans!
However, the complex is also known for its awesome amusement park, with attractions to suit little
ones and thrill-seeking roller coaster riders alike! And best of all, it’s in the heart of Tokyo and very
easy to access via the subway.
Especially in winter, Tokyo Dome has the most incredible winter illuminations that are worth the visit in the chilly weather.
The park is divided into five areas:
- Viking Zone – this has a swinging ship, go-karts, carousel, mini drop tower
- Splash Garden – a fun place for kids with tea cups and a mist garden (summer)
- LaQua – a giant Ferris wheel, the Thunder Dolphin roller coaster, flume ride and indoor laser
- shooting ride
- Parachute Zone – a haunted house, water cannons
- Geopolis, the highlight of which is the Panic Coaster – Black Daan, and indoor coaster with a light show and projections.
While the park has a bunch of great things for kids, the park’s signature ride is the Thunder Dolphin, and it’s a must for thrill seekers!
The Thunder Dolphin makes its long, slow incline adjacent to the giant Ferris wheel, before a near-vertical drop sends it plummeting toward the ground and then THROUGH the side of a nearby
building! At one point the coaster takes you directly above the Tokyo city streets below!
Hours: Standard hours are from 10am to 9pm every day, however these can vary
Access: The closest subway station is Korakuen, which is accessible via the Namboku and Marunouchi Lines. Tokyo Dome is a short walk from Korakuen.
Cost: The Tokyo Dome area is free. You can choose to purchase a range of tickets for the
rides as follows upon arrival:
One day passport (unlimited rides):
Adults: 4,200 yen
Seniors: 3,700 yen
Elementary school children: 2,800yen
Infants: 1,800yen
Night discount (from 5pm):
Adults: 3,200 yen
Seniors: 2,700 yen
Elementary school children: 2,300yen
Infants: 1,500yen
5 rides:
Ages 3 and up: 2,800 yen
Individual ride passes:
You can also choose to take the rides individually, with varying prices, the most expensive of which is the Thunder Dolphin, at 1,200 yen.
11. Gundam Statue
The Gundam Statue is a huge robot statue located outside Diver City mall, Tokyo! You don’t need to book tickets or line up, just turn up and see it!
Combine this with another activity such as visiting the Unko Museum. The Unko Museum is located in the mall directly behind this statue.
teamLab Planets and Lego Discovery Centre are also in close proximity.
Hours: The statue is outside so can be visited any time!
Cost: Free!
Address: 1-chōme-1-10 Aomi, Koto City, Tokyo 135-0064, Japan
Access: Take a train to Daiba Station and walk 5 minutes
12. Tokyo Tower and Red eSports park
Tokyo Tower is the second tallest structure in Japan at 332.9 metres tall. Tokyo Skytree is the tallest.
Tokyo Tower is located in the Minato area and often hosts festivals and events around its exterior. Also, during the winter, the tower has some beautiful illuminations around the outside and often the view is clearer.
The tower is painted red and orange like many tall structures in Japan to comply with air safety regulations. It is repainted every five years and takes a whole year to complete it!
The tower itself is a fun outing with kids. You have a choice of visiting the main deck or doing the top deck as a tour. We opted for the main deck as that seemed high enough!
The elevator has windows that view outside as you rise. The incredible view over the vastness of Tokyo is mind-blowing. The main deck actually has two floors which we didn’t realise until we were leaving. The floor below was much less crowded.
Also, check our RED eSports Park when you’re here. Levels 3 and 4 have incredible VR and digital games to play which suit all ages. This is just another example of how Japan combines adult and kids’ activities in one cool package.
Hours: 9am-10:30pm
Cost: Adults 1200 yen, high school 1000 yen, elementary school 700 yen, 4-6 year olds 500 yen
Address: 4-chōme-2-8 Shibakōen, Minato City, Tokyo 105-0011, Japan
Access: Get a train to Onarimon and walk 6 minutes, or Akabanebashi and walk 5 minutes.
13. NHK Museum
NKH stands for Nippon Hoso Kyokai (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) and is Japan’s only public broadcaster.
This free museum was a pleasant surprise we stumbled across after visiting Atago Shrine in Toranomon (also worth a quick visit).
The kids were able to see what television sets looked like long ago, like when I was a kid! But also how technology has changed over time.
There was also a section where kids were able to make movie sound effects such as rain using rice in bamboo and horses galloping with coconuts on gravel.
They also stood in front of an interactive screen that overlaid Japanese clothes on their reflection, turning them into samurai or other Japanese nobles.
The kids’ favourite part however was being in the mock newsroom. They were able to work with a green screen, report the news (they were given a Japanese script, but did some great impromptu) and they even did the weather forecast with movable weather icons on a map.
Hours: 10am- 4:30pm (closed Mondays)
Admission: Free!
Address: 2 Chome-1-1 Atago, Minato City, Tokyo 105-0002
Access: Take a train to Kamiyacho Station and walk 3 minutes
14. Winter illuminations
Japan is so great at making the most of every season. Winter is especially magical with all the winter illuminations around Tokyo.
Get your little ones excited about adventuring in the evening with some beautiful light displays.
You can find winter illuminations at:
- MidTown Roppongi (combine with rainbow ice skating)
- Roppongi Hills – check out the lights around the creepy spider statue with eggs!
- Tokyo Dome – this amusement park lights up magically in winter
- Meguro – This area around the Yamanote Line is lit up in pink to mimic the beautiful cherry blossoms they have in this area in Spring.
- Omotesando – in between Harajuku and Omotesando Stations trees are filled with lights
- Odaiba (combine with Lego Discovery Centre, Gundam Statue, teamLab Planets or Unko Museum.
- Yebisu – The Garden Palace lights include a beautiful chandelier
- Marunouchi – lights and displays delight around Nakadori Street
- Yomiuriland – This amusement Park is covered in lights, every spare spot has a light, it’s incredible to see.
15. Lego Discovery Centre
The Lego Discovery Centre in Odaiba is great for smaller kids up to around the tween age.
There were many incredible displays including one of greater Tokyo with all its detail including Godzilla!
There are also some rides inside suitable for small children such as Kingdom’s Quest. This is a ride in a little cart on a track where you zap trolls and skeletons as they appear animated on the walls. There is also Merlin’s apprentice ride suitable for small children as it’s very gentle and goes around like a carousel but in the air.
There is also a ninja climbing frame, Duplo play area, and 4D cinema. You can also build and race lego cars down a slope and see if you can make them fly into a box. It’s harder than it looks!
Also, when we were there, they had staff playing games (like Lego fishing) with the kids to win prizes.
Hours: 10am – 6pm every day
Admission: 2,250 yen online or 2,800 yen at the door
How to book: On the Lego Discovery Centre website
Address: 〒135-0091 Tokyo, Minato City, Daiba, 1 Chome−6−1 デックス東京ビーチアイランドモール 3階 (located inside Decks Odaiba)
Access: Take the train to Odaiba Kaihin Koen, then walk for 2 minutes.
16. Pokemon Cafe
There is a Pokemon Cafe in Nihombshi, Tokyo and also in Osaka. If your kids love Pokemon, this is so kawaii (cute).
It’s all worth it just for the dancing Pikachu in a chef outfit who wobbles about as he wanders through the restaurant.
You can also order Pokemon-shaped food, or just get cakes and drinks. There is a cute Pikachu display of stuffies and you can buy unique chef-themed Pikachu toys here.
Booking notes
Please note, when you make a reservation online at the cafe website, it’s necessary to purchase something to accompany your reservation such as a Pokemon keyring. This will be given to you when you arrive at the cafe. I suppose it’s their way of getting a deposit for the booking.
It’s tough to get a booking, so if you really want a reservation, don’t give up, keep checking the reservations page each day until one becomes available and jump on it! Remember to use google translate on Japanese pages!
Also, next door to the Pokemon Cafe is the Pokemon Centre, so don’t feel as though you have to buy your merchandise at the cafe, the store next door has EVERYTHING (except Pokemon as chefs), that’s unique to the cafe!
Hours: 10:30am until 10:00pm (reservation essential)
How to book: Book online at the Pokemon Cafe website
Address in Tokyo: 〒103-0027 2-11-2
Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Nihonbashi Takashimaya S.C. East Building 5F
Access: Take the train to Nihonbashi Station and walk 2 minutes
17. Blacklight bowling
Shibuya is intensely busy, but it’s a must-see in Tokyo, so when you need a break and a laugh with the kids, visit EST Shibuya Bowling and see if you can get a blacklight lane!
This bowling alley has 42 lanes, and 12 are blacklight so you can glow in the dark while bowling, because why not!?
You can also rent blacklight lanes during the day, not just at night time.
There is also a Sega arcade underneath so you can have even more fun when you don’t want the bowling to end!
Hours: 10am – 4:30am
Cost: Around 100 yen per person per hour including shoes. You can also buy drinks such as ice cream and soda spiders and beer at the lane.
Address: B1 level, 1-14-14 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Access: Take the train to Shibuya and walk 2 minutes (you can’t miss the huge bowling pin outside)
18. Akihabara Electronics District: ‘Electric Town’
Akihabara is considered the pop-culture capital of Japan.
This is the place to visit if you want to take a trip back in time to a vintage 80s arcade and play some Street Fighter, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or Super Mario Brothers.
Do you collect trading cards? How about vintage tech like old-school cameras, handheld games, and first-generation video game consoles? Or perhaps manga books or figurines? Then visit Akihabara!
Tokyo’s electronics mecca, the Akihabara District is a labyrinth of laneways with shops both large and small containing just about every imaginable bit of tech you could imagine.
First, visit a vintage arcade and introduce your children to the wonders of the first Super Mario Brothers, and the real Street Fighter.
Then visit one of the many new arcades in the area and play claw games, drive a digital train game, drum or dance to the beat! Beware, these places are super loud!
The mothership electronics store is Yodobashi, located just near Akihabara Station. In this giant store, you will find every imaginable electronics product, as well as fashion and cosmetics, watches, toys, and games. You can find a great deal, and shop duty-free if you have a foreign passport.
You might just prefer to wander the laneways and try your luck by going into one of the numerous eclectic little stores. Almost all of them have Gachapon, which are vending machines with little Japanese collectibles inside them. These are inexpensive and fun for the kids: you pay a few hundred yen to get a little plastic ball containing your gatcha, with the plastic balls then recycled.
This is a great winter activity as all the games are inside, so it’s good to take the kids on a cold day. Stop along the way for a bite to eat or a hot drink in one of the numerous cafes or restaurants.
Gachapon
Gachapon gets its name from a combination of onomatopoeia. ‘Gatcha-Gatcha’ is the sound of the machine handle being cracked and ‘Pon’ is the sound made as the toy comes out of the machine. This is super fun for people of all ages!
Getting there: access via Akihabara station, which is huge and services several JR and metro lines. Enter Yodobashi electronics store via the A2 exit of Akihabara Station.
19. Takeshita Street, Harajuku
Takeshita Street in Harajuku is touristy, quirky and a heap of fun!
You will find some really interesting shops here selling quirky souvenirs and accessories and the all-famous Harajuku girls’ chunky boots!
There are also many weird food options here such as chocolate poo emoji ice cream complete with little eyes in a plastic toilet holder! There are also rainbow cheese toasties, huge rainbow cotton candy, crepes in any flavour and rainbow corndogs!
Get there early!
This street is one of the most touristy areas in Tokyo, so arrive early to avoid crowds and queues. It’s also quite short, at only 400 metres so it’s good to combine with other activities such as a visit to Harry the Hedgehog cafe nearby.
While at Takeshita Stree, check out Daiso, Japan’s famous 100 yen shop. It has everything you could ever want at very cheap prices. Pay via the automatic tellers on the ground floor.
Hours: 10:30am – 8pm
Address: 1 Chome-16-4 Jingumae, 渋谷区 Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan
Access: Take the train to Meiji-jingumae ‘Harajuku’ Station and walk 5 minutes
20. Eat jiggly, souffle Japanese pancakes
Jiggly, fluffy, souffle pancakes are famous in Japan and oh so oishii (yummy)!
There are many places to try out these delicious breakfast treats, but one of the most famous places is Flippers in Jiyūgaoka . It’s very popular though so expect to wait for a long time to get a table. You will be put on a list to receive a callback time but don’t go far, or you’ll miss your spot.
Otherwise, you can try these places for fluffy pancakes too:
- A Happy Pancake, Shibuya
- Gram Premium, Daikanyama (nearby Flippers)
- B Portland Cafe, Shinjuku.
Flippers
Hours: 11am – 7pm
Address: 〒155-0031 Tokyo, Setagaya City, Kitazawa, 2 Chome−26−20 1F
Access: Get the train to Jiyūgaoka Station and walk 5 minutes
21. Cook your own Yakiniku
If your kids like meat, you have to try yakiniku (meaning grilled meat) in Japan. My kids absolutely love cooking their own meat at the table. In fact, they love it so much, they also cook ours.
Usually, yakiniku is beef, but there are sometimes other meat and vegetable options. You can choose your level of marbling in your beef, then and you will be delivered a set complete with miso, rice and pickles also.
Cook on the grill with tongs and then snip it apart with scissors for the kids. Add your egg and pickles to the rice and away you go! It’s a delicious and interactive family activity.
It’s maybe not a great idea with toddlers however, with a burning hot plate in the middle of the table, however id you have two tables, you can put the kids on one and ask the waiters not to turn on that hot plate.
There are many places to try yakiniku in Tokyo! Give it a go!
22. Police Museum
The Keisatsu (police) hakubutsukan (museum) is a modest-sized but jam-packed museum dedicated to the history of the Japanese police, from its inception until today.
Admission is free, and it’s a great place for history buffs and children alike – there is something for everyone to do!
You can learn about the founder of the modern Japanese police force, Superintendent General Toshiyoshi Kawaji.
Interestingly, he travelled extensively on the Iwakura Mission at the start of the Meiji era in 1872 and studied the police forces in the United States, the United Kingdom and Europe.
Kawaji was tasked with creating a modern police force in Japan to replace the Samurai who had provided security during the Edo Period. By 1874 he had created Japan’s first police first.
The museum, has six floors.
The top floor has special exhibitions, with an extensive collection of exhibits on the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
Level 5 details the history of the police, and key events from the Meiji era until today.
Level 4 covers the threats facing Tokyo and how police protect their citizens.
On level 3 you can learn how to lift fingerprints and undertake forensic activities, and on level 2 kids can undertake interactive activities.
The museum is really accessible to non-Japanese speakers, with explanations in Japanese and English. And it’s great for kids!
There is the opportunity to participate in interactive forensic activities, build a police identikit and even dress up as a Metropolitan Police Officer! Unfortunately, some of these activities have been restricted due to the Coronavirus pandemic, but there is still a lot you can do!
Access: Take a train to Ginza station, then walk 5 minutes.
Admission: Free!
Hours: 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Closed on Mondays (or the next day if falling on a national holiday) and Year-end and New Year holidays (Dec. 28 – Jan. 4)
23. Fukagawa Edo Museum
The Fukagawa Edo Museum has a complete life-sized Edo period village you can walk amongst and enjoy. The village showcases typical housing, markets, a river and even a fire tower and small food stalls complete with plastic food recreations.
This is fantastic for kids as it’s very hands-on. Kids can pick up and touch the vegetables, walk inside the stores and even try polishing rice. It’s harder than it sounds! The museum is also quite small, so it’s perfect for the attention span of little ones.
One super cool feature of the museum is that the lighting changes to depict different times of the day.
Hours: 9:30am – 5pm
Admission: 400 yen
Address: 1 Chome-3-28 Shirakawa, Koto City, Tokyo 135-0021
Access: Take the train to Kiyosumi-shirakawa Station and walk 3 minutes.
Tokyo Edo Museum
The incredible Tokyo Edo Museum is unfortunately closed for renovations until 2025. Look out for its re-opening then!
Round up of things to do in Tokyo with kids
There is so much to do in Tokyo any time of the year and the city is so kid-friendly the whole family is sure to have an absolute blast.
There are plenty of indoor activities, trains are quick and efficient and being underground helps with the cold or the oppressive humidity in summer.
