Tokyo is a big city, and with so many wonderful family-friendly Tokyo attractions, planning a holiday in Tokyo with kids can become a little overwhelming.  If you’re planning a family trip to Tokyo and wondering what the best things to do in Tokyo with kids are, then you’re going to love this Tokyo for families guide.

In this Tokyo with children guide, I cover off on not only what to do in Tokyo with kids but have grouped them into locations within Tokyo to make planning your Tokyo with kids itinerary easier.  The guide also includes essential information such as location, opening hours, and ticket prices – even tips on where to get discounted tickets.

As well as listing all the things to do in Tokyo with children, this guide will cover getting to Tokyo from the airport, getting around the city, and tips on where to stay in Tokyo with kids.

Talk to other families about their tips on Japan with kids and join our Thrifty Family Travel Facebook Group or be inspired by our Instagram.

This post may contain compensated links.  Please refer to my disclaimer here for more information.

The Districts of Tokyo 

Before we get started on all the best family things to do in Tokyo, let’s talk about the layout of the city.

Tokyo is HUGE! It’s massive, and so it’s probably best to think of it as lots of little cities joined together.  So to understand where all the Tokyo must-see attractions are and particularly the kid friendly things to do in Tokyo, I’ve split this article into the following sections:

• Central Tokyo: Marunouchi, Chiyoda and Chuo
• Western Tokyo – Shinjuku and Shibuya (including Harajuku)
• Northern Tokyo: Sumida, Taito (including Asakusa and Uneo) and Bunkyo
• Southern Tokyo: Roppongi and Odaiba
• Outer Tokyo

Having the Tokyo tourist spots split by the above areas will also make it easier when planning your Tokyo holidays.  I’ve also included a map that shows the exact location of all the fun things to do in Tokyo with family covered in this guide.

If you need a suggested Tokyo itinerary – click here to see how we spent each day in Tokyo.

Best Things to do in Tokyo with Kids 

Throughout this section, I have provided a comprehensive guide to all the best places to visit in Tokyo with kids.  I’ve information to make your planning easier, including locations, opening hours and ticket prices.

You will note that for many of the Tokyo tourist attractions, I often recommend that you purchase your tickets in advance from Klook.  Yes, I will receive a small commission if you do purchase from these sites – but as you will see in most cases, you will save yourself a bit of cash in doing so.  Other times the price may be the same, but you will save time by not having to line up for tickets.  Plus you earn points with Klook that you can trade-in for money off – so you can save even more money.   I use these sites myself to book tickets for our travels around the world.

Please note that all prices mentioned were correct at the time of writing and may fluctuate depending upon changes to currency conversion and rate increases.

To check the rate in your local currency, click here.

Western Tokyo – Shinjuku, Harajuku and Shibuya

Below are the best things to do in Tokyo with family in Shinjuku, Harajuku and Shibuya

Metropolitan Government Building Observatory 

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observatory is one of the Tokyo top attractions for tourists. You can view the sights of Tokyo from two observation decks, the building is 243m tall and was the tallest building in Tokyo until the Midtown Tower was built in 2007.

There are several towers within Tokyo, but this is the only one that is completely free of charge to visit, thus making it a very budget family friendly thing to do in Tokyo.  Given it is one of the free things to do in Tokyo, it is very popular, so I’d recommend getting there before opening time.  Although when we visited, there was a long line up, but surprisingly it went pretty quickly.

Allow an hour or two (depending on what the line up is like) to explore here.

Location: 2 Chome-8-1Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo

Opening Hours: Daily 9.30am to 10.00pm (South Observatory closed on first and third Tuesday of each month | North Observatory closed on the second and fourth Monday of each month)

Price: Free Admission 

Golden Gai and Piss Alley (Memory Lane) 

When putting together your Tokyo itinerary, do yourself a favour and include dinner one evening in either Golden Gai or Piss Alley.  These two areas are lovely little dining and drinking areas in Shinjuku which date back to the post-war and are fun places to visit in Tokyo with family.  Here you will find a maze of quaint narrow little alleyways filled with super tiny bars and yakitori grills.  The alleyways are full of colourful lanterns and it’s a lovely area to stroll around.

Just keep in mind that the places to eat are super tiny – seating only like 6-10 or so people – so if you are in a big group, you may well not find anywhere to eat.  But still, come and check the area out as it’s one of the lovely places to see in Tokyo.

Samurai Museum 

One of the best places in Tokyo for those interested in learning more about the Japanese Samurai culture is the Samurai Museum!  Here you can see a great collection of Samurai artifacts such as armour, swords, war helmets and more.  You can even dress up as a Samurai and see sword performances – definitely one of the things to do in Tokyo with kids who love action.

I didn’t personally visit the Museum but a few in our group did and they really enjoyed it.

Allow a few hours to experience all the museum has to offer.

Unfortunately the Samurai Museum is temporarily closed due to Covid, but we hope it opens again soon – as this is one of the must do kids activities Tokyo has on offer!

See the Godzilla Statue 

A Tokyo must visit for lovers of Godzilla is to see the gigantic 40 foot tall Godzilla head that towers over the Toho Building in Shinjuku.  Every few minutes he lets out a loud roar, his eyes light up and he lets out a neon blue stream of ‘atomic breath’ – it’s free entertainment in Tokyo the whole family will get a kick out of! So include it in your list of top things to do in Tokyo with kids.

Location: Toho Building, 19-1 Kabukicho, Shinjuku 

Meiji Shrine 

If you want to experience a wonderful, authentic and historic part of Japan, then the Meiji shrine is a must do in Tokyo. The Meiji Shrine is very grand and is set amongst a beautiful, big, lush park. The Shrine was actually destroyed in World War II and rebuilt in 1958.

A large part of the southern section is taken up by the Inner garden, for which you need to pay an entrance fee. The garden is especially popular when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, and if you’re here during this time this would be one of the must do things in Tokyo, it is amazing to see.

The Meiji Shrine is located close to the famous Takeshita Street in Harajuku (another must on your Tokyo holiday with kids) – so combine a visit to the shrine before or after you visit here.

Location: 1-1 Yoyogikamizonocho, Shibuya City.

Opening Hours: Shrine is open Sunrise to sunset | Inner garden 9:00-4:30 pm

Price: Shrine is Free admission | Inner garden 500 yen (approx. AUD $6) 

Animal Cafés: Hedgehog Café, Rabbit, Owls, Cat cafes

If you are looking for things for kids to do in Tokyo that is a little bit unique and unusual, then take them to one of the many animal cafés. Tokyo has received worldwide attention and fame for these gorgeous and cuddly cafés. There are various themed animal cafés such as hedgehogs, rabbits, owls, cats and many more. It’s one of the cute things to do in Tokyo for animal lovers.

While we were in Japan, we visited the Hedgehog Café – which in my view was pretty overrated, but the kids seemed to absolutely love it.  While they call it a “café” it really isn’t – it’s just a place to play with hedgehogs and you can order a drink.  Unlike a “café,” everyone must pay an entrance fee and you only have a set amount of time you can stay.

The Hedgehog Café is located just around the corner from the famous Takeshita Street in Harajuku – so combine a visit to the café before or after you visit here.

Location: 1-27-3 KK Building 4F, Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku

Opening Hours: Daily from 11am to 7pm

Price: 2200 yen (approx. AUD$24 per person) – Click here to book discounted tickets online

Takeshita Street 

When it comes to the best places to go in Tokyo for all things “kawaii” (Japanese for cute) – then Takeshita Street is the place to be!  This is a 400m long-lined street with restaurants, crepe stands and fashion boutiques selling loads of super cute stuff!

Make sure while you’re here, you take the kids to Rainbow Sweets store to get a giant colourful fairy floss, colourful ice cream – or even a colourful toasted cheese sandwich! This is one of the Tokyo things to do with family who love weird and wonderful food!

If you’re into shopping – you could easily spend a good part of the day here – plus as mentioned above, there are a few other fun things to do in Tokyo with family in the area too.

Location: Shibuya City

Opening Hours: Hours vary from shop to shop 

Shibuya Crossing

Among the top things to do in Tokyo is to see the Shibuya Crossing. The crossing is one of the iconic sights of Tokyo; it literally has thousands of people that cross at any one time, witnessing the “scramble” as it is known, is a Tokyo must do for first time visitors and recommended on any Tokyo travel blog.

This is an intersection of 7 crossroads; it is quite incredible to think that thousands of pedestrians cross at the one time with almost no collisions or injuries! There is a range of restaurants and cafes around the area where you can get a great view – but for a quick free view, go to the rooftop of the Magnet Shopping Mall – next to Starbucks and Hello Kitty – 7^th floor of the building.

Location: Shibuya

Opening Hours: 24 hours

Hachiko Memorial Statue 

What to see in Tokyo that is free and super popular, well right outside the Shibuya Subway Station and before you cross the Shibuya Crossing you will see the Hachiko Memorial Statue – you can’t miss it – it will most likely have a billion tourists around it taking pictures!

So what’s so amazing about a statue of a dog?  Well, this is actually Hachiko and the story goes that back in the 1920s, this pup came to the Shibuya Station every day to meet its owner.  Even when the owner died apparently the dog still came for almost 10 years until its own death.

The story became legendary and so a statue was erected in its memory and now it’s one of the top Tokyo places to visit.  Check it out as you leave the station on your way to the crossing.  PS the kitty is not part of the statue – it just happened to be there when I took the photo 🙂

Location: Shibuya Station

Opening Hours: 24 hours

Mipig – Micro Pig Cafe Experience in Harajuku

You have heard of a kitty cafe where you can go and meet lots of cats, but what about a Micro Pig Cafe where you can play with cute little piggies!  

This is such a relaxed experience – you can eat or even ‘take a nap’ with your new porcine friends! This is certainly a must-do visit with children and one I have never seen anywhere else.

Location: 150-0001 Tokyo, Shibuya City, Jingumae, 1 Chome−15−4 Barbizon 76 1

Hours: Open daily from 10 am to 8 pm

Price: ¥1100 Entrance fee and an additional ¥1100 per half hour stayed.  Prices are the same for adults and children.  Click here to book tickets online.

Shopping in Shibuya 

If you want to know where to go in Tokyo to shop with the kids – then I recommend taking the kids to Shibuya.  This is a shopper’s paradise with huge shopping malls on every corner!  It’s seriously crazy the number of shops that are here – you’ll find all your favourite brands from back home plus many more you’ve no doubt never heard of.

Karaoke Rooms

If you’ve got a few hours to pass or want to escape hot or rainy weather – one of the best things to do in Shibuya with kids is to spend the afternoon doing karaoke!!

Karaoke is one of the super cool family activities Tokyo offers.  Just turn up, ask for a room and pay for however long you wish to stay for.  Prices are fairly similar with most places around 300 yen per hour during off-peak or around 1000 yen (approx. AUD $11) during peak times.  Some places also include a drink or even unlimited drinks in their price.

Inside the booth, you’ll find super comfy chairs, a big screen, microphones, and your karaoke machine where you can choose what you wish to sing.  Most rooms also have a phone system where you can order drinks (including alcoholic) and food, which are delivered to your booth.

We had so much fun doing karaoke – the kids especially had an absolute blast.  There are all of your favourite songs to choose from including ones that the kids will know – making this one of the great kids activities in Tokyo as they can get involved too!

Some of the more popular karaoke chains in Tokyo are Shidax Karaoke, Karaoke Kan, Uta Hiroba and Big Echo Karaoke to name a few.  Most places open around mid-morning and stay open until the early hours of the morning.

What to do in Northern Tokyo: Sumida, Taito and Bunkyo

Below are the best things to do in Tokyo for kids in Sumida, Taito and Bunkyo

Fukagawa Edo Museum 

If you want to add some museums to your Tokyo sightseeing – I highly recommend taking the kids to the Fukagawa Edo Museum.  This museum recreates a working-class neighbourhood in the Edo era – an era that was highlighted by economic growth, strict social order and rich arts and crafts.

You explore the museum with a guide who tells you all about the different buildings and what life was like during the Edo period.  It is highly interactive, and the kids are encouraged to pick up and touch the objects as they walk through. This is such an authentic way to learn about some of the history of Japan, which is one of the activities in Tokyo the kids will love.

Allow an hour or so to explore the museum.

Location: 1-3-28 Shirakawa, Kōtō, Tōkyō

Opening Hours: 9.30am – 5pm

Price: Adults 400 yen (approx. AUD $5) | School aged children 50 yen (approx. AUD $1) 

Edo Tokyo Museum 

Another museum that takes you through what life was like during the Edo period is the Edo Tokyo Museum.  Here you can learn about the Edo period architecture, the way of life, politics, and much more through the many exhibitions and models like the amazing Edo Castle. As well as the permanent exhibitions, there are also a variety of temporary exhibitions throughout the year.

Location: 1-4-1 Yokoami, Sumida-ku, Tokyo 130-0015

Unfortunately the Edo Tokyo Museum is closed until 2025 due to major renovations, but we hope it opens again soon – as this is one of the activities to do in Tokyo for model enthusiasts.

Tokyo Skytree

One of the (literally) top places to visit in Tokyo is the iconic Tokyo Skytree, where you can view the city from it’s highest point. The Skytree is one of the best attractions in Tokyo and is the tallest freestanding broadcasting tower in the world – with the main viewing deck a massive 350m high – certainly not for the faint of heart. For those who love heights, you can even go up a further 100m!

If you can get there in time for the sunset, then it makes the view even more spectacular.  And on a clear day, you can also see Mt Fuji – which of course in Tokyo, main attractions don’t come better than this!

Location: 1-2 Oshiage, Sumida

Opening Hours: Daily 10am to 9pm (last admission 8pm)

Price: Adults 3,100 yen (approx. AUD $33) | Children 12-17 years 2,350 yen (approx. AUD $25) | Children 6-11 years 1,450 yen (approx. AUD $16) | Under 5’s are free – Click here to book your discounted tickets.

Senso-ji Temple 

One of the must-see places in Tokyo is Senso-ji Temple, Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple, said to be built in 628. It contains a sacred statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy.

Around the central building, you will see the five-story pagoda as well as various smaller sub-temples and beautiful little gardens, which is home to Tokyo’s oldest stone bridge and wooden structure, Rokkakudo.

There are plenty of Shinto rituals that the kids can get involved in.  The kids can randomly draw their fortune, participate in the cleanse from the purification trough, bow, clap and pray at the altar, write their wishes on wooden plates and leave them at the shrine to come true or wave incense over themselves for good luck. If you’re looking for what to do in Tokyo with family where the kids can get involved, this has loads of stuff for them.

This is one of the most popular places of interest in Tokyo with apparently over 30 million people visiting the temple each year.  It seriously felt like at least half of them were there when we visited!  This place was seriously packed – however we did visit in the middle of the day, so my advice would be to visit first thing in the morning or late in the afternoon.

Location: 3-1, Asakusa, Taito

Opening Hours: Main hall 6am to 5pm | Temple grounds always open

Price: Free admission

Hanayashiki Amusement Park 

Right next to the temple is the Hanayashiki Amusement Park.  The park opened in 1853, making it the oldest amusement park in Japan.  The amusement park is fairly small with around 20 rides and attractions.  Here you can find rides such as a merry go round, ferris wheel, haunted house, small roller coaster and more. As the rides are on the smaller scale and less ‘thrilling’ this is one of the the things to do with kids in Tokyo who are younger.

Location: 28-1 Asakusa, Taito

Opening Hours: Daily 10am to 6pm

Price: Entry is 4000 yen (approx. AUD $40) for ages 13+| 3000 yen (approx. AUD $18) for ages 5-12.

Shopping in Asakusa

While you’re in Asakusa and feel like some shopping, head on over to Nakamise Shopping Street.  At 250m – the street is fairly small but it’s a good place to come for some souvenirs.

Denboin Street is another small shopping street close to Senso-ji Temple.  Even if you’re not keen on shopping it’s a cool street to stroll down as it looks like a super old Edo street in Tokyo.

Ueno Park and Zoo 

Ueno Park is a popular place to view cherry blossoms and many people also come to visit the zoo which is located within the park.  The Ueno Zoological Park is the oldest zoo in Japan and now homes over 3,000 animals with over 400 species being represented. Some of the incredible animals include Giant Pandas, Sumatran Tigers, Monkeys and much more.

We were going to visit the zoo – I really wanted to see the Panda’s, but we had read some pretty poor reviews about the zoo, so decided to skip it.

Location: 9-８３ Uenokoen, Taito City

Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 9.30am- 5pm (last entry 4pm)

Price: 600 yen (approx. AUD $7) for ages 16+ | 200 yen (approx. AUD $3) for ages 13-15) | Under 12s are free

What to do in Central Tokyo: Marunouchi, Chiyoda and Chuo

Below are the top things to do in Tokyo with family in Marunouchi, Chiyoda and Chuo

Tsukiji Outer Markets 

Once a upon a time, the Tsukiji Fish Markets, which was famous for its tuna auctions, was the place to go – but unfortunately, the markets closed in 2018 and moved to a new site in Toyosu where it reopened as Toyosu Market.

However the outer markets are still open to the public and are one of the best places to visit in Tokyo, Japan, for lovers of Japanese food – especially fresh seafood.  The outer markets consist of retail shops and fantastic seafood restaurants. One of the most popular things to do is to combine your visit with a fresh sushi breakfast or lunch 

Location: 16-2 Tsukiji, Chuo City

Opening Hours: Varies depending on shop, from 5am to 2pm

Price: Free admission – alternatively if you would like a gourmet guided tour of the markets check this one out

Street Go Karting 

Sorry this one is not for the kids!!! But the kids can come along and watch.  One of the most fun things in Tokyo to do is go Street Go Karting!!  This is such a cool way to explore downtown Tokyo.  Get dressed up in costumes and drive around the city up to 60km/h.

Keep in mind that you do need to be between 150cms and 185cms and no more than 120kgs in weight to drive. Make sure to bring your passport and International Driver’s License that is valid in Japan.  Also there are no passengers, only one person per car – everyone must drive.

Location: 12-9 Sotokanda, Chiyoda

Opening Hours: Daily 10 am to 10 pm

Price: 11,000 yen (approx. AUD $112) – Click here to book your discounted tickets.

Southern Tokyo: Roppongi and Odaiba 

Below are our recommendations for Tokyo things to do with kids in Roppongi and Odaiba

Tokyo Tower

Tokyo has plenty of towers offering magnificent views across the city and Tokyo Tower is yet another one and is the second tallest structure in Japan.  Tokyo Tower, looks quite similar to Paris’ Eiffel Tower and has two observation decks with the main observatory at 150m the most popular for families or you can go even higher to the 250m deck.

Once on the deck you will be able to take in 360-degree views of this incredible city, you will even be able to see as far as the Gulf of Tokyo, right up to Mt Fuji – it’s a photographers paradise! You can even enjoy the view while you shop and eat at the restaurant.

Location: 2-8 Shibakoen, Minato

Opening Hours: Daily 9am to 11pm

Price: The main deck is 1,200 yen (approx. AUD $13) for adults 19 years+ | 1,000 yen (approx. AUD $11) for 16-18 year olds | 700 yen (approx. AUD $8) for 7-15 year olds | 500 yen (approx. AUD $6) for 4-6 year olds | Under 4s are free –  Click here to your discounted tickets online. 

Roppongi Hills Observation Deck

Another one of the popular Tokyo places to go for a view of the skyline is the Roppongi Hills Observation Deck, which is located on the 52^nd story of the Mori Tower. Roppongi Hills is a perfect way to end a day of sightseeing with its panoramic views of Tokyo. It includes a fantastic indoor observation deck and outdoor sky deck and is most impressive at sunset, where you see the city in all its glory.

Location: 10-1 Roppongi, Minato

Opening Hours: 10am to 10pm (last entry 9pm)

Price: 1,800 yen (approx. AUD $20) for adults | 1,200 yen (approx. AUD $13) for Uni/High School Students | 600 yen (approx. AUD $7) for children aged 4+ | Under 4s are  free – Click here to book your discounted tickets online 

LEGOLAND Discovery Centre 

If you’re after top Tokyo attractions for kids – take them to the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre.  The centre is mainly aimed at kids 3-10 years and there is plenty for them to explore. Included in the centre are rides, a cinema, loads of interactive activities and of course LEGO…it might even entertain the biggest kids of all.

Tickets at the door can be expensive, so it’s a good idea to book them online before going. Below are details and a link to book tickets at a discounted rate.

To get around all the attractions in Odaiba there is a free shuttle bus – click here to see the route.

Location: Island Mall 3F, Decks Tokyo Beach

Opening Hours: Daily 10am to 6pm

Price: Adults & Children are the same price 2,800 yen (approx. AUD $30) | Under 2s are free – Click here to book your discounted tickets.

Madame Tussauds 

Another great attraction to take kids if your down in Odaiba is Madam Tussauds Wax Museum.  The whole family will love getting close to famous celebrities from all over the world. Since this is in Tokyo, you will get to know famous faces from Japan from sports stars to famous violinists such as Taro Hakase and many more. Everyone will love taking selfies with the rich and famous!

To get around all the attractions in Odaiba there is a free shuttle bus – click here to see the route.

Location: 6-1 Daiba, Minato, next to LEGOLAND

Opening Hours: 11 am-8 pm weekdays and 10 am to 8 pm on the weekend.

Price: 2,100 yen (approx. AUD $23) for adults aged 13+ | 1,500 yen (approx. AUD $16) for children aged 3-12 years | Under 3s are free – Click here to book your discounted tickets online.

Miraikan National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation 

For families looking for interesting things to do in Tokyo, a visit to the Miraikan National Museum is an absolute must. This is a fantastic museum for families with loads of fun educational activities on offer for the kids.

Here you will find three floors full of exhibits with a 4^th floor housing the Dome Theatre.  Some of the permanent exhibitions allow kids to learn more about the human body, earth, space and technology.  If you happen to go on the weekend, you can also join Science Workshops.

To get around all the attractions in Odaiba there is a free shuttle bus – click here to see the route.

Location: 3-6 Aomi, Koto

Opening Hours: Wednesday to Monday 10am to 5pm

Price: Entry to the permanent exhibitions: 630 yen (approx. AUD $7) for adults | 210 yen (approx. AUD $3) for children up to 18 years | Preschool children are free | Entry to the permanent exhibitions and Dome Theatre: 940 yen (approx. AUD $10) for adults | 310 yen (approx. AUD $4) for children up to 18 years | 100 yen (approx. AUD $2) for preschool children

TeamLab Planets

Without a doubt one of the most popular places to visit in Japan, Tokyo is TeamLab Planets.  This art museum uses 520 computers and 470 projectors to create the most incredible experience you’ve ever had. Basically you wander from room to room which has a different theme – from the room full of mirrors and LED’s to marvel at the lanterns and their incredible changing colours.

The place is super interactive for the kids with things for them to climb on, jump on, crawl through, slide down as well as turning their art into moving creations on massive screens.  In my view, this is one of the absolute must-do things in Tokyo with the kids.

Allow at least half a day to explore all that’s on offer at TeamLab Borderless.

To get around all the attractions in Odaiba there is a free shuttle bus – click here to see the route.

Location: Palette Town, 1-3-8 Aomi, Koto

Opening Hours: Weekdays 10am to 8pm | Weekends 9am to 9pm.

Price: 3,800 yen (approx. AUD $39) per adult aged 18+ | 2,300 yen (approx. AUD $24) per high school student | 1,300 yen (approx. AUD $14) per child aged 4-12 | Under 4s are free – click here to book your tickets online

teamLab Planets

teamLab Planets is a surreal interactive art experience. There are nine immersive artworks that you can walk through and touch. Visitors are encouraged to walk barefoot through the exhibits to immerse themselves in the experience.

It’s a bright and colourful world and ideal for introducing younger kids to art while keeping cool teens busy capturing content for TikTok and Instagram.

Prices vary depending on the day you visit, but the prices stated below are for a weekend or school holiday. Advance purchase is recommended as it gets booked up.

Location: 6 Chome-1-16 Toyosu, Koto City, Tokyo 135-0061

Hours: Open daily from 9 am to 10 pm | Last entry an hour before closing

Price: ¥4,200 Adult | ¥2,800 Child (12-17) | ¥1,500 Child (4-11) | Under 4s are free – Click here to book tickets online.

Odaiba Marine Park and Statue of Liberty 

Oddly enough, Tokyo even has its very own small replica of the Statue of Liberty which you can find in Odaiba Marine Park.  From here you can also get a good picture of the Rainbow Bridge and the Tokyo Tower with the Statue of Liberty all in the same photo.

To get around all the attractions in Odaiba there is a free shuttle bus – click here to see the route. 

Unko Museum

The Unko Museum is something that all kids (and even the grown-ups) will find funny. Unko means ‘poop’ and yes, this is a museum dedicated to all things poop related. Don’t worry though, it’s a pastel-coloured kawaii rainbow of poop emojis rather than any of the less pleasant stuff. 

It’s an Instagrammer’s paradise with lots of fun, colourful photo opportunities. There is also an interactive zone with lots of fun games. Beware though, upon entering the staff will ask you to pretend to poop and yell out a loud “Unkoooooo!”. Perhaps not a place for the very shy, but perfect for children and teens. 

Prices vary depending on the day you visit. The prices stated below are for a weekend.  Advance purchase is recommended as same-day tickets are limited.

Location: 135-0064 Tokyo, Koto City, Aomi, 1 Chome−1−10

Hours: Weekdays 11 am to 8 pm | Weekends and school holidays 9 am to 9 pm

Price: ¥2,100 Adult | ¥1,500 Child (12-17) | ¥1,000 Child (4-11) | Under 4s are free – Click here to book tickets online.

What to do in Outer Tokyo

And lastly here are our suggestions for Tokyo attractions for families which are just outside of the city centre.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour – The Making of Harry Potter

The Warner Bros. Studio Tour is currently the largest indoor Harry Potter attraction in the world and the first Warner Bros. Studio Tour in Asia. You can visit all of your favourite book and movie locations like Diagon Alley and the Great Hall. You can even board the Hogwarts Express from Platform 9¾!

We would recommend allowing around four hours to make the most of this experience. There is no time limit though, so you could stay all day there if you wanted to.

Tickets must be purchased in advance. It does get booked up, so book as soon as you know the date you want to go.

Location: 1 Chome-1-7 Kasugacho, Nerima City, Tokyo 179-0074

Hours: Weekdays from 9 am to 8.30 pm | Weekends and school holidays from 8.30 am to 10 pm 

Price: ¥6,300 Adult | ¥5,200 child (12-17) | ¥3,800 Child (4-11) | Under 4s are free –Click here to book tickets online.

Sanrio Puroland (Hello Kitty Land) 

If you have any Hello Kitty fans in the family, they are no doubt going to want to visit Sanrio Puroland.  Located 30 minutes out of Tokyo, Sanrio Puroland is kind of a Hello Kitty version of Disneyland! But on a much much smaller scale.

To be honest I didn’t really get it – it’s kind of like an indoor theme park, but with only a few rides, shops, a parade and Hello Kitty’s home that the kids can explore and play in.  You can also pay a stack of money to get your photo taken with Hello Kitty.  But the kids just loved it and it’s not overly expensive.

If you plan on visiting Hello Kitty Land – allow at least a few hours to half a day.

Location: 1-31 Ochiai, Tama

Opening Hours: Daily 9.30am to 5pm

Price: Varies depending the day and time you go, adult tickets average 4,300 yen (approx. AUD $46) | 2,800 yen (approx. AUD $30) average for children aged 3-17 | Under 2s are free – Click here to book your discounted tickets online 

Disneyland 

When it comes to visiting Tokyo with kids, Disneyland would have to be one of the Tokyo top attractions and a great day trip from Tokyo.  Disneyland Tokyo will not disappoint, especially for those smaller kids. From the incredible rides such as splash mountain, space mountain, buzz lightyear, Haunted mansion to the restaurants, shopping and much much more.

If you have been to Disneyland anywhere else in the world, you can pretty much expect the same sort of thing. If you want to try something a little different, check out Disneysea which is right next to Disneyland.

Location: 1-1 Maihama, Urayasu, Chiba

Opening Hours: Daily 9am to 9pm

Price: 8,900 yen (approx. AUD $95) per adult | 7,400 yen (approx. AUD $79) per 12-17 years | 5,300 yen (approx. AUD $57) per child 4-11 years | Under 4s are free – Click here to book your discounted tickets online

Disneysea 

If you’ve been to Disneyland before and are looking for something a little different and unique, then I recommend you visit Disneysea, particularly as this is the only Disneysea in the entire world!  Disneysea is excellent for kids of all ages, and it is much better than Disneyland (in my view) for older kids as there are some pretty cool thrill kids here.  But there are still plenty of rides for the younger kids too.

Like most theme parks, Disneysea is split into worlds such as Mediterranean Harbor, American Waterfront, Port Discovery, Lost River Delta, Arabian Coast, Mermaid Lagoon and Mysterious Island.  One of our favourite rides was the Toy Story Mania ride and the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea was pretty cool too.  If you have little ones head straight to Mermaid Lagoon where there is a stack of tiny toddler rides – although our 8-10-year-olds also enjoyed the area too.

We made use of the free fast pass tickets on a few of the long line rides – but for some of the more popular rides – like the Toy Story ride – the Fast Pass line seemed just as long.

As we have visited a couple of Disneyland’s around the world – most recently, Disneyland Paris – we decided to go to Disneysea.

Location: 1-1 3 Maihama, Urayasu, Chiba

Opening Hours: Daily 9am to 9pm

Price: 8,900 yen (approx. AUD $95) per adult | 7,400 yen (approx. AUD $79) per 12-17 years | 5,300 yen (approx. AUD $57) per child 4-11 years | Under 4s are free – Click here to book your discounted tickets online  

Yomiuriland Amusement Park

If you are a fan of theme parks then Yomiuriland Amusement Park might be a great fit for you. There are 43 attractions, ranging from adrenaline-pumping to child-friendly rides, so there should be something to please the thrill-seekers as well as the ones who want to take it a little easier.

There are shops and restaurants as you would expect at an amusement park. In between rides you can treat yourself to fries, crepes, churros or even flying fish soup!

Location: 4015-1 Yanokuchi, Inagi, Tokyo 206-8725

Hours: Open daily from 10 am to 8.30 pm

Price: ¥5,800 Adult | ¥4,600 Child (12-17) | ¥4,000 Child (6-11) | ¥2,400 Child (3-5) | Under 3s are free – Click here to book tickets online.

Ghibli Museum 

Another great place for the family to visit in Tokyo is the Ghibli Museum. This museum is in Tokyo’s western suburbs and it is a one of a kind museum dedicated to Studio Ghibli, which is known as Japan’s Disney.  Studio Ghibli is behind some of the world’s favourite films such as Spirited Away and Ponyo. The museum is a multi-storied mansion, with winding staircases and a whimsical rooftop garden.

You need to purchase your tickets well in advance and they are not available at the door, see below for details on how to purchase them. 

Location: 1-1-83 Simorenjaku, Mitaka-shi, Tokyo 181-0013

Opening Hours:Weekdays 10am to 5pm | Weekends 10am to 7pm | Closed Tuesday

Price: 1,000 yen (approx. AUD $11) per adult | 700 yen (approx. AUD $8) per high school age (13-18) | 400 yen (approx. AUD $5) per junior (7-12) | 100 yen (approx. AUD $2) per pre schooler (4-6) | Under 4’s are free

Where to stay in Tokyo with Kids 

When it comes to the best place to stay in Tokyo, you should know that Tokyo is a huge place, so I recommend you choose an area that is convenient to most of the places you plan on visiting.  But most importantly I recommend you stay somewhere within easy walking distance to a train station so you can easily get around. For ease of getting around the city, try and stay near a Yamanote Line station as this is a massive train loop around Tokyo saving you on changing stations to reach your destination.

Many people would say that the best location to stay in Tokyo for first-timers is in Shinjuku.  Shinjuku is one of the city’s main transport hubs and is also on the very convenient Yamanote Line.  In Shinjuku, you will also find plenty of shops and places to eat.  However while it is convenient, it is also rather expensive for Tokyo kid friendly hotels.  Other great convenient areas to stay in Tokyo include Shibuya, around Tokyo Station, or Asakusa.  If you’re after places where to stay in Tokyo with family on a budget and wanting the cheapest accommodation, definitely stay in Asakusa – although not as convenient as the other areas.

It’s really important to be realistic about your budget when it comes to Tokyo accommodation with kids – even the cheapest family hotel is likely to exceed $200 AUD per night.  It’s also important to note that family size rooms are one room, so expect rooms to be super tiny as well as beds.  If your children are older, it’s often better to book two double rooms.

Below I have listed some suggestions for where to stay with kids in Tokyo based on the hotel’s ability to accommodate a family of 4 in the one room, have private bathroom facilities and be within walking distance to a train station.

For cheaper rooms than what I have suggested below, you may want to consider staying somewhere that has shared bathroom facilities.  For accommodation closer to the main train stations, you will need to be prepared to increase your budget significantly.

Click here for our full guide on where to stay in Tokyo with kids. 

Sakura Cross Hotel Shinjuku East

If you are looking for the best hotel in Tokyo for family, my pick for the best family accommodation Tokyo offers is the Sakura Cross Hotel Shinjuku East.  This Shinjuku family hotel is in a quieter part of Shinjuku, just one stop from the massive Shinjuku Station. Near the hotel, you will find convenience stores such as 7/11, a laundromat and a bakery.

This is a small, self-service hotel that has a range of rooms on offer. Rooms can accommodate a small family of three up to a larger family of five. Rooms are small but include a fridge, tea and coffee making facilities, air conditioning and free WiFi. Some of the larger rooms even have a separate sleeping area and living area as well as a small balcony.

The hotel is conveniently located between two subway stations. It is only 500 metres to Higashi Shinjuku station or 550 metres to Wakamatsu-Kawada station.

This is personally the hotel I’ve stayed with my family in Tokyo and I highly recommend it.

Click here to check the prices or make a booking

Sophiearth Apartment

The Sophiearth Apartment is another great family accommodation Japan option for those after the best hotel to stay in Tokyo for family. This apartment-style accommodation is one of the cheaper lodging options that offers a quick walk to convenient stores, places to eat as well as transportation to some of the best things to do with kids in Tokyo.

The Sophiearth Apartment features one and two-bedroom apartments complete with a kitchenette.  This makes it a great option for families after a hotel in Tokyo for family of 4 or even Tokyo accommodation for family of 5. In fact, these rooms can accommodate a family of up to six people. Bedding configurations vary depending upon rooms but contain at least one or two double beds and the rest being single bed/s.

Each of the apartments feature a kitchen, which is fantastic for families, letting them prepare some of their own meals. Apartments also include air conditioning, free WiFi and flat-screen TV, while some even include a washing machine as well.

Travelling around Tokyo is easy, with the closest subway stations being only 500m to Higashi Shinjuku Station or 700m to Shin-Okubo Station making it a breeze to get to Tokyo children’s attractions.

Click here to check the prices or make a booking

Shinjuku City Hotel

When it comes to where to stay in Tokyo with a family, Shinjuku City Hotel N.U.T.S Tokyo is a hidden gem — located just a short distance from Gyoenmae Subway Station and only an 8-minute walk to the main Shinjuku Station.

Rooms at this hotel can accommodate families of up to five people. These rooms come with five traditional Japanese futon beds. For families of four, rooms come with one double and two single beds. Rooms also include free WiFi, TV, air conditioning and tea and coffee making facilities. Plus if you take them up on the offer of breakfast, they will bring it to your room at a time pre-arranged by you!

Shinjuku-Gyoemmae is the nearest subway station at only 290 metres away, but as mentioned above, the main Shinjuku station is just 1 kilometre away, making it super convenient for getting to all the attractions in Tokyo.

Click here to check the prices and or make a booking

Getting to Tokyo

In most cases, you will either reach Tokyo by arriving at either Narita or Haneda Airports. Alternatively, you may come by fast train from another city in Tokyo – so I will cover both below.

From Narita Airport

Narita is about 60 km from the city and so transportation is fairly expensive.  The two main ways people get to Tokyo from Narita Airport is either by the JR Narita Express Train or via the Limousine Bus.  You can also take a taxi or arrange a private transfer but it tends to work out cheaper and more convenient to take the train or bus.

Skyliner Train

The Skyliner train stops at each terminal at Narita, arriving at Ueno Station in around 41 minutes.  From Ueno station, you can link with the JR Yamonte Line or the Metro Ginza and Hibiya Lines.  The Skyliner departs three times per hour.

The Skyliner costs 2,300 yen (approx. AUD $18)  – Click here to book tickets online

Narita Express 

If you are visiting Tokyo with a JR pass (see more in the getting around section above), then the Narita Express train is a good option as the cost is included in the pass.  If you are purchasing tickets, the cost is 3070 yen (approx. AUD $33 – with children 6-11 being half price) into town.  Tickets are to be purchased at the JR Narita Airport Station.  The trip from Narita to town takes 65 minutes.

Limousine Bus 

The Limousine Bus stops at each terminal at Narita, arriving at a range of hotels in Tokyo.  Buses leave the airport regularly and the trip takes around 85-110 minutes depending upon the hotel. However please note that the bus doesn’t take you to your hotel, just a central point in the city, so from there we took an Uber to our hotel.   So if you haven’t got it downloaded already be sure to download the Uber App.  Uber is great for getting around if you don’t speak Japanese because your driver can see where you are going via the App.

The cost for the Limousine Bus is 3,400 yen (approx. AUD $36) per adult and 1,700 yen (approx. AUD $18) per child –  Click here to book discounted tickets online 

Click here to find out more about departure time and drop off points.

From Haneda Airport

Haneda Airport is much closer to the city centre and the main ways people get to Tokyo from Haneda Airport are either by train, monorail or Limousine Bus.  You can also take a taxi or arrange a private transfer but it tends to work out cheaper and more convenient to take the train or bus.

Keikyu Line Train

The Keikyu train stops goes from Haneda to Shinagawa where you can take the JR Yamanote Line to reach your hotel.  The train takes 11 minutes and costs around 300 yen (approx. AUD $4). 

Tokyo Monorail 

If you are visiting Tokyo with a JR pass (see more in the getting around section), then the Monorail is a good option as the cost is included in the pass.  The monorail runs directly to Hamamatsucho which is on the Yamanote line, only three stops from Tokyo Station.  From here you can transfer to another line to reach your hotel.

If you are purchasing tickets the cost is 500 yen (approx. AUD $6) per adult and 250 yen (approx. AUD $3) per child.  The trip from Haneda to town takes 13 minutes. 

Limousine Bus 

The Limousine Bus stops at each terminal at Haneda, arriving at a range of hotels in Tokyo.  Buses leave the airport regularly and the trip takes around 60 minutes depending upon the hotel.  Note that the bus doesn’t stop at all hotels and so you may need to take additional transportation from drop off to reach your hotel.

The cost for the Limousine Bus is 1,800 yen (approx. AUD $20) per adult and 900 yen (approx. AUD $10) per child – Click here to book discounted tickets online 

Click here to find out more about departure time and drop off points.

Fast Train to Tokyo 

If you have not started your Japan trip in Tokyo, then the best way to reach Tokyo is via the Shinkansen – Japan’s fast bullet trains.

A ticket on the Shinkansen trains must be booked in Japan at one of the JR offices – lookout for the green signs or online using the SmartEX App.  We used this App to book all our Shinkansen trains.  The APP is great because you can see exactly how much each train is and what seats are available.  For the most part, we just booked trains the day before or sometimes the same day – but just keep an eye on how busy the trains are to avoid not getting tickets on the train of your choice.  You will still need to pick up your tickets at the train station – either from the ticket machines or by going inside a ticket office.  You can of course just book tickets when you arrive at the station, but we have heard of trains getting full and so we didn’t want to risk this.

Alternatively, many people travel around Japan with a JR pass.  These passes provide unlimited travel on JR operated buses and trains as well as the Miyajima Ferry.  There is a range of JR travel pass options with the most popular option being the 7 day pass.  However while the pass is designed to save you money – this may not always be the case.  Its recommended that you sit down and plan out your itinerary and compare the cost of the individual trips to the cost of the pass and see what provides you better value.  You can check the price of individual trips here.

Click here to review the range of JR Passes available. 

Getting Around Tokyo 

The best way to get around Tokyo is by making use of the subway system and JR trains.  The subway system is operated by two companies – the Tokyo Metro and the Toei Subways – however they are both interlinked so you don’t really need to understand the difference.  Whereas the JR Trains are run by Japan Railways and are operated separately to the metro.

It’s important to note that one train station may have both a metro train and a JR train.  So when arriving at a station, be aware of whether you are looking for the JR or Metro part of the station.  Also note that if you are changing from a metro train to a JR train at the one station, you will need to exit the ticket gates before getting on your next train.

To use both the JR trains and subway system, you will need a prepaid Suica or Pasmo card that you can add money.  These cards can be used on either the metro or JR.  Suica or Pasmo cards can be purchased from vending machines at the station.  Find the button that says English and follow the prompts to purchase your cards.  I understand that since we went in June 2019, there is now a tourist Welcome Suica Card which is a bit easier then what we had to do.  For our cards, we had to pay a deposit and then return them before we left to get a refund.  Apparently these new cards come with a pre-loaded amount on them and expire within 28 days.  The only downside is you can’t get any of the money back that is left on the card – so make sure you use it all up before you leave.

If you are on a family trip to Japan, you will need to have your children’s passports handy to be able to purchase the kid’s Suica cards.  It’s quite funny actually as you push a button to say you’re buying kids’ cards and almost immediately a little man pops his head out just above the ticket machine to see the passports.

Once you have your cards and loaded some cash on them you are ready to get on the train!

The trains may seem a little daunting at first – but once you get the hang of them, they are really easy.  Google Maps is your best friend here as it will tell you with what entrance to use and platform number.  Everything is super organised in Japan – I just loved it!  Plus there are heaps of signs at the stations and they are in English.  If all else fails just ask someone – everyone is super friendly and helpful in Japan.

If you have a JR pass (see above Getting to Tokyo section) you can travel for free on the JR trains just by showing your pass.

Another alternative is to use subway passes which allow unlimited travel during a certain period of time, such as 24, 48 or 72 hours.   Before purchasing these tickets, make sure you compare the prices of individual tickets compared to the passes to work out whether they offer good value.  You can check the price of individual trips here.  Also note that they cannot be used on JR trains – so in my view the Suica or Pasmo cards are much better options. – Click here to purchase subway passes. 

Stay Connected with eSim or Pocket WiFi

I recommend you ensure you are connected to the internet at all times in Tokyo and the best way to do this is by arranging either an eSim or pocket WiFi. 

We pretty much lived on Google Maps to get around the city as well as navigate the trains. WiFi is also great of course for things like using social media, and if you travel Japan with kids, it’s great to let the little ones play games and stream Netflix when you’re on the long train rides between cities.

With the pocket WiFi you just pick it up from the airport when you arrive and then pop it in the post when you arrive at the airport for your return flight home – easy!  You can purchase pocket Wi-Fi from Klook here.

One of the main benefits of the eSim is that it is sent via email immediately, so it should be almost instant.  You can purchase an eSim for a duration of 5, 8, 15 or 30 days. The more days you purchase, the better value the eSim.  You can purchase an eSim from Klook here.

Tokyo with Kids – Our Verdict 

Tokyo is absolutely brilliant!!!  There is so much to see and do here you could stay for a month and still not see it all.

For families, I just love how there is an excellent mix of cultural activities, great museums as well as super cool theme parks amongst the best things to do for kids in Tokyo.

If you’re considering taking the kids to Tokyo – do it – it’s a brilliant place for families and I highly recommend it. 

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If you were wondering what can you do in Tokyo, we hope this Best Things to do in Tokyo with Kids article has been helpful. If you’re looking for Tokyo accommodation, have a read of this and if you’re looking to travel further afield than Tokyo, have a read of the Best Things to do in Japan with Kids