Tokyo is the capital of fun, entertainment, and adventure in Japan. It’s the perfect place to explore with your own families! From amusement parks to immersive cultural experiences, Tokyo has it all.
There are a lot of activities in the city that anyone, whether young or old, can try. In this article, we’ll take you through the must-visit destinations for you and your family. Get ready to make some unforgettable memories as you explore all these spots one by one.
The 21 Best Things To Do In Tokyo With Kids
- Meet your favorites at Disneyland & DisneySea
- Ride the cat bus at the Ghibli Museum
- Join a family photoshoot in Tokyo
- Game and shop for collectibles at Akihabara
- Visit the Ueno Park and Zoo
- Take mesmerizing pictures at teamLab Planets Tokyo
- Catch them all at Pokemon Centre Shibuya
- Watch a Kabuki performance
- Hug Hello Kitty at Sanrio Puroland
- Have fun at Tokyo Dome City
- Walk around Asakusa for a cultural tour
- See the 3D Billboards in Shinjuku
- Learn together at the National Museum of Nature and Science
- Visit an animal cafe
- Go on a magical adventure at Harry Potter World
- See penguins at the Sunshine City Aquarium
- Enjoy a jaw-dropping view of the city at Tokyo Skytree
- Be silly at the Unko Museum
- Watch sumo wrestlers compete
- Eat crepes and shop at Harajuku
- Be firefighters for a day at KidZania Tokyo
1. Meet your favorites at Tokyo Disney Resort
Tokyo Disney Resort is a magical place inspired by your favorite Disney movies! Here, you can explore 2 different amusement parks: Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea.
In Disneyland, you get to enjoy a fantastic parade and visit many themed attractions. Get the chance to meet many of your beloved Disney characters and even try out food from the movies. At Tokyo DisneySea, you get the same Disneyland experience but with a unique twist.
Compared to Disneyland, DisneySea is perfect for older parkgoers. But, it still has fun rides for you to check out like the “Journey to the Center of the Earth” and the “Mermaid Lagoon”. At the resort, you can also check in at their hotels to savor the magical experience of Disney.
Book Here: Tokyo Disney Resort
2. Ride the cat bus at the Ghibli Museum
The Ghibli Museum is your gateway into the world of your favorite Studio Ghibli movies. It features life-sized recreations from movies like “Spirited Away”. You can enjoy interactive exhibits like short film screenings and the Catbus room.
At the very top of the museum, you can take a picture with the giant robot from “Castle in the Sky”. If you’re feeling peckish, you can also try out the themed treats available at the museum cafe. To take home the Ghibli magic with you, be sure to get a souvenir or two at the gift shop.
Exact Location: Ghibli Museum
3. Join a family photoshoot in Tokyo
Want to capture your best family moments in Japan? Tired of not appearing in the pictures? You took selfies but they don’t look great? We recommend you to hire a photographer when you visit Tokyo to make sure you capture those beautiful smiles with a professional photographer. You won’t regret it and you will have gorgeous shots that you will cherish for the rest of your life.
At Photo Trips, we offer photography services with friendly professionals that not only will get awesome pictures of you, but they will also be your local guide during the session. Book your photoshoot now with the link below.
Book Here: Family Photoshoot In Tokyo
4. Game and shop for collectibles at Akihabara
Akihabara is a must-explore district in the city. It’s known as Tokyo’s electronics and anime culture hub. Visit countless stores filled with the latest gadgets, toys, and anime merchandise. If your kids are into gaming, you can play retro and modern games at SEGA and Taito Station.
Akihabara is also known for its unique, themed cafes like the Square Enix Cafe, maid cafes, and idol cafes. If you want a unique dining and shopping experience, then Akihabara is the way to go!
Exact Location: Akihabara
5. Visit the Ueno Park and Zoo
Ueno Park is the perfect place to take a break from Tokyo’s bustling streets. The spacious park is great for fun picnics and leisurely strolls. In the spring, you can enjoy the cherry blossoms coloring the whole area in pink.
If you’re looking for more activities, you can try visiting Ueno Zoo. It’s home to giant pandas, elephants, and majestic lions. You can even pet goats roaming around the zoological garden!
Exact Location: Ueno Park & Ueno Zoo
6. Take mesmerizing pictures at teamLab Planets Tokyo
teamLab Planets Tokyo isn’t your typical art gallery destination. The facility uses digital technology to create an interactive and immersive experience. You can travel across mirrored floors, dazzling light displays, and mesmerizing backdrops.
The fact that you have to walk barefoot while in the art space makes the experience more interesting. You can even create your own star formations and interacting with virtual koi fish. There are also spaces inside where you can wade through a digital waterfall and be one with the flowers.
Book Here: teamLab Planets Tokyo
7. Catch them all at the Pokemon Centre and Cafe
The Pokemon Centre in Shibuya is an exciting destination for Pokemon fans of all ages. Here, you can take pictures with a life-sized Pikachu and Mewtwo. It also offers different merchandise like plushies, clothing, and trading cards.
Next to the shop is the iconic Pokemon Cafe, where you can order themed meals. The cafe gets so popular that it’s impossible to dine without a reservation. Here, you can enjoy a Pokemon tea party complete with themed sweets and snacks.
Exact Location: Pokemon Centre and Cafe
8. Watch a Kabuki performance at Kabukiza
Kabuki is a form of Japanese theater with elaborate costumes and dramatic performances. It is a musical narrative about historical events, domestic dramas, and supernatural tales. You can watch these performances at Kabukiza, a kabuki theater in Ginza.
There are earphone guides available so you can enjoy the show even if you don’t speak Japanese. Apart from the performances, there’s also a gallery and a rooftop garden you can check out. After the show, you can dine in the nearby restaurants for an authentic Japanese meal.
Exact Location: Kabukiza Theater
9. Hug Hello Kitty at Sanrio Puroland
Sanrio Puroland is a theme park featuring the world of Sanrio and its characters. You can meet characters like My Melody, Hello Kitty, and Gudetama. The place has interactive exhibits, character-themed restaurants, and themed rides.
There’s the Sanrio Character Boat Ride, the Hello Kitty House, and the Cinamoroll Dream Cafe. For Sanrio merchandise, you can also check out their theme park gift shop. Be prepared to explore the pastel-colored and cute attractions in the park.
Book Here: Sanrio Puroland
10. Have fun at Tokyo Dome City
Tokyo Dome City is a large entertainment complex filled with interesting attractions. It has an amusement park with rides for all ages and an indoor playground for kids. Check out the park’s bowling stadium and sports facility for some friendly competition.
Inside the complex, you can also find a TenQ Space Museum and Planetarium. Beyond enjoying the sci-fi exhibits, you can also learn more about space.
Exact Location: Tokyo Dome City
11. Walk around Asakusa for a cultural tour
Asakusa is a historic district in Tokyo where you can find traditional attractions. Visit the Senso-ji Temple, the oldest in Tokyo, and walk through the Kaminarimon Gate. After, explore the nearby shopping street filled with traditional snacks, souvenirs, and crafts.
While you’re there, enjoy traditional treats like taiyaki and ningyoyaki. For a more unique experience, you can try going around the area on a rickshaw. There are also seasonal events and festivals to enjoy in the district.
Exact Location: Asakusa
12. See the 3D Billboards in Shinjuku
Shinjuku in the daytime offers a lot of family-friendly activities. Right at the famous crossing, you can watch the 3D-animated giant billboards. Watch lifelike animations of cats, characters, and advertisements popping out of the screens!
Around the area, you can also test your batting skills, go bowling, or catch a movie. If you’re lucky, you’d even be able to see Godzilla’s head peeking out from on top of a building.
Exact Location: Shinjuku
13. Go on a field trip at the National Museum of Nature and Science
The National Museum of Nature and Science offers an educational and entertaining experience. You can enjoy the many exhibits on dinosaurs, space exploration, and modern technology. Life-size dioramas of animals and dinosaur fossils will impress any science-loving kid.
You and your kids can take part in science experiments for fun and discovery. You can also watch stunning films about nature and science in a 360 immersive theater. The museum’s wide range of exhibits and activities make it a must-try for families.
Exact Location: National Museum of Nature and Science
14. Visit an animal cafe
If you’re fond of animals, you shouldn’t miss a trip to one of the popular animal cafes in Tokyo. At animal cafes, you can enjoy delicious food and drinks while interacting with a cute animal. In Tokyo, you can find cafes where you can befriend cats, dogs, pigs, hedgehogs, and even owls!
You can enjoy petting the animals while learning about their habits and about how to take care of them. Many animal cafes have a calming ambience where you can focus on just having fun with your chosen animal. All animal cafes follow strict safety and hygiene protocols for everyone’s wellbeing.
Exact Location: mpig Cafe, KapyNeko Cafe, ChikuChiku Cafe
15. Go on a magical adventure in Harry Potter World
Go on a magical adventure in the Harry Potter World in Tokyo! Here, you can explore a recreation of Platform 9 ¾ and scenes from the Harry Potter movies. Get a glimpse into the production of the well-loved movies set in the Wizarding World.
You can also walk around Diagon Alley, lined with iconic shops and buildings. You can even get on the same train that takes all aspiring wizard-students to Hogwarts! Fans would love to see the actual costumes, props, and special creature effects used in the films.
Book Here: The Making of Harry Potter World
16. See penguins at the Sunshine City Aquarium
This aquarium is found on top of the Sunshine Complex overlooking the city. The aquarium houses diverse habitats and creatures, from sharks, penguins, and tropical fish. Jellyfish displays and sea lion performances are favorites among guests of all ages.
You can walk around and watch fishes and other creatures swim above in the aquarium’s large Aqua Ring. Tired of just looking? You can also interact with starfish and other marine life in interactive touch pools.
Exact Location: Sunshine City Aquarium
17. Enjoy a jaw-dropping view of the city at Tokyo Skytree
The Tokyo Skytree offers an unforgettable and incredible view of Tokyo. The view can be enjoyed at the tower’s Tembo Deck, where you can get front-row seats to Tokyo’s skyline. You can spot famous landmarks from above. On clear days, you can even see Mt. Fuji standing proud among all the buildings!
There are glass floors in the building where you and your family can challenge your fear of heights. You can also climb a spiral spywalk leading to more breathtaking vistas.
Book Here: Tokyo Skytree
18. Be silly at the Unko Museum
The Unko Museum in Tokyo is a quirky and unique museum focused entirely on poop. Here, you learn everything there is to know about poop. Children can explore interactive exhibits about the digestive system and its functions.
Some unique attractions include the Poop Volcano and the Poop Arcade. There’s also a crafting area where kids can craft their own cute poop characters. Trust us, the place is definitely more pleasant than it sounds.
Book Here: Unko Museum
19. Watch sumo wrestlers compete
While you’re in Japan, you can’t miss watching a sumo tournament in the city. At the Ryōgoku Kokugikan Sumo Hall, you can watch sumo wrestlers train and compete. You can watch the rituals and intensity of sumo live during tournament seasons.
When there are no matches scheduled, you can also explore the in-hall sumo museum. The museum also organizes tours on the wrestlers’ rigorous training and lifestyle. This popular sumo hall will give you the best seats to watch and learn more about the traditional sport.
Exact Location: Ryōgoku Kokugikan Sumo Hall
20. Eat crepes and shop at Harajuku
A stroll around Harajuku is the perfect outing idea for your family. You can go shopping, get treats, and see the latest and most unique fashion in the area.
You can get fun accessories and quirky souvenirs from the district’s many local brands. Kids will love the colorful candy and tasty crepes that define the area’s delicacies. You can also try visiting themed cafes, like maid and animal cafes for a unique experience.
Exact Location: Ryōgoku Kokugikan Sumo Hall
21. Be firefighters for a day at KidZania Tokyo
KidZania Tokyo houses a miniature city designed to teach kids about different professions. Here, you can roleplay as a doctor, firefighter, chef or journalist depending on what you want to do. Children can learn about teamwork, decision-making, and responsibility while acting as professionals.
The city also has attractions like shops and restaurants that families can visit. KidZania Tokyo is the place to go for families looking to have fun and discover new things at the same time.
Exact Location: KidZania Tokyo
–
Tokyo is a playground for entertainment, education, and adventure. You can bond over thrilling rides, scientific museums, and the quirkiest attraction. There’s a diverse amount of family-friendly activities to try, if you know where to look.
Even as you leave Tokyo, you’ll get to carry the memories you make with your family as a souvenir of your time. We promise you’ll have the most memorable time in any one of these destinations.
Did you enjoy reading about some of the best places to visit in Tokyo with kids? Do you know other family-friendly destinations in Japan? Let us know in the comments below!
Visiting Kyoto too? Make sure you read our last post about the 21 best things to do in Kyoto with kids!
Comments
[…] Looking for similar travel tips for Tokyo? Check out our list of the 21 best things to do in Tokyo with kids! […]