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Need inspiration for your family’s upcoming trip to Tokyo? Look no further than our recommendations below, which take you through the main Tokyo sights at a family-friendly (aka not breakneck) pace.
My kid and I, along with my brother and cousin, visited Tokyo during the winter season, as part of our first-ever trip to Japan (trip recap coming soon!). It was of course cold, but a beautiful time of year to experience this bustling city. From Tokyo Station to Akihabara, we had stellar meals and enjoyed traversing the city mostly via the subway and on-foot.
Choose from our suggested three-, five-, or seven-day Tokyo itineraries. If Tokyo is only one stop on your multi-city tour, we’d recommend spending at least 3-4 days here with your family, but more if you can! Mix and match our recs as they suit your family’s needs and interests. Be sure to also check out our family-friendly trip recap and guide to Tokyo. We hope you enjoy this special city as much as we did!
Best Family-Friendly Activities in Tokyo
Check out our recommended list of activities here!
As it will become abundantly clear, most of our trip was spent nostalgically pilgrimaging the iconic brands and images of our childhood: Nintendo, Sanrio, Pokemon, and Disney. We know this style of travel might not be every family’s thing, and that it barely scratches the surface of what Tokyo has to offer, so feel free to take it or leave it! While we did visit Akihabara Electric Town, I wouldn’t personally recommend it unless you are completely excited about it.
Day 1: Asakusa & Sumida
Asakusa and Sumida are located in the northeast area of Tokyo and are home to some amazing parks, museums, and viewpoints. It serves as a light-touch initial full-day in Tokyo. When you’re there, be sure to:
- Eat an udon lunch at Ishiusubiki Teuchi Kyōrakutei 蕎楽亭
- Visit the quirky YAYOI KUSAMA Museum
- Play in Ueno Park or Sumida Park
- Pray at Sensō-ji Temple
- Spend golden hour seeing the city from above at Tokyo Skytree
Day 2: Shibuya, Shinjuku, & Central Tokyo
Get ready to spend the day in the most iconic areas of Tokyo.
- Walk through the sea of people at Shibuya Crossing
- Eat some amazing chocolate donuts from Shibuya Starbucks (this, coming from a Starbucks-hater!)
- Go shopping at the Nintendo Store, Pokemon Center, Sanrio, and/or Sailor Moon Store
- For more views try Shibuya Sky or the free Tokyo Metropolitan Building Observation Deck
- Visit Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
- Get lost in Tokyo Station
Day 3: DisneySea
I try to engage with Disney sparingly these days but I couldn’t resist the nostalgia and made it a priority to visit Tokyo DisneySea with my daughter. The aquatic-themed park featuring unique worlds and shows found only here! Take advantage of the affordable ticket prices and enjoy:
- Live shows (in Japanese) featuring some of your fave characters
- All the yummy food and snacks like cult-favorite gourmet popcorn flavors served in collectible Disney-themed canisters
- The evening show “Believe! Sea of Dreams,” which now tops the list of my favorite live Disney shows; yes, rising above even Fantasmic. It’s SO GOOD.
5- and 7-Day Tokyo Itineraries with Kids and Family
Spending more time in Tokyo? Be sure to tack on these extra activities to your itinerary—they are high on our wishlist of things to do the next time our family is in Tokyo.
Day 4: Ghibli Museum
- Fans of My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, and other Studio Ghibli films: play, watch, and enjoy!
Day 5: Food & Culture
- Participate in a geisha tea ceremony
- Book a traditional cooking class
- Visit the Imperial Palace
Day 6: Tsukiji
- Eat breakfast at Tsumigi
- Watch a Kabuki or sumo wrestling
- Cuddle with critters at an animal cafe
Day 7: Shopping & cramming
- Final taste of museums, gardens, or shopping (Don Quixote is where it’s at!)
Read On
Our partners at Storybook Lists provide children’s book recommendations that feature native and local voices to deepen our understanding of the places we visit.
Kiki’s Delivery Service, by Japanese author Eiko Kadono, accompanies half-witch Kiki on her journey to independence as she builds friendships and strength as she adventures to a small Japanese countryside town.
Looking for more?
Browse Storybook Lists’ full catalog of recommended children’s books on Japan.
We hope this gave you what you needed to kickstart your family trip to Japan! Let us know in the comments if you found this helpful or if you have any questions!
Puerto Rican & Indigenous mama of two. Bay Area native. Salsa dancer. Backpacker. Doula. Angel (she/her/hers) is a co-founding member of the Beautiful Brown Adventures team. She has traveled to over 30 countries and loves to explore the world with her two daughters & partner - one ice cream shop at a time.
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