Family-Friendly Tokyo Itinerary: 3, 5, or 7 Days in Japan’s Capital City
Need inspiration for your family’s upcoming trip to Tokyo? Look no further than our suggested itineraries, which take you through Tokyo’s main 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 (full trip recap coming soon!). From Tokyo Station to Akihabara, we had stellar meals and enjoyed traversing the city mostly via the subway and on-foot.
If you’re stuck on how to spend your family’s precious time in Japan’s capital city, check out our suggested three-, five-, or seven-day Tokyo itineraries. We’d recommend spending at least 3-4 days here with your family, but more if you can! 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!
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. At no extra cost to you, we may receive a small commission if you book travel or make purchases using these links.
Itinerary
We opted to travel Tokyo on-foot or via train or Uber. You may rent a car, but we found the train travel times to be quite comparable (plus in Japan they drive on the left side of the road!). Feel free to mix and match our itineraries as they fit your family’s needs.
- Visit the quirky YAYOI KUSAMA Museum
- Play in Ueno Park
- Pray at Sensō-ji Temple
- Rise to the top of Tokyo Skytree
- Try cherry liqueur in a chocolate cup
- Climb the castle walls
- Enjoy music at the Porta de Vila gate
- Take a canal tour on a historic moliceiro boat
- Eat ovos moles, a local dessert
- See the striped houses in the Bairro dos Pescadores in Costa Nova
- Climb the Clérigos Tower
- Visit the Livraria Lello
- Walk the bridge or take the cable car to port wine tasting at Cais de Ribeira
- Visit the Pena Palace
- Explore Quinta da Regaleira
- Climb the Moorish Castle
- Wander the historic streets of downtown Sintra
- Visit the Castelo de São Jorge
- Walk through the roofless Convento da Ordem do Carmo
- Enjoy the beaches
- Play at the indoor water park
- See the Cabo de São Vicente lighthouse
- Go for a hike
- Grab lunch
- Fly home
DAY 1
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:
DAY 2
Day 2: Shibuya, Shinjuku & Central Tokyo
Get ready to spend the day at some of Tokyo’s most iconic sites:
- 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
- Visit Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
DAY 3
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.
If You Have Time...
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.
Extras
DAY 4
Day 4: Tsukiji
Tsukiji is home to open air markets and endless food stalls. Take a chill day for breakfast and a show!
- Eat breakfast at Tsumigi
- Meander through the stalls of Tsukiji Outer Market
- Watch a Kabuki or sumo wrestling
- Cuddle with critters at an animal cafe
DAY 5
Day 5: Food & Culture
Spend your fifth day in Tokyo experiencing cultural activities, such as a tea ceremony and a cooking class!
DAY 7
Day 7: Shopping
Get your final taste of museums, gardens, or shopping before you depart. If you didn’t already pick up souvenirs throughout the week, now is the time! Here are some of our favorite places to shop with our family:
Final Thoughts
The list of things to do with your family in Tokyo is endless; hopefully 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!
reflect
