Traveling to Tokyo with Kids: A Travel Guide for Families and Things to do with Kids in Tokyo

I am a frequent visitor to Tokyo, having visited the city at least once every year for the past 8 years. I thought I knew the city fairly well. But, since my toddler came into the picture, I have seen the city in a completely different light and realized there is so much more to the city to discover!

➡️ First-timers Guide to Tokyo: If this is your first time traveling to Tokyo, I recommend reading my first-timers guide to Tokyo, where I dish out everything I know about this wonderful city.

As a mother myself, I know how anxiety-inducing it can be when planning your travels with kids in tow. In this post, I will share with you what it’s like traveling with kids in Tokyo, and activities you can do with your little ones!

• Tips for traveling with children in Tokyo
• Arriving in Tokyo with children
• Getting around Tokyo with children
  1. Taking Public Transport in Tokyo
  2. Taking a Taxi in Tokyo
• Kids-friendly Restaurants in Tokyo
• Where to shop for kids and babies in Tokyo
• Things to do with Kids in Tokyo

Tips for traveling with children in Tokyo

Japan, including Tokyo, is a safe country and very easy to travel in. Here are a few more tips to make your travel even easier:

Toilets – in Tokyo, there’s almost always a toilet at every train station. And not just that, all the toilets I visited were clean, and they usually have an extra large private toilet (with its own entrance and everything) that has a diaper-changing table! Since the pandemic, almost every toilet I visited was equipped with sanitizing liquid to wipe down seats, if you are squeamish about letting your toddler use a public bathroom.

Trash – It’s a well-known fact that there are rarely any trash bins available in Tokyo. If you want to throw your trash, either visit a public bathroom or bring your trash home with you. This makes changing diapers on the go a little bit of a challenge, but you’ll be glad to know that almost every train station in Tokyo will have a clean toilet with a trash bin inside!

Consider getting the Tokyo Pass to save some money – There are lots of things to visit and do in Tokyo with kids, and most are ticketed, which means you’ll spend money on those activities. Getting a travel pass could ease the pain. To make it easier for you to decide whether the pass is worth it for you, I’ll put a note on each attraction that could use the Tokyo pass.

Arriving in Tokyo with children

When going through the arrival procedure with kids, you’ll want to make the process as simple and fast as possible. Here are some things you can do ahead of time to make it simpler:

1. Complete your immigration documents before you arrive in Japan

Use Visit Japan Web to complete your immigration and customs procedures before you arrive in Japan. This will help make the arrival procedure easier for everyone. Visit Japan Web will generate QR codes that the officers can simply scan when visitors arrive at the airport. And yes, you’ll be glad to know that kids under 18 years old can be included in their parent’s accounts.

Visit Japan Web: Read the details on how to complete Visit Japan Web here

2. Arriving at the airport in Japan

Regardless of whether you’re traveling to Tokyo with or without children, I would always advise you to fly to Haneda Airport (HND). It will save you both money and time because Haneda is so much closer to the city than Narita. In fact, Haneda is pretty much already in the city – you can even take a local train to Tokyo!

Narita, on the other hand, is about 40-90 minutes away from Tokyo. From Narita, you’ll need to board an express train to Tokyo. I understand that sometimes flying to Narita is necessary due to the flight route or ticket price. In that case, I would highly advise to book a private car transport. It is on the pricey side, but the entire family will be a lot more comfortable.

Private Transfer from Airport: Whether you are arriving in Narita or Haneda, if you’re arriving with kids and plenty of luggage, you might want to book a Private Transfer from and to the airport to save the hassle. I did this when I flew ZIPAIR to Narita, and it was a godsend. The company we booked via Klook is called CHINICHI.

Getting around Tokyo with children

1. Taking public transport in Tokyo

Public transport, or more specifically the local train, is the most convenient and cost-effective way to get around Tokyo. Here is how you can use them safely with your children!

Tip! 💡 If this is your first time visiting Tokyo, I highly recommend reading my guide to public transportation in Tokyo to get familiar with how it works.

IC Card – To take any public transport in Japan, you’ll need an IC (Integrated Circuit) Card to pay for the fare. If you have a smartphone, traveling on public transport is even easier because you can simply your phone as a virtual IC card, where you can use the phone to tap in and out of the station.

Virtual IC Card: Learn more about using Virtual IC Card here

Child Fares – Children aged 5 and below do not need to pay for public trains in Tokyo. However, 6 to 12-year-olds will have to pay for a child fare, which is 50% of adult fare. You can buy children’s IC cards at any train station, though you’ll be asked to provide proof of age so make sure to bring their passports. Kids above 12 will need to pay the full adult fare.

Timing – Trains in Tokyo are notorious for congestion during peak hours. As such, I would HIGHLY recommend avoiding traveling on the train with small children during busy times, especially if you’re still bringing them in strollers. Peak hours are before 10 AM on weekdays and between 6-8 PM on weeknights.

Elevator access for strollers – There’s elevator access at train stations in Tokyo. In some of the older stations, this might translate to a roundabout way of getting in and out of the station, but for the most part, it is easy enough.

Social norms in public transport in Tokyo – Unfortunately in Tokyo, there are no social expectations to give up seats for kids or elderly, or even pregnant women. Some trains would have “priority” carriage where you may be able to get a seat. In my experience though, I still couldn’t get a seat in priority carriages sometimes.

2. Taking a Taxi in Tokyo

While taxis are not the most cost-effective way of exploring Tokyo, there might be times you need to use them, especially when traveling with kids. But if you’re just taking it for a short ride, the fares are reasonable when divided among the number of people taking the taxi. Car seats are not required for small children traveling in a taxi in Tokyo.

Taxis should be easy enough to find in Tokyo. Look out for taxi stands outside the train station, or you can try flagging down a taxi on a major road if their sign is red (indicating they are vacant and open for passengers). Make sure the license plate is green, which means it is an officially licensed taxi.

Additionally, you can use GO taxi app to call for a taxi. It works the same way as how you would order a rideshare car from Uber – you just need to specify your desired pick-up and drop-off point.

Kids-friendly Restaurants in Tokyo

Here are a few places I enjoyed taking my toddler to while I was in Tokyo:

• Komeraku – An ochazuke restaurant, where you get a dashi soup broth, some dried seaweed, and bonito flakes to mix with the rice. They have a kid’s menu here (hamburger with fries and a side of rice). But if yours is anything like mine, you can also just order them an extra bowl of rice with some sides (salted salmon, ikura, or shirasu). My 4-year-old loves it because he can customize his bowl! There are a few branches around Tokyo in Urayasu, Shinjuku, Shibuya and Ebisu.
• Zauo – A restaurant where you can catch the fish yourself and ask them to cook it for you. This is a hit with older kids! Reservation is recommended. There are three branches in Tokyo: Meguro, Shinjuku, and Shibuya.

Where to shop for kids and babies in Tokyo

Traveling with kids requires extra care and organization. You might have forgotten to pack something, but don’t worry! Tokyo is a metropolitan city, and you’d definitely be able to find whatever you need here.

Here are a few places I recommend for shopping for kids and babies essentials:

• Babies’ and toddlers’ essentials – Akachan Honpo, Nishimatsuya, Babies”R”Us
• Toys – Kiddy Land, Toys”R”Us, Hakuhinkan Toy Park
• Clothes and accessories – Uniqlo, Muji, Akachan Honpo

Things to do in Tokyo with kids

There are plenty of activities, museums, and exhibits for kids to enjoy in Tokyo. If you are interested in any of the activities below, I recommend buying the tickets online because they are usually cheaper than buying at the door. I’ll link places to buy tickets from below.

Here is what you can do with kids in Tokyo:

1. Tokyo Toy Museum
2. Fire Museum by Tokyo Fire Department (Free)
3. Train and Bus Museum by Tokyu Corporation
4. Tokyo Science Museum
5. teamLab PLANETS
6. Tokyo Disneyland
7. Legoland Discovery Center Tokyo
8. Kidzania Tokyo
9. Sanrio Puroland
10. Little Planet Digital Park in DiverCity, Odaiba
11. Eric Carle Play Park at Futako Tamagawa
12. Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
13. Sumida Aquarium in Tokyo Skytree Town
14. Hakuhinkan Toy Park in Ginza (Free)

1. Tokyo Toy Museum

Good for: Infants and Toddlers from 0-2 years, and kids up to 8 years old

Tokyo Toy Museum is not your ordinary museum. Built on a former elementary school, the museum houses toys in what used to be a classroom.

Even though the name implies otherwise, this place is more of a playground for kids and less of a museum. While there are aspects of the place that could be considered a museum (they do have some toys displayed inside glass shelves), for the most part, this place is more like an indoor playground. It’s great for kids as it allows them to experience many different toys.

There are 5 toy rooms. One of the toy rooms is called “The Good Room”, which houses toys that are shortlisted for the GOOD TOY award every year. You can take a peek at the toys here.

Upstairs, there are two rooms called Red and Yellow Room with more toys. My toddler loved The Good Room, and I myself had a ton of fun playing with some of the toys.

Aside from the toy rooms, there is also a wooden play area for toddlers and a separate play area for infants/babies.

It’s not a big place but my 3-year-old really enjoyed it. Within minutes after leaving the museum, he told me “Mama, I want to go to the toy museum again!”

Admission Info for Tokyo Toy Museum

• Tickets: 1100 yen for adults and 800 yen for kids
• Hours: 10 am – 4 pm, closed on Thursdays
• Website: Click here for the Tokyo Toy Museum website
• Location: Click here for the map

2. Fire Museum by Tokyo Fire Department (Free)

Good for: All ages! I had fun here as an adult as well.

Just a 4-minute walk from the Toy Museum is the Fire Museum run by the Tokyo Fire Department. This museum has 4 floors, with the top few floors focusing on the history of fire fighting in Tokyo. Fire has been a big issue since the Edo period due to earthquakes and the fact that most buildings in Tokyo were wooden.

But this museum is great for kids for many reasons! On the top floor, there is a helicopter that kids can pretend to ride on, and on the lower floors, you can see all kinds of fire trucks that have been used in Tokyo throughout time.

The best part is that this museum is free of charge! I was not expecting it to be free given all the things you can see here, so it was a nice surprise.

Admission Info Tokyo Fire Museum

• Tickets: Free!
• Hours: 9:30 am – 5:00 pm, Closed on Mondays and some holidays
• Website: Click here for Fire Museum website
• Location: Click here for the map

3. Train and Bus Museum by Tokyu Corporation

Good for: Kids from 2 – 8 years old. There is no area for babies to play in.

This museum is a little out of Tokyo, but it was such a big hit with my toddler. He loves it so much, we went three times within one month! Located right at the exit of Miyazakidai station, it isn’t too difficult to get to – just takes some time depending on where you stay in Tokyo.

The museum consists of two floors. On the upper floor (the one you first visit past the ticket gantry), you can see lots of train models. This was my toddler’s favorite part. He could watch the train go around and around for hours. You can also control the train models!

The lower floor has real-life buses and trains that kids can explore. There are games they can play, where they pretend to drive the bus.

Admission Info for Train and Bus Museum

• Tickets: 200 yen for adults, 100 yen for children 3 and above
• Hours: 9:30 am – 5:00 pm, Closed on Mondays and some holidays
• Website: Click here for Train and Bus Museum website (in Japanese)
• Location: Click here for the map

4. Tokyo Science Museum

Good for: Kids from 2 to 12 years old, but to be honest I had fun here as well as an adult…

Tokyo Science Museum consists of five floors of interactive exhibits. Many of the exhibits were in Japanese, but that didn’t stop my toddler from having fun! Our favorite room is the one on the top floor, where kids can use physics concepts to move a large metal ball.

Admission Info for Tokyo Science Museum

• Tickets: 950 yen for adults, 400 yen for children over 4 years old, and free for children below 4 years old
• Hours: 10 am – 4:00 pm, Closed on Wednesdays and some holidays
• Website: Click here for the Science Museum website
• Location: Click here for the map

5. teamLab PLANETS

Good for: All ages, even adults!

Tokyo Pass: teamLab Planets is one of the attractions included in Tokyo Pass! You might be able to save some money if you get the Tokyo Pass.

First and foremost, this exhibit is slated to go on renovation at the end of 2023, so check if the exhibit is still open before you go.

We have a permanent teamLab exhibit in Singapore, but teamLab PLANETS is different. For one, you are required to take off your shoes and socks and go completely barefoot. Lockers are provided, and the first exhibit requires you to go through water so everyone’s foot is clean. Towels are provided too of course!

Secondly, instead of a free-for-all type of exhibition, PLANETS makes everyone go through each exhibit in a set order. It kinda takes care of the logistics for you, which I think is great because when I went to teamLab Borderless the queue to get into some of the most popular exhibits was insane.

The adults were having fun at the exhibit, but my toddler really enjoyed his time here too!

However, the exhibits are not stroller friendly (because you literally have to go through water on some parts), so if you want to bring your infant it’s best to carry them with a babywear.

Admission Info for teamLab PLANETS

• Tickets: 3200 yen for adults, 1000 yen for 4-12 years old (buy tickets here)
• Hours: 9:30 am – 5:00 pm, Closed on Mondays and some holidays
• Website: Click here for teamLab PLANETS website
• Location: Click here for the map

6. Tokyo Disneyland

Good for: All ages, even adults!

Tokyo Pass: Tokyo Disneyland can be purchased as an add-on to Tokyo Pass! You might be able to save some money if you get the ticket through Tokyo Pass.

Disneyland is fun, but Disneyland in Tokyo? 1000x better. They have super cute food and merchandise that you can only find in Tokyo Disneyland. Most of the rides will be in Japanese. Don’t let that deter you though, I still highly recommend visiting!

If you want to know more about visiting Tokyo Disneyland, please read my Tokyo Disneyland Guide.

Admission Info for Tokyo Disneyland

• Tickets: 7,900 yen per adult, 4,700 yen for children, children 3 and under are free (Buy tickets here)
• Hours: 9 am – 9 pm
• Website: Click here for the Tokyo Disneyland website
• Location: Click here for the map

7. Legoland Discovery Center Tokyo

Good for: Kids from 3-12 years old

Tokyo Pass: Legoland Tokyo is one of the attractions included in Tokyo Pass! You might be able to save some money if you get the Tokyo Pass.

I mean, who doesn’t love Lego? At Legoland Discovery Center, you can play with the beloved color blocks to your heart’s content. Legoland in Tokyo is indoors, so you can enjoy this place regardless of the weather. Adults must be accompanied by children to enter.

Admission Info for Legoland Tokyo

• Tickets: 2,250 yen per person (Buy tickets here)
• Hours: 10 am – 6 pm
• Website: Click here for Legoland Tokyo website
• Location: Click here for the map

8. Kidzania Tokyo

Good for: Kids from 4-12 years old

Kidzania is a theme park in a children-sized city. Kids can participate in this city, learn how to take on a job, and even get paid! They can try different professions too! If you don’t speak Japanese, I recommend going on Wednesdays when the activities will be conducted in English.

Admission Info for Kidzania Tokyo

• Tickets: 3,550 yen for children, 1,950 yen for adults
• Hours: 9-3 pm, 4 – 9pm
• Website: Click here for Kidzania Tokyo website
• Location: Click here for the map

9. Sanrio Puroland

Good for: All ages, even adults!

Tokyo Pass: Sanrio Puroland is one of the attractions included in Tokyo Pass! You might be able to save some money if you get the Tokyo Pass.

Sanrio Puroland is an indoor theme park, similar to Disneyland but for Sanrio character lovers. There are rides, activities, and goodies you can buy while at the theme park. Highly recommend it if you love Hello Kitty!

Admission Info for Sanrio Puroland

• Tickets: 2,800 yen per person (Buy tickets here)
• Hours: 9:30 am – 5 pm
• Website: Click here for Sanrio Puroland website
• Location: Click here for the map

10. Little Planet Digital Park in DiverCity, Odaiba

Good for: Toddlers from 0-2 years, and kids up to 6 years old

Tokyo Pass: Little Planet is one of the attractions included in Tokyo Pass! You might be able to save some money if you get the Tokyo Pass.

Little Planet is an indoor playground in Odaiba. Similar to teamLab PLANETS, Little Planet offers a chance for children to play and learn through interactive digital exhibitions. You can purchase a time-based ticket, or you can get a day pass which will allow you to come and go as you please.

A bonus point is that it’s located in a mall with plenty of family-friendly amenities.

Admission Info for Little Planet

• Tickets: 1,100 to 2,400 yen per child, 800-1,300 per adult (Buy tickets here)
• Hours: 11 am – 8 pm
• Website: Click here for Little Planet website
• Location: Click here for the map

11. Eric Carle Play Park at Futako Tamagawa

Good for: Toddlers from 0-2 years, and kids up to 5 years old

Located at Futako-Tamagawa station, this indoor playground is perfect if your little one loves Eric Carle books! My toddler loves The Very Hungry Caterpillar, so we decided to visit.

The place is an indoor playground, with really high-quality toys and activities. There is a beautiful wooden playground, a dedicated area for infants, and a colorful room with colorful illustrations from Eric Carle’s books. There is also an art room where kids are free to draw, color, or use any materials to build whatever they want. There is also a drink station where parents can get coffee, and the kids can get fruit juice or non-caffeinated tea.

I personally think it was quite expensive, but it’s a nice safe space to let kids run around while parents could (hopefully) catch a much-deserved break. At the entrance, they’ll give each person a reusable cup that you can take home. You can get 500 yen discount if you come back and bring back this cup.

The area around Futako-Tamagawa station is also a great place for families, with large malls, and plenty of restaurants and shops that are kid-friendly. Going out from the station area, there is a park near the river where you can take a nice stroll if the weather permits.

Admission Info for Eric Carle Play Park

• Tickets: 2500 per person (including kids)
• Hours: 10:30am – 8 pm
• Website: Click here for Play Park Eric Carle website
• Location: Click here for the map

12. Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

Good for: All ages, even adults!

Shinjuku Gyoen is especially popular during the Sakura season in spring and Momiji season in the fall. There is an entry fee of 500 yen for every adult, but kids 15 and under can enter for free. If you ask me, it’s worth every cent! You can use your IC card to enter the park or buy a ticket at the entrance.

For adults, the park features beautiful walks with many trees and flowers to appreciate. But it’s a good destination for kids because it also has plenty of flat, grassy areas where children can run loose without fear of cars or bicycles (a real threat in Tokyo for younger kids, I feel!). I saw many families with small children having a picnic when I was there.

The park also has great amenities – clean restrooms, vending machines with hot and cold drinks, plenty of food options from restaurants and small cafes, snacks, and even Starbucks inside the park.

Admission Info for Shinjuku Gyoen

• Tickets: 500 per adult (Children 15 and under can enter free)
• Hours: 9:00 AM until 4:00 PM (in colder months) or 6:30 PM (in warmer months). Entry earlier at 7:00 AM is also possible on weekends. Click here for more info.
• Website: Shinjuku Gyoen Official Website
• Location: Click here for the map

13. Sumida Aquarium in Tokyo Skytree Town

Tokyo Pass: Sumida Aquarium can be purchased as an add-on to Tokyo Pass! You might be able to save some money if you get the ticket through Tokyo Pass.

Good for: All ages, even adults!

I came with low expectations for this aquarium, but I was blown away. It is not a big aquarium, but it is one of the most beautiful aquariums I have been to. Their Jellyfish exhibition is gorgeous.

There is also an open Penguin pool where you can observe the penguins from close proximity.

This aquarium is best paired with a visit to Tokyo Skytree since they are located in the same building! There is a discount if you buy the tickets together with Tokyo Skytree on Klook.

Admission to Sumida Aquarium

• Tickets: 2,500 yen for adults, 800 yen for 4-11 years old (Buy tickets online for direct entry)
• Hours: 10 am to 8 pm daily
• Location: Google Maps

14. Hakuhinkan Toy Park in Ginza (Free)

Good for: Kids of all ages

Located right at the heart of Ginza near both Ginza station and Shimbashi station, this toy store is a hit with kids of all ages. There is a great selection of toys that span across multiple levels, and what makes it a great place to bring kids to is that they have samples of all the toys they can play with!

There is no admission fee to get in, but I reckon it may still be a hit to your wallet if your little one sees something they like 😅 so don’t say I didn’t warn you!

And that’s all folks! Let me know what you think in the comments below. I hope you and your little ones will have fun in Tokyo.