15 Fun Family-Friendly Things to Do in Tokyo with Kids
As a tourist destination, Tokyo is ideal for families.
Whenever you visit a market, you’ll find it alive with activity.
Year-round, the street restaurants serve delicious fare, and the historic sites are visually stunning and culturally significant.
So, if you’re taking the kids to Tokyo and want to find some kid-friendly activities, check out this list.
- Tsukiji — Chuo
Tsukiji, now a bustling food district, was founded in 1657 as a shrine for Samurai families.
Following the devastation caused by the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923, the Nihonbashi Fish Market was moved to the Tsukiji neighborhood and reopened in 1935.
Why We Recommend This Activity
You can find the best Tokyo street cuisine at Tsukiji Food Town.
There is no dish you can’t discover, from the most classic to the most innovative of contemporary Japanese cuisine.
But before you eat anything off the street, you should probably stop by the morning tuna auctions.
Visitors to the market should get there early because they are a significant draw.
Take a stroll to the former location with the kids after the auction.
When you’re through, we promise your heart will feel as full as your stomach.
Recommended Ages
Children of all ages can participate in this event.
- National Museum of Nature and Science — Taito
Bottom of Form
In 1871, the Ministry of Education founded the National Museum of Nature and Science as an exhibition hall.
Many new divisions were established, and the final building was constructed in 2012.
Why We Recommend This Activity
The museum offers various engaging and entertaining programs and exhibits to benefit your young visitors.
There’s a steam engine and a full-size whale facsimile right at the door, and they’ll blow your mind.
The fossil area is a personal favorite of ours.
There are replicas of prehistoric animals and people, including dinosaurs, blue whales, and early humans.
We also like the exhibition’s focus on Japan’s past; many displays are bilingual in English and Japanese.
The museum is a great spot to take children to Tokyo.
Recommended Ages
Everyone at the Museum of Nature and Science has something for everyone, from toddlers to grandparents.
- Tokyo Disneyland — Maihama
When it debuted in 1983, Tokyo Disneyland was the first Disney theme park located outside of the United States.
Why We Recommend This Activity
Disney Land in Tokyo is a must-see for families visiting the Japanese capital.
Enjoy the Disney parade and distinctive shows that made the company famous.
Tokyo DisneySea, the park’s sibling, caters to older children and adults with exciting attractions developed for both age groups.
Of course, Mickey Mouse and the Fairy Godmother are still there, but the rides have really stepped up their game.
Recommended Ages
A wide range of ages can enjoy the park together.
Traveling to Tokyo Disneyland is a must if you have young children.
Tokyo DisneySea is an excellent option if you have older children at your party.
- Ueno Zoo — Taito
Ueno Zoo and Gardens first opened to the public in 1882.
Since it was the first zoo in all of Japan, it is home to more than 400 animal species.
The zoo’s last major expansion, which included adding an entirely new area, was in 1999.
Why We Recommend This Activity
If you’re in Tokyo with the kids this weekend, I highly recommend checking out the Ueno Zoo.
There are many animals for the kids to see, and the setting is lovely.
You should definitely check out the panda house if you have some extra time.
The zoo is cheap to enter, and the animals are positioned so that people can get up and personal while safely separated from them by a fence.
Recommended Ages
You should feel comfortable visiting the zoo even if you’re traveling with a young child.
- Fire Museum — Shinjuku
Tokyo’s Fire Museum opened in 1992 as an instructional branch of the city’s fire department.
There are almost 8,000 resources there for firefighters.
Why We Recommend This Activity
The Tokyo Fire Museum is a department of the Tokyo Fire Department that hosts educational events for the public on fire prevention and fighting.
The museum’s exhibition hall features a remarkable array of antique firefighting equipment.
Your household will emerge from this experience with a better understanding of fire safety.
Recommended Ages
Whether you’re visiting with an infant or a teenager, the Fire Museum is a great place to learn about fire safety.
- Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation — Koto
The Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (also stylized as Miraikan, “Future Museum”) was established in 2001 in response to Japan’s Basic Plan for Science and Technology (created in 1996).
Why We Recommend This Activity
Bring the kids to the Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation for an experience they won’t soon forget.
Numerous displays at the museum explain scientific and technological concepts in plain English.
Our favorite part of the museum is the walking robot Asimo, and it’s also one of the most significant places in Tokyo to take kids.
Recommended Ages
Family-friendly exhibits are welcome in the museum.
Therefore, anyone can enjoy it, regardless of age.
- Museum of Maritime Science — Shinagawa
Ships, Japanese boats, and other types of vessels used for sailing in Japan can be shown at the Museum of Maritime Science, founded in 1963 by the Nippon Foundation.
Why We Recommend This Activity
The Museum of Maritime Science is one of the best places for youngsters, despite being geared primarily toward adults.
They can hop aboard and act as if they belong there.
After they’re done with the climb, guests may check out the Soya ship, which has been on display as a part of the museum’s permanent collection since 1979.
By wandering the museum, you can get a feel for what it was like to be a sailor on a research mission.
Recommended Ages
Everyone, from toddlers to grandparents, will enjoy the museum’s exhibits.
- LEGOLAND Discovery Center — Minato
More than three million LEGO bricks can be found at the LEGOLAND Discovery Center, where a model of Tokyo with all its famous sights can be located.
To top it all off, it’s the first LEGO-themed indoor park in all of Japan.
Why We Recommend This Activity
The Discovery Center in Odaiba is a fantastic destination for families visiting Japan.
Take a tour of the complex to see the impressive architecture, or browse the gift shop for hard-to-find LEGO pieces.
Kids of all ages can enjoy the facility’s various attractive playthings.
Seeing a LEGO movie in the 4D Cinema is an eye-opening experience, and the MINILAND is a fantastic addition.
For us, the Café is the best part of the Center.
The children’s eyes should be fed first, and then their bellies.
In conclusion, we believe that taking the kids to the Discovery Center is one of the most exciting things to do in Japan.
Recommended Ages
Even if you have babies or young children in tow, the Discovery Center is fun for the whole family.
- Tokyo Tower — Minato
The Tokyo Tower, located in the Minato ward of Shibakoen, is 1,092-foot communication and observation tower that opened to the public in 1958.
The Tokyo Tower Company has control of this replica of the Eiffel Tower.
Why We Recommend This Activity
If you’re looking for something fun to do in Tokyo with the kids, a trip to the Tokyo Tower is a must.
The tower’s top floor provides information on the tower’s role in facilitating communication.
And if you go up high enough, you can see all of Minato in all its splendor.
When darkness falls, the Tower takes on an even more magical quality.
It’s hard to notice when 180 lights are illuminating the area.
Recommended Ages
The quick elevator journeys at the Tokyo Tower make it an excellent destination for large groups of people, especially those with young children.
- KidZania — Toyosu
When KidZania Tokyo opened in 2006, it was the third KidZania theme park to spread worldwide.
It’s the one that came before the one in Monterrey, offering more than seventy different careers for your kids to choose from.
Why We Recommend This Activity
For kids, the world is a miniature version of Kidzania, a theme park where they may play at being grownups using replicas of real-world equipment.
They can even get money doing something called KidZo.
While your kids play out their fantasies, you and your friends or family can enjoy different activities or chat with other parents in the observation areas.
The abundance of English-language events is a significant selling point for this venue.
Recommended Ages
KidZania requires efficient operations.
As a result, it’s not appropriate for kids younger than 4.
- Tokyo Skytree — Sumida
The Tokyo Skytree in Sumida is the tallest tower in Japan and the second tallest building in the world after the Burj Khalifa; it was completed in 2011 for broadcasting and observational purposes.
Why We Recommend This Activity
The tower is responsible for the majority of broadcasts in the Kanto area.
You can spend all day shopping in the hundreds of stores at its base or on its 2080-foot ascent.
The tower provides a low-cost, accessible activity for the whole family.
Visit the tower with the kids if you’re curious about broadcasting and want to see how it’s done; it’ll be a blast, and you’ll learn a lot.
Recommended Ages
Taking a trip to the Tokyo Skytree with a large group of people, especially if you have very young children who adore the lightning-fast elevators, is a great idea.
- Samurai Museum — Shinjuku
Tonhobachi Co., Ltd opened The Samurai Museum in 2015 as a tourist attraction and educational resource for learning about the Samurai and their culture.
Several displays in the museum are exact copies of real-world artifacts.
Why We Recommend This Activity
Kids love action movies set in both contemporary and ‘Edo era Japan because they get to see samurai in the lead role.
Samurai Jack was always my favorite cartoon as a kid, and I can still picture my younger self in the role of a real Samurai.
The Samurai Museum is a great place to take the kids and learn about the history of the Samurai.
You can even put on interactive plays while dressed like them.
You can learn about the complicated 700-year history of the Samurai while having fun.
It’s a fun activity for families visiting Tokyo with young children.
Recommended Ages
Visitors with children of any age are always welcome at the museum.
- Toyosu Market — Toyosu
The Toyosu market, located in the Koto ward and designed to be a cleaner and more tourist-friendly alternative to the Tsukiji Fish Market, opened to the public in 2018.
A reclaimed island in Tokyo is now home to the world’s largest wholesale seafood and fish market.
Why We Recommend This Activity
The Tsukiji market is scheduled to be replaced by the Toyosu market, which is smaller, quieter, and more up-to-date.
Early morning auctions are still held here on a first-come, first-served basis; however, there are significantly fewer people and noise levels.
The Toyosu market’s eateries are superb as well.
Located in the same building as Teamlab Borderless, the cuisine is excellent, and the atmosphere is pleasant.
One of the top free kid-friendly things to do in Tokyo, the market doesn’t require any money to explore.
Recommended Ages
Everyone, no matter their age, can appreciate the charm of a market.
Consequently, infants and toddlers will feel just at home.
- Meiji-Jingu Shrine — Shibuya
Dedicated to the memory of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shoken, the Meiji Shrine was founded as a Shinto shrine in 1920.
The shrine was destroyed by bombing during World War II and reconstructed in 1958.
Why We Recommend This Activity
Once inside the Meiji-Jingu Shrine, visitors are transported to another dimension.
Photographers will love the enormous gates and the Sake barrels.
The structure itself is a lesson in classic Japanese design.
The atmosphere of the shrine is very traditional, as it befits one of Japan’s most significant cultural sites.
Also, being in the middle of a city as busy as Tokyo, it is surprisingly calm and quiet.
Those in town today can go on a pilgrimage to Meiji Shrine.
Recommended Ages
Any family with kids of any age will enjoy a visit to the Shrine.
- Fukagawa Edo Museum — Koto
The Fukagawa Edo Museum, which opened in 1992 after the Shitamachi Museum opened in 1986, is dedicated to preserving the history of everyday life in Edo-era Japan (the nineteenth century).
Why We Recommend This Activity
Visit the Fukagawa Edo Museum for a fascinating look into Japan’s past.
The display is exceptionally well put together; your children will like the little Edo village.
They are engaging in real-world education by using the resources provided by the houses.
Visit the museum, and then have a picnic in the Kayumi gardens.
Visiting this museum is a must if you want to make the most of your time in Tokyo with children.
Recommended Ages
People of all ages will enjoy exploring the museum’s exhibits.
Everyone in the family, from infants to grandparents, will have a good time here.
