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25 Best Things to Do in Tokyo for Families: A First-Timer's Guide
- Andrew Schofield
- 2 days ago
- 18 min read
Tokyo is one of those rare cities that seems to have a bit of everything. Ancient temples and peaceful gardens sit alongside neon-lit streets, cutting-edge technology, and some of the best food we've encountered anywhere in the world.
As one of the world's largest cities, you could easily spend weeks in Tokyo. Most visitors, though, only have a week or less, so the key is focusing on the highlights first and then spending extra time on the experiences that interest you most.
We spent five days exploring Tokyo as part of our 100-day family sabbatical, travelling with our two girls, and despite our very different interests, Tokyo was a unanimous top 3 city that we visited.
Tokyo is exciting, safe, easy to navigate, incredibly family-friendly, and full of surprises around every corner.
This guide brings together the best things to do in Tokyo for families based on our own experience exploring the city. Whether you're visiting for the first time, travelling with kids, or simply trying to decide what deserves a place on your itinerary, these are the experiences we'd recommend prioritising.
Speaking of itineraries, if you're planning your own trip, our Tokyo 5-day itinerary shows exactly how we structured our visit, while our guide to kid-friendly food in Japan covers some of our favourite meals and family-friendly dining options.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only ever share honest reviews of products and experiences we genuinely love.
Table of Contents
Map of Things to Do in Tokyo
Whenever we plan a trip, we always start with Google Maps. It helps us visualize locations and create efficient itineraries. We've added everything in this post to the map below to help you see where everything is and plan your own visit.
To save the map to your Google Maps account, click the star next to the title. To access it later, open Google Maps, go to "Your Places," and find it under "Maps."
The Best Things to Do in Tokyo for Families
Tokyo is packed with incredible attractions, and narrowing them down wasn't easy. These are the experiences that stood out most to us, from iconic landmarks and cultural highlights to a few family favourites that we still talk about today.
Here are our picks for the 25 best things to do in Tokyo with kids.
1. Senso-ji Temple & Kaminarimon
Tokyo's oldest and most-visited temple, Senso-ji appears on virtually every "best things to do in Tokyo" list, and walking through the Kaminarimon Gate beneath its giant red lantern is a pretty awe-inspiring experience.
As stunning as the gate is, the five-storey pagoda beside the temple is arguably even more striking. The detail and craftsmanship are incredible up close, and there are some lovely photo opportunities through the temple grounds with the pagoda rising above the gardens.
There's no denying that Senso-ji is busy, but that's simply the reality of one of Tokyo's most iconic attractions. The crowds can make it difficult to appreciate the sense of peace temples are usually known for, and the queue for a goshuin stamp was so long that we decided to skip it.
If you'd like a quieter experience, consider visiting early in the morning or later in the evening, but busy or not, this is one attraction we wouldn't recommend skipping.
Part of the experience is embracing the crowds and strolling along Nakamise-dori, the bustling market street leading up to the temple, where we picked up a few souvenirs and sampled matcha ice cream along the way.
The Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center has a free observation floor with fantastic views over Senso-ji, Nakamise-dori, and Tokyo Skytree in the distance, making it a great spot to take in the area from above.
2. Ueno Park
A short walk from Senso-ji, Ueno Park is home to museums, temples, and wide, leafy walking paths, and it was one of the most enjoyable days we had in Tokyo.
Within the park, you can visit several smaller temples, including Kiyomizu Kannon Temple, with its wooden terrace overlooking the pond, and Shinobazu Bentendo, which is a picturesque temple sitting on its own island.
For a bit of fun, you can hire one of the swan-shaped pedal boats on Shinobazu Pond (1,000 yen, about $9 CAD, for 30 minutes). The kids absolutely loved it, although I can confirm they're not exactly designed with 6'1" adults in mind.
The park also includes Ueno Zoo, although we chose not to visit due to concerns around animal welfare standards, plus several world-class museums, including the National Museum.
Ueno is so much more than just a park though, so if you're planning a visit, we've put together a full one-day Ueno itinerary covering the highlights in more detail and showing exactly how we spent our day in the area.
3. Tokyo National Museum
Also within Ueno Park, the Tokyo National Museum houses an incredible collection of samurai armour and swords, kimono, and calligraphy. Entry is reasonably priced at 1,000 yen (around $9 CAD) for adults and free for children.
Be sure to spend some time exploring the gardens behind the museum. They were wonderfully peaceful, with locals sitting quietly, reading, and reflecting.
We had one small bit of drama here too. Jess left her bag inside with her rail ticket in it, and we had to talk our way back in to retrieve it, but it all worked out in the end.
4. Shibuya Scramble Crossing & the Hachikō Statue
Right outside Shibuya Station, the Shibuya Scramble Crossing is one of the busiest intersections on earth, with as many as 3,000 people crossing at once from every direction, somehow without too much chaos.
We viewed it from Shibuya Sky first, then experienced it at street level afterwards. While standing at a busy pedestrian crossing might not sound like a 'must-do' activity, Shibuya Crossing is one of those uniquely Tokyo experiences that everyone should witness at least once.
Just outside the station is the Hachikō Statue, a small but genuinely moving tribute to the loyal Akita dog who waited for his owner at the station every day, even for years after his owner had passed away.
5. Shibuya Sky
High above the crossing itself, Shibuya Sky is one of the best observation decks in Tokyo. It's certainly popular with the Instagram crowd, but we thought it genuinely lived up to the hype.
The 360-degree open-air rooftop offers spectacular views across Tokyo, and you can see iconic landmarks such as Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Skytree, and even Mount Fuji on a clear day.
It's also one of the best places to appreciate the sheer scale of Shibuya Crossing from above before heading down to experience the crowds at street level.
This is also one of the attractions we recommend booking before you get to Japan. Popular time slots often sell out well in advance, so it's worth planning ahead.
If you're thinking about visiting, we've shared everything we learned in our complete Shibuya Sky guide, including ticket tips, the best times to go, and whether it's really worth it.
6. Meiji Jingu
Meiji Jingu is a Shinto shrine set within a large forested park close to Harajuku, and the towering torii gates and tree-lined paths leading up to it are grand to say the least.
The shrine is one of Japan's most important spiritual sites and offers a fascinating contrast to the surrounding skyscrapers. That said, if you're hoping to have the place to yourself, think again.
Meiji Jingu attracts millions of visitors each year, so crowds are almost inevitable, particularly around the main shrine buildings.
Still, despite the crowds, it's a must-see attraction in Tokyo. One of the highlights is the display of colourful sake barrels near the shrine entrance, which have been donated by brewers from across Japan and are among the most photographed sights in the grounds.
7. Take a Cooking Class
In my opinion, a family friendly hands-on cooking class is one of the best ways to experience Japan beyond sightseeing.
We found a wonderful experience that combined a cooking class with several traditional Japanese cultural activities.
During the experience, we learned how to make udon noodles, sushi, and vegetable tempura, took part in a traditional matcha tea ceremony, and tried our hand at both origami and Japanese calligraphy.
If I had to choose one experience to do again from my whole time in Japan, this would be it.
If you’d like more details, you can read our daily diary entry here or check out our full blog post about the Homecoming TAKA experience here.
8. Harajuku
Harajuku is the heart of Tokyo's youth culture, famous for their quirky fashion, colourful storefronts, and unique shopping experiences.
Takeshita Street is a narrow pedestrian lane packed with clothing stores, souvenir shops, arcades, and food stalls selling everything from giant candy floss to trendy desserts. It's busy, loud, and crowded, but that's part of the experience.
Even if shopping isn't your thing, Harajuku is worth visiting for the people-watching alone. Be sure to stop by Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Harajuku, home to the famous mirrored entrance escalator, which has become one of the area's most photographed attractions.
You can easily combine Harajuku with nearby Meiji Jingu, making it one of the most interesting neighbourhoods to explore in Tokyo.
9. Tokyo Skytree
Tokyo Skytree is the tallest structure in Japan and one of the city's most recognisable landmarks.
The tower stands 634 metres tall, dominates the skyline, and offers breathtaking views across Tokyo from its two observation decks.
On a clear day, you can see for miles in every direction, including landmarks such as Tokyo Tower, Shibuya, and even Mount Fuji in the distance. It's a very different perspective from Shibuya Sky, with the extra height giving you a real appreciation for the sheer size of Tokyo.
You can book discounted Tokyo Skytree tickets here.
10. Tokyo Tower & Zōjō-ji Temple
Tokyo Tower is another great option for panoramic views over the city. However, if you're already planning to visit Shibuya Sky or Tokyo Skytree, or simply looking to save a little money, the balcony of nearby Zōjō-ji Temple offers one of the best free views of the tower.
The contrast between the historic temple buildings and Tokyo Tower rising behind them perfectly encapsulates what Tokyo is all about, where centuries of history blend seamlessly with the city's modern attractions.
You can book discounted Tokyo Tower tickets here.
11. Tokyo's Fish Markets
Tokyo's fish markets are famous around the world, and while the original wholesale market at Tsukiji relocated to Toyosu in 2018, both areas still have plenty to offer.
The Tsukiji Outer Market is packed with food stalls, seafood vendors, kitchenware shops, and small restaurants serving everything from fresh sushi to grilled seafood.
If you're interested in the wholesale side of the industry, Toyosu Market is now home to the famous tuna auctions and Tokyo's modern fish market facilities, though you'll need to get up at the crack of dawn to see them - not easy with kids in tow!
However, if your goal is to sample fresh seafood and soak up the atmosphere, Tsukiji Outer Market remains one of the best places in Tokyo to eat some of the freshest fish you'll find anywhere in the city.
12. Akihabara
Tokyo's anime, gaming, and electronics district, Akihabara has a completely different energy to anywhere else in the city. The neighbourhood is packed with multi-storey arcades, anime merchandise stores, gaming shops, themed cafés, and electronics retailers selling everything from the latest gadgets to vintage collectibles.
Even if you're not a big anime or gaming fan, Akihabara is worth visiting for the atmosphere alone. Giant video screens, colourful shopfronts, and streets buzzing with activity create a uniquely Japanese experience that's unlike anywhere else in Tokyo.
13. Shinjuku
Shinjuku is one of Tokyo's most famous districts, and many first-time visitors choose to stay here because it's right in the heart of the action. The area is home to countless restaurants, shops, and entertainment venues, offering the larger-than-life Tokyo experience that most people picture when they think of Japan.
While Shinjuku is worth visiting at any time of day, it truly comes alive after dark. There are neon signs everywhere, giant video screens on buildings, and the streets are filled with people, creating an electric atmosphere that's unlike anywhere else in Tokyo.
Just outside the station, there is a huge 3D cat billboard, which we genuinely had to drag the girls away from. A short walk away, you'll find the famous Godzilla Head, along with countless quirky and interesting shops.
We even stumbled across one store stocking more than fifteen different Kit Kat flavours, which was pretty much impossible for a family of chocolate-obsessed girls to walk past.
Whether you're visiting for the shopping, food, attractions, or simply to soak up the atmosphere, Shinjuku is one of those places that simply has to be on your Tokyo itinerary.
14. TeamLab Planets & TeamLab Borderless
TeamLab Planets was one of our family's genuine highlights of our entire Tokyo stay.
It is an immersive digital art museum where visitors walk barefoot through a series of interactive exhibits, from wading through glowing water to lying beneath a ceiling of cascading flowers.
Or, as our kids put it, "it was cool."
There is also a sister attraction, TeamLab Borderless, which offers a similar experience, but without the water-based exhibits that make TeamLab Planets so unique.
There's so much to say about TeamLab Planets that we've written a full guide to visiting, covering tickets, what to wear, and everything you need to know before you arrive.
15. Sengaku-ji Temple
Sengaku-ji is home to the graves of the 47 Rōnin, whose story remains one of Japan's most famous tales of loyalty and honour. It wasn't one of the temples we knew much about before arriving in Tokyo, but it ended up being one of our favourite experiences in the city.
It was also here that we received our first goshuin. Unlike most temples, where you simply request one and pay, we first had to copy out a Buddhist sutra, which made it feel far more meaningful and memorable.
We've written a full guide to visiting Sengaku-ji temple; covering the history of the 47 Rōnin, the experience of copying a Buddhist sutra, leaving incense at the graves, and everything else you can expect from a visit.
16. Golden Gai
Tucked away in Shinjuku, Golden Gai is a maze of narrow alleyways lined with tiny bars, some with room for only a handful of customers. It's one of Tokyo's most atmospheric and photogenic neighbourhoods, and well worth a wander, even if you're not planning to stop for a drink.
As we were travelling with our kids, we had to exercise a little restraint when it came to evening drinking, however, if you're visiting Tokyo without children, the highly rated Golden Gai bar-hopping tours are a great way to experience this unique part of the city, and discover hole in the wall bars you might otherwise walk straight past.
You can find more information and book a tour here: Golden Gai Bar-Hopping Tour
17. Ginza
Ginza is Tokyo's most famous shopping district, but it's worth visiting even if luxury shopping isn't on your agenda. We spent a rainy morning exploring Ginza Six shopping mall, including its rooftop garden and the beautiful Tsutaya Books, before making our way through the twelve floors of the flagship Uniqlo store.
Another of our favourite stores was Ginza Itoya, which might not be on everyone's Tokyo itinerary, but trust me, it's worth a visit. It's an incredible multi-storey stationery store and is a paradise for anyone collecting goshuincho or anyone who can't resist beautifully crafted paper products.
Just a short walk away is Yakitori Alley, which is a collection of narrow, lantern-lit lanes packed with tiny restaurants.
It was also here that we tried our first sashimi in Japan, a milestone that was met with slightly more hesitation from some family members than others. Cough, Jess.
18. Shinjuku Gyoen
If you're looking for a break from Tokyo's crowds, Shinjuku Gyoen is one of the city's most beautiful green spaces.
It's a sprawling park that blends traditional Japanese gardens, English landscapes, and French formal gardens, creating a surprisingly diverse mix of scenery as you wander through the park.
During cherry blossom season, the park becomes one of Tokyo's most popular hanami (flower-viewing) spots, with hundreds of sakura trees drawing visitors from across the city.
19. Imperial Palace & East Gardens
If you're interested in Japan's history and the country's Imperial Family, the Tokyo Imperial Palace is well worth a visit.
The Imperial Palace stands on the former site of Edo Castle and is surrounded by impressive stone walls, wide moats, and beautifully maintained gardens.
Much of the palace grounds are closed to the public, but you can explore the East Gardens and the famous Nijubashi Bridge, which is one of Tokyo's most recognisable landmarks.
We tried to visit the Imperial Palace grounds on our visit, but we ended up missing out due to getting our days mixed up. Learn from our mistake. We've included everything you need to know to avoid the same disappointment in our Tokyo itinerary.
20. Ghibli Museum
The Ghibli Museum is a little further out from central Tokyo and won't appeal to everyone, but if you're a Studio Ghibli fan, it's well worth planning your itinerary around.
We didn't manage to visit ourselves, as tickets are notoriously difficult to secure. They go on sale on the 10th of each month for the following month and often sell out within minutes.
If visiting the Ghibli Museum is high on your Tokyo wish list, be sure to plan well ahead. We cover the process in more detail in our guide to 10 Kid-Focused Things to Book in Advance for Japan, including tips on how to secure tickets before they're gone.
21. Odaiba
Odaiba is built on reclaimed land in Tokyo Bay and has a completely different feel from the rest of the city, with futuristic architecture, wide waterfront promenades, and fantastic views back towards the Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo skyline.
The area's most famous attraction is the life-sized Unicorn Gundam Statue outside DiverCity Tokyo Plaza, along with a scaled-down Statue of Liberty, one of Tokyo's more unexpected landmarks and a popular photo spot with the Rainbow Bridge in the background.
It's pretty close to TeamLab Planets, so it makes for a great addition to the same day, allowing you to easily combine both attractions without spending hours travelling across the city.
22. Karaoke
One of our biggest regrets from our time in Tokyo is that we never got around to booking a karaoke room.
We fully intended to, but with so many other experiences crammed into our itinerary, we simply ran out of time. The good news is that there are plenty of karaoke venues to choose from across the city, although Rainbow Karaoke in Shibuya was the one recommended to us.
One of the great things about karaoke in Japan is that, rather than performing on stage in front of a room full of strangers, you hire a private room for your group. That means you can sing, laugh, and embarrass yourselves in complete comfort.
Rooms are typically booked by the half-hour or hour and charged per person, with many venues also offering drink and snack packages, making it a fun night out for families.
23. Try Street Food at Ameyoko Market
Ameyoko (short for Ameya-Yokocho) runs alongside the elevated train tracks near Ueno Park and is a lively, slightly chaotic market street packed with stalls selling everything from fresh seafood to street snacks.
We stopped for takoyaki at Minatoya, a tiny hole-in-the-wall stand that's become known for serving some of the best octopus balls in the city. They're crispy on the outside, soft and gooey in the middle, with a piece of octopus tucked inside each one.
We also found an excellent katsu curry spot nearby, which made a great option when street snacks alone weren't quite enough for a full meal.
Given how close it is to Ueno Park, Ameyoko is an easy addition to any day spent exploring that part of the city. For more on what to eat while you're in Japan, check out our unique food experiences for kids in Japan guide and our ultimate kid-friendly food guide, which cover plenty more family-friendly food adventures.
24. Tokyo Disneyland
Full disclaimer: we didn't actually visit Tokyo Disneyland or Tokyo DisneySea, choosing to visit Hong Kong Disneyland instead.
That said, no list of the best things to do in Tokyo with kids would be complete without mentioning Disney, would it?
One of two Disney parks in the Tokyo area, Tokyo Disneyland sticks closely to the classic Disney formula, with familiar lands, beloved characters, and a level of attention to detail that even seasoned Disney park visitors rave about.
It's easily a full day out on its own, and tickets are best booked well in advance given how consistently popular both Tokyo Disney parks are. If your kids love Disney, this is likely to be one of the highlights of any Tokyo itinerary.
25. Tokyo DisneySea
Right next door to Tokyo Disneyland, DisneySea is genuinely unlike any other Disney park in the world, built around a nautical exploration theme rather than the traditional Disney property-heavy lands.
It leans a little more towards older kids and adults than Disneyland does, and is often cited as the more visually stunning of the two parks.
The fact that the two parks sit side by side also makes them easy to combine as part of a multi-day Disney adventure.
If you can only fit one Disney park into your Tokyo trip, though, it's worth deciding in advance which style suits your family better: classic Disneyland or DisneySea.
Where to Stay in Tokyo
For our five nights in the city, we based ourselves at the Prince Sakura Tower, and it turned out to be a genuinely great fit for our family. The rooms felt noticeably larger than we'd expected for Tokyo, the staff were amazing with our kids, and the whole property had a relaxed feel to it, which was welcome after a day of exploring.
Our favourite part of staying there had nothing to do with the room itself, the hotel's Japanese garden and koi pond was a lovely way to start or end each day.
The hotel was also a short walk from Shinagawa Station, which made a real difference too, as it gave us easy access to one of Tokyo's major transport hubs, while still feeling a little removed from the busiest parts of the city.
If you want the full breakdown of why we'd happily stay there again, we've written up our complete thoughts in our full hotel review.
How to Get Around Tokyo
Tokyo's transit system looks intimidating on paper, but after a day or two it becomes surprisingly easy to navigate. A few simple lessons quickly made getting around the city far less complicated than we'd expected.
Get a Suica card sorted before you need it.
This rechargeable IC card works across nearly every train, subway, and bus in the city, and doubles as a payment method at convenience stores like 7-Eleven.
We loaded the mobile version onto our own phones before arriving and picked up physical cards for the girls at the airport since they didn't have phones of their own. They carried their cards on lanyards, which turned out to be a small thing that made a big difference. Tapping in and out of stations became completely effortless for them.
Let Google Maps do the thinking for you.
Tokyo's rail network is operated by a mix of companies, including JR, Tokyo Metro, and Toei Subway, but your Suica card works across all of them, so you rarely need to worry about who runs what.
What does matter is downloading Google Maps before you go, and making sure you can access it offline if needed. It will tell you how long it takes to walk to the station, which platform to head for, what the fare will be, and even which exit to use once you arrive. That last feature is surprisingly useful in Tokyo's bigger stations, where choosing the wrong exit can add a significant amount of time to your journey.
One small etiquette note: queuing to board is the norm here, so join the line and wait your turn rather than pushing through.
Do You Actually Need a JR Pass?
This is one of the most misunderstood parts of planning a trip to Japan. If you're spending most of your time in Tokyo, the answer is probably no. A Suica card will cover almost everything you need at a much lower cost.
The JR Pass only starts to make sense if you're planning multiple trips beyond the city, such as Nikko, Kamakura, Hakone, Kyoto, or Osaka. Even then, it's worth doing the maths first.
The pass doesn't cover every private railway or local train, so you'll still find yourself reaching for your Suica card regularly.
For us, with just a single Shinkansen journey on our itinerary, the JR Pass simply wasn't worth the cost.
Don't Rule Out Taxis
Taxis can be a lifesaver when you're travelling with tired kids, heavy bags, or during Tokyo's hot and humid summer months. The GO app is the one to download. It covers most major taxi companies, provides fare estimates upfront, and lets you pay directly through the app.
Taxis are reliable, safe, and easy to use.
If a family member has hit their limit for the day, it's probably not the time to be a hero. And with four or more people travelling together, the fare is often closer to the cost of multiple train tickets than you might expect.
Prepare to Walk More Than You Expect
We found ourselves walking between attractions surprisingly often, particularly in neighbourhoods like Shibuya, Harajuku, and Asakusa. Even when using public transport, the distances can add up quickly. Some of Tokyo's larger stations involve nearly a kilometre of walking just to get from the entrance to your platform.
We averaged more than 20,000 steps a day during our time in Tokyo, so comfortable shoes aren't just recommended, they're essential.
Final Thoughts
Tokyo was one of the destinations we were most excited about before our 100-day trip, and somehow it still managed to exceed our expectations. The food was incredible, the culture was fascinating, and despite its size, it turned out to be far easier to navigate as a family than we'd imagined.
Five days barely scratched the surface. There were attractions we loved, places we wished we'd spent more time exploring, and a few experiences, like karaoke, that we never quite managed to fit in.
That's part of what makes Tokyo such a compelling city. No matter how long you stay, you'll almost certainly leave with a list of reasons to come back.
If you're planning your own trip, start with the highlights in this guide, then use our Tokyo 5-day itinerary to see how we combined many of them into a realistic family-friendly schedule. Just be sure to leave a little room for the unexpected. Some of our favourite memories came from the things we hadn't planned at all.
We're a Calgary-based family that travelled for 100 days, documenting each step so other families can get an honest, real-life look at long-term travel with kids.
You can browse the full 100-day daily diary contents list here.
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