After a fantastic 4 days in Kyoto, we caught the shinkansen (bullet train) to Tokyo, city of the future. While in Kyoto we had soaked up (literally because we visited in August!) our visits to the breathtaking temples and shrines of the imperial city. In Tokyo we were looking forward to experiencing modern Japan with its neon lights and tech-forward ways.
We had almost 5 days in Tokyo, which was a great amount of time to see all the different areas of the city. Tokyo attractions are spread out over a large area, but the very efficient metro system makes getting around simple. The colourful metro map can be a bit intimidating at first glance, but it is easy to get the hang of. The best thing to do is pick up a Pasmo card when you first get to Tokyo so you don’t have to bother buying tickets each time you take the metro (more on Tokyo Transport below).
Here are our suggestions for what to do in Tokyo with kids and the highlights of visiting Tokyo with kids. If you are visiting in winter, check out these top things to do in Japan in winter.
Theme Parks
Tokyo is home to both Tokyo Disneyland and Disney Sea and you might scoff at the idea of spending a day at a Disney park while you are in Japan. BUT, there is just as much opportunity for cultural learning at a theme park as there is in a city and you don’t want to miss these really unique parks. We think Tokyo Disney should definitely be included on your Tokyo itinerary with kids.
We spent our first day in Tokyo at Disney Sea because we wanted to visit on Wednesday (a lesser busy day of the week). Disney Sea is really unique park and a great thing to do in Tokyo with children.
Shibuyu
We spent our second day of our Tokyo with kids itinerary in Shibuyu and Harajuku and it was a jam packed day. Shibuyu is exactly what you think about when you think about Tokyo: neon lights, masses of people and quirky Japanese pop culture. While you might be tempted to visit an animal cafe in Tokyo, many of which are in Shibuyu, do your research in advance as many of these are not recommended for animal welfare reasons. We recommend these 5 awesome things to do in Shibuyu with kids:
Shibuyu CrossingYou have probably seen videos of this online or in the film “Lost in Translation” and it is definitely something you want to experience while in Tokyo. You emerge out of Shibuyu station to the all way Shibuyu crossing or scramble, which is apparently the busiest intersection in the world. Each light change can bring over a thousand people across the intersection. We did it a couple of times and while the neon lights at the intersection and masses of people are interesting, I did find it a bit over-rated. But still definitely worth doing. If you want to get a vantage from above, you can queue for a window seat at the 2nd level Starbucks on the corner.
Wander Center-Gai
After Shibuyu crossing, we wandered up through Center-Gai, which is a pedestrian shopping street with restaurants and shops galore. More neon and more quintessential Japan. This is also the area where you want to eat kaiten sushi and spend an hour at a karaoke room (see below).
Visit a Karaoke Room
Our daughter loves to sing and perform and we knew she would love the karaoke rooms that are everywhere in Japan. We just walked into the first one we saw on Center-gai and paid 300 Y/person for an hour (about $15 AUD). These rooms are so amazing…soundproof, with your own private karaoke machine that has English songs and instructions and they deliver food and drinks to your room!
We started with 30 minutes, but quickly realized we needed longer to get through our playlist. This is such an amazing thing in Tokyo for kids and they will be so excited to take a break from the temples and sightseeing to bust out their singing skills. This is also a great rainy day activity or if you need to escape the summer humidity. Hot Tip – plan in advance what songs to sing so you don’t waste any time queuing up music.
Eat Kaiten Sushi (Conveyor Belt)
Most people have probably eaten at a conveyor belt (kaiten) sushi restaurant, or maybe even when the food comes around by boat on a canal. When we were in Prague we ate at Vytopna Restaurant where our beers were delivered straight to our table on a train track. It was the coolest thing ever.
After being in Japan for 5 days we had eaten kaiten sushi and although the fish was much better and fresher then we have ever had, the experience was pretty similar. You had plates with different prices going around on the belt and you grabbed what you wanted. Clearly, this in itself is something kids love. Well Genki Sushi takes that to a whole different level. You sit at the sushi bar and you order what you want on ipads. In front of you is a couple of tracks where your food is delivered right to your table a few minutes after ordering. Best thing ever! Did the sushi taste good? Definitely, but we were so into the ordering process that we barely noticed! This is a popular place with tourists so you may have to queue for a table, but it is worth it!
See Hachiko, the Loyal Dog
I put this last because we saw Hachiko, the loyal dog because all the guidebooks and blogs recommend it, but really it isn’t that exciting. There is a nice story about the dog that became a legend as he waited at Shibuyu Station for his master each day. Once the master died, the dog kept coming to the Station for the next 10 years. It is a cute story and they have made a statue outside of the Station of Hachiko. Expect it to be crowded with tourists vying to get the perfect photo of the dog. Of course you should visit it because kids like a good story, but don’t set your expectations too high.
Harajuku
Once you have seen and experienced the best of Shibuyu, take the metro a couple of stops to Harajuko. Harajuku is best known for its stately shrine, Meiji-jingu and interesting street fashion. Our 9 year old daughter was fascinated by kawaii culture (think lovable/cute/adorable everything) and although she is too young to remember Gwen Steffani’s “Harajuku Girls” she was eager to see some dressed up girls. We have 4 great things to do in Harajuku with kids for you to try.
Visit Meiji-jingu Shrine
This is Tokyo’s grandest Shinto shrine and it set in a beautiful, massive green park. Although the shrine was destroyed in WW II air strikes and only re-built in 1958, it has an authentic, peaceful feel to it. Our kids were impressed with the massive torii gates, which are natural coloured and made from 1,500 year old cypress trees. It is a bit of a walk on a wide gravel pathway to the temple, but our kids loved the opportunity to run ahead. The decorative sake barrels you pass are a favourite of photographers. The temple was under renovation, so we didn’t spend too much time there. You could definitely spend more time at the beautiful Yoyongi-koen park, in which Meiji-jingu is set.
Walk Takeshita-dori Street
This shopping street is the centre of Japanese teen culture with lots of kawaii style shops and lots of kawaii foods like candy floss and crepe desert contraptions. It is a narrow and busy pedestrian street with lots to look at. We were really hoping to catch a glimpse of some “Harajuku girls” in elaborate, cute costumes, but we didn’t see anything too out there. This is a great place to reward the kids with a sweet treat. They sell these crepe desert things on every corner and we happily indulged.
Wander Omote-SandoOmote-Sando is the high-end shopping street in Harajuku. It is a wide street with cars and features all the high end design shops like Gucci and Versace. If you are like us and not really into high fashion, it is still worth a wander to see the interesting architecture along the boulevard.
Okonomiyaki for DinnerI think one of the things our kids enjoyed most about Tokyo was all the interesting dining venues. Okonomiyaki are savoury Japanese pancakes that you cook at a grill on your table. This was another huge hit with the kids as they got to stir up our order, spread it out on the grill and decorate it with sauce afterwards. The pancakes are really quite good and come in a wide variety of flavours and combinations. You would definitely want to be careful with young kids as the grill is extremely hot. We ate at Sakura Tei, in a small street in Harajuku (use Google Maps to get there).