I’m sure most parents have had these moments when your child has woken up early on a weekend and you have no idea where to go, or it’s raining outside and the park isn’t an option, and you’re scratching your head on how to entertain your child. Living in Tokyo for the past 2 years with a toddler, 2 to 3 and now going on 4 years old, I’ve been to countless places for kids. I’ll be summarizing 30+ locations under the categories of Animals, Indoor Parks, Museums, Outdoor Parks, Malls and Stores, Cafes and Restaurants, Flower Gardens, Aquariums and the Train.
Towards the end this blog post, there is also a list of these places categorized by Places that open early (earlier than 10am), places that are free, and places by geographical location.
If you are looking for more ideas, please follow me on Instagram @ariel.land where you can watch daily stories of life around Tokyo and Japan, and see (almost) daily posts of fun places to explore.
<<Animals>>
Inokashira Park Zoo – Outdoor zoo with petting area and rides for young kids
- Where: West Tokyo, Kichijioji Station
- Hours: 9:30am – 5pm (Closed Mondays)
- Price: ¥400/adult, free for kids under 12
- Reservations: not required
- Recommended time: 2hrs
- What else is in that area: Ghibli Museum (Reservations in advance required)
Itabashi Petting Zoo – Outdoor petting zoo with free horse riding and large playground
- Where: Northwest Tokyo, Itabashi-Kuyakushomae Station
- Hours: 10am-4:30pm (Closed Mondays)
- Price: free
- Reservations: not required
- Recommended time: 1hr
AniTouch Minatomirai – Indoor petting zoo with small pets and Capybaras
- Where: Yokohama, Minatomirai Station
- Hours: 10am – 7pm (9pm on weekends)
- Price: ¥1,800/adult, ¥1,000/4-12yo
- Reservations: not required, however line up at least 15mins before opening on weekends
- Recommended time: 30mins-1hr
- What else is in that area: Yokohama World Porters Mall, Yokohama Cosmos World Amusement Park
<<Indoor Parks>>
Asobono! – Large indoor playground with lots of toys
- Where: Central Tokyo, Suidobashi Station
- Hours: 10am-6pm (7pm on weekends)
- Price: ¥950/hr from anyone 6mo+
- Reservations: not required, however line up at least 15mins before opening on weekends
- Recommended time: 2hrs
- What else is in that area: Tokyo Dome City Amusement Park, La Qua Spa, Koishikawa Korakuen Gardens (Japanese Garden)
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Red Kids, Tokyo Tower – Small Indoor playground with toys and smart-projecting technology resembling team labs
- Where: Central Tokyo, Akabanbashi Station
- Hours: 10am-8pm
- Price: ¥800/adult, ¥1,200/6mo-12yo (discount + free juice + free small toy each time you enter if you join free membership)
- Reservations: not required
- Recommended time: 1hr
- What else is in that area: Tokyo Tower, Shiba Park
Kidzania – Large indoor job simulation park for kids, 50+ jobs available
- Where: East Tokyo, Toyosu Station
- Hours: 9am-3pm, 4pm-9pm (English is on Wednesdays)
- Price: ¥2,400/adult, ¥4,000/3-6yo, ¥4,500/6-15yo
- Reservations: Required. Same day tickets are usually not available.
- Recommended time: 3-5hrs
- What else is in that area: Lalaport Toyosu Mall
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<<Museums>>
National Museum of Nature and Science – 5 floor Indoor museum about animals and technology
- Where: Central Tokyo, Ueno Station
- Hours: 9:30am-5pm (Closed Mondays)
- Price: ¥630/adult, Free for kids <15yo
- Reservations: not required
- Recommended time: 1-2hrs
- What else is in that area: Ueno Park, Ueno Zoo, Ueno Toshogu Shrine & Peony Garden (seasonal)
Keikyu Train Museum – indoor museum about trains and busses with moving models
- Where: Yokohama, Shin Takashima Station
- Hours: 10am-4:30pm (Closed Tuesdays)
- Price: Free
- Reservations: not required
- Recommended time: 30mins
- What else is in that area: Minatomirai area (Amusement park, Yokohama World Porters Mall)
Fukagawa Edo Museum – indoor museum of a recreated life-size historical Edo town with sound and light effects
- Where: East Tokyo, Kiyosumi Shirakawa Station
- Hours: 9:30am-5pm (Closed 2nd & 4th Mondays)
- Price: ¥400/adult, free for kids <12yo
- Reservations: not required
- Recommended time: 30mins-1hr
- What else is in that area: Kiyosumi Gardens, Kiyosumi Park
Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architecture Museum – Large park with 30 original historical buildings
- Where: West Tokyo, Musashi Koganei Station + Short bus ride
- Hours: 9:30am-5:30pm (Closed Mondays)
- Price: ¥400/adult, free for kids <12yo
- Reservations: not required
- Recommended time: 2hrs
- What else is in that area: Koganei Park
Tokyo Toy Museum – 3 floor indoor museum with wooden toys for little kids
- Where: Central Tokyo, Yotsuya Sanchome Station
- Hours: 10am-4pm (Closed Thursdays)
- Price: ¥1,000/adult, ¥800/3-12yo
- Reservations: Recommended, entry times are by hour
- Recommended time: 1-2hours
- What else is in that area: Fire Museum (Free)
Fire Museum – 6 floor indoor museum display of the Tokyo Fire department’s history and equipment, helicopter entry is possible on 6/F outdoor terrace
- Where: Central Tokyo, Yotsuya Sanchome Station
- Hours: 9:30am-5pm (Closed Mondays)
- Price: free
- Reservations: not required
- Recommended time: 1 hour
- What else is in that area: Tokyo Toy Museum
<<Outdoor Parks>>
Robot Park (Sakurazaka Park) – Outdoor park in central Tokyo with many colorful slides
- Where: Central Tokyo, Roppongi or Azabujuban Station
- Hours: 24hrs
- Price: free
- What else is in that area: Mori Garden, Roppongi Hills, Tsutaya Bookstore and Starbucks
Kinshi Park – Outdoor park in east Tokyo with 2 large playgrounds, one shaped like a space ship, Tokyo Skytree is Visible from here
- Where: East Tokyo, Kinshicho Station
- Hours: 24hrs
- What else is in that area: Olinas Mall is very kids friendly with a large food court, kid’s shopping carts to ride on, and Toys R Us & Babies R Us
Kodomonomori Park – Outdoor park featuring dinosaurs in South Tokyo
- Where: South Tokyo, Shimbamba Station
- Hours: 24hrs
- What else is in that area: Maxell Aqua Park Shinagawa (aquarium)
<<Malls & Shops>>
Yokohama World Porters – Large mall with kid friendly arcade and gacha toy machines
- Where: Yokohama, Minatomirai Station
- Hours: 10:30am-9pm
- Price: Kids arcade/play area is ¥100-¥300 per game
- What else is in that area: AniTouch (indoor petting zoo), Yokohama Cosmos World (Amusement Park)
Ikebukuro Sunshine City – large mall with kid’s shops and large gacha toy machines
- Where: Northwest Tokyo, Higashi Ikebukuro Station
- Hours: 10am-10pm
- What’s there: Largest Gacha store, Toys R Us, Aquarium, Large Restaurant floor
Odaiba: Daiba 1-Chome Shopping Street & Arcade – retro arcade and dagashiya (cheap candy/snacks/toy shop)
- Where: East Tokyo, Odaiba Kaihinkoen Station
- Hours: 11am-9pm
- Price: ¥100 per game
- Recommended time: 1hr
- What else is in that area: GaKyo Odaiba (art aquarium)
Hakuhinkan Toy Park – 4 floor toy shop with toys on display to play with
- Where: Central Tokyo, Shimbashi Station
- Hours: 11am-8pm
- Recommended time: 1hr
Books Kinokuniya Tokyo (Shinjuku) – English bookstore with lots of children's books
- Where: Central Tokyo, Shinjuku or Yoyogi Station
- Hours: 11am-7pm
- What else is in that area: Tokyu Hands Shinjuku (7/F has lots of toys and Gachapon), Kaisen Misakiko Shinjuku Sachome (good sushi restaurant for kids), O1O1 Annex Mall (Godzilla Store, Cinnamoroll Café, Seria)
Tsutaya Tokyo Roppongi – Bookstore with large Starbucks and English kids’ books plus play corner
- Where: Central Tokyo, Roppongi/Azabujuban Station
- Hours: 10am-11pm (Starbucks opens at 7am)
- What else is in that area: Sakurazaka Robot Park, Roppongi Hills, Mori Garden
<<Cafes and Restaurants>>
Peter Rabbit Garden Café – English food with garden terrace seating, cute coffee art on their latte and hot chocolates
- Where: West Tokyo, Jiyugaoka Station
- Hours: 11am-7pm (8pm on weekends)
- Price: ¥1,000-¥1,500/meal set
- Reservations: recommended on weekends
Kura Sushi (Asakusa and Harajuku) – Conveyor Belt Sushi with new and cool interior
- Where: Asakusa near Sensoji and Harajuku near the end of Takeshita Dori
- Hours: 11am-11pm
- Price: starting from ¥132 per dish
- Reservations: recommended on weekends (weekend wait times are 2hrs for dinner)
Shiro-Hige’s Cream Puff Factory – Totoro Shaped Cream Puffs and other snacks
- Where: West Tokyo, Setagaya-Daita
- Hours: 10:30am-7:30pm (Closed Tuesdays)
- Price: ¥460/cream puff
- Reservations: not required, it’s a small café, most people do takeaway instead of dine-in
- Where: East Tokyo, Oshiage Skytree Station
- Hours: 10am-10pm
- Price: ¥1,500+ per dish
- Reservations: Required, or arrive before opening to line up
- What else is in that area: Solamachi Mall, Moomin Café, Sumida Aquarium
Sunday Brunch Shimokitazawa – Floral themed café that is kid friendly
- Where: West Tokyo, Shimokitazawa Station
- Hours: 11am-7:30pm
- Price: ¥1,500/dish
- Reservations: not required
Sanrio Café Ikebukuro
- Where: Northwest Tokyo, Ikebukuro Station
- Hours: 10am-9pm
- Price: ¥1,500
- Reservations: not required
- What else is in that area: Ikebukuro Sunshine City Mall
<<Floral Gardens>>
Yokohama English Garden – small garden with seasonal flowers and décor, famous for their roses. They also have a small cafe
- Where: Yokohama, Yokohama Station + Free Shuttle (Details on website)
- Hours: 10am-6pm
- Price: ¥600-¥1,200 depending on season, free for kids under 12yo
- Recommended time: 1hr
Hana Biyori – large floral park with both outdoor and indoor area, large LED light show, Japanese garden, and different flower and plant workshops. Large Starbucks available indoors
- Where:West Tokyo, Keio Yomiuriland + Free Shuttle (Details on website)
- Hours:10am-5pm (closed on Wednesday/Thursdays, seasonal, please check website)
- Price: ¥1,200/adult, ¥600/3-12yo
- Reservations: not required
- Recommended time: 1-2hrs
- What else is in that area: Yomiuriland Amusement Park
<<Art Aquariums>>
Art Aquarium Museum
- Where: Central Tokyo, Ginza Station
- Hours: 10am-7pm
- Price: ¥2,400/adult, 2 kids under 12yo can accompany one adult for free entry
- Reservations: recommended
- Recommended time: 1hr
GaKyo Odaiba
- Where: East Tokyo, Odaiba Station
- Hours: 11am-8pm (9pm on weekends)
- Price: ¥1,200/adult, Free for kids under 12yo
- Reservations: not required
- Recommended time: 30mins
- What else is in that area: Daiba 1-Chome Shopping Street & Arcade (under Malls & Shops)
<<Special Train Line>>
Oedo Line
- Where: All around Tokyo, Oedo Subway Line is Circular
- Hours: 5am-11:25pm
- What: Cars 3 and 6 on random Oedo Line trains have illustration walls. Thomas The Tank Engine is the most common one.
Yurikamome Line to Odaiba
- Where: Shimbashi to Odaiba, via the Rainbow Bridge
- Hours: 5am-midnight
- What: Head to the front of the car for a spectacular view of Tokyo Bay and bridge crossing
Places that open early (pre 10am)
<<24hrs>>
- Robot Park
- Kinshi Park
- Kodomonomori Park
9am Kidzania
9:30am Inokashira Park Zoo (free for kids under 12)
9:30am Natural Museum of Nature and Science (free for kids under 12)
9:30am Fukagawa Edo Museum (free for kids under 12)
9:30am Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architecture Museum (free for kids under 12)
9:30am Fire Museum (Free for everyone)
Places that are free
Free for everyone
- Itabashi Petting Zoo
- Keikyu Train Museum
- Fire Museum
- Robot Park
- Kinshi Park
- Kodomonomori Park
- Hakuhinkan Toy Park
- Books Kinokuniya Tokyo
- Tsutaya Tokyo Roppongi
Free for kids under 12yo
- Inokashira Park Zoo (adults ¥400)
- Natural Museum of Nature and Science (adults ¥630)
- Fukagawa Edo Museum (Adults ¥400)
- Edo Tokyo Open Air Architecture Museum (adults ¥400)
Places by area
Central Tokyo
- Red Kids, Tokyo Tower
- Robot Park (Sakurazaka Park)
- Hakuhinkan Toy Park
- Books Kinokuniya Tokyo (Shinjuku)
- Tsutaya Tokyo Roppongi
- Art Aquarium Museum
- Tokyo Toy Museum
- Fire Museum
- Asobono!
- Natural Museum of Nature and Science
- Kura Sushi (Harajuku/Asakusa)
- Train: Oedo Line
- Train: Yurikamome Line
- Kidzania
- Fukagawa Edo Museum
- Kinshi Park
- Daiba 1-Chome Shopping Street / Arcade
- Kirby Café
- GaKyo Odaiba
- Itabashi Petting Zoo
- Sunshine City
- Train Oedo Line
- Sanrio Café Ikebukuro
- Inokashira Park Zoo
- Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architecture Museum
- Peter Rabbit Garden Café
- Shiro-Hige's Cream Puff Factory
- Sunday Brunch Shimokitazawa
- Hana Biyori
- Kodomonomori Park
- AniTouch Minatomirai
- Keikyu Train Museum
- Yokohama World Porters
- Yokohama English Garden
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