Tokyo for Tots: 4 Kid-Friendly Places in the Japanese City

Tokyo is known for many things, such as having the most populous metropolitan area in the world, holding more Michelin stars than any other city and having some of the best shopping scenes and nightlife in the world. But did you know that Tokyo is also a great destination for children? For a big city, it’s surprisingly child-friendly with lots of options to keep the whole family entertained. Start planning your trip with the help of our list of the top kid-friendly places in Tokyo, Japan:

Tokyo Disneyland

Let’s face it, Disneyland is the dream of pretty much every kid, and Tokyo’s Disneyland is no exception. With plenty of rides and entertainment for small and big children, including famous Disney attractions like the Magic Kingdom, Splash Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean and real-life Disney characters wandering about, the park is a whole lot of fun for the entire family. What’s more is that there is also a DisneySea park. DisneySea contains some of the scarier rides such as the Tower of Terror, but still has loads of attractions for little ones, not to mention a beautiful design with its “ports of call” themed along the likes of the Mediterranean, Lost River Delta and Mermaid Lagoon, amongst others.

You can book a variety of passes, from 1 day to 4 days, as well as a cheaper afternoon pass. Fees for children start at ¥4200 (US$35) and ¥6400 (US$53) for adults.

Where: The park is located in Urayasu, Chiba, just outside the city. You can get there by train, getting off at Maihama station.

Tokyo Toy Museum

Don’t be fooled by the name. Only a small part of the Tokyo Toy Museum is a museum in the traditional sense of the word. The rest of this converted elementary school is a large play house for kids of all ages (including young-at-heart adults). Three levels contain a collection of toys from all over the globe, a room full of wooden toys, a Toy Forest that includes a wooden ball pit and a large dollhouse, a Games Room and even a workshop for making toys! The Tokyo Toy Museum is truly fun for little ones and adults alike, and perfect for multiple visits if you need to keep your kids entertained, thanks to its changing events and displays, and endless collection of games and toys.

Where: Yotsuya Square, 4-20 Yotsuya, Shinjuku-ku, near Yotsuya Sanchome metro station.

Legoland Discovery Center

A childhood favourite for generations, enjoy LEGO in a whole new way at the Legoland Discovery Center. With over 3 millions pieces of LEGO in the center, not only is it a great space for building lego creations, there is also a Lego Miniland, complete with moving planes and trains, a 4D cinema, and a ride where kids can shoot at targets with a laser. Naturally, there is also a very well-stocked LEGO store so you can continue the fun at home. The center is open every day. Tickets start from ¥1500 (US$12), is free for children under 2, and can be purchased online at a discount.

Where: Decks Mall 1-6-1 Daiba, Minato-Ku, near Odaiba Seaside Park Station.

National Museum of Nature and Science

For an interactive learning experience, try the very kid-friendly National Museum of Nature and Science. Besides the exhibitions, including a fantastic mammal section, there are plenty of interactive kiosks for hands-on learning. The large collection will keep you and the kids busy for hours. The museum is open daily, except Mondays. Entrance is free for children and ¥620 (US$5) for adults.

Where: 7-20 Ueno Park, Taito-ku, near the Ueno metro station.

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Make the most of your visit to Japan by teaching your kids some Japanese. Not only is childhood the best time to learn a language but it’ll also be fun for them to pick out the words they know while in Tokyo. Contact us today to find out about online and in-person classes for you and your children.