A clear winner for younger (and older) kids is Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea, these are massive parks with all kinds of rides for kids of all ages. It takes days to experience everything that they have to offer, with the added bonus that your kids are sure to sleep well come the evening.

Pro tip: Check the dates you will be in Tokyo in advance and book your tickets online. Ticket prices can be different depending on the time of year, and whether it is a weekday or weekend. Consider the evening tickets if you're short on time – they're significantly cheaper!

It isn’t obvious from the name, but this is an indoor theme park where you can meet Hello Kitty! She is a Sanrio character, and at this super cutesy theme park, you can meet many of their characters, including Hello Kitty. Tickets cost from 3,800 yen for a day ticket if booked online and in advance.

This center is a great place to visit for the day – the ticket price is low (starting from 2,350 yen if booked in advance and online) and there are many activities to enjoy inside. It's perfect for keeping little people busy, with so much to do, from playing in the Ninjago City Adventure to building your own creations in the Duplo Village and exploring a whole city in Mini Land.

KidZania Tokyo is a unique option, and one that you really need to read through their website to understand – it's essentially a job center for kids. You reserve your tickets in advance, and you select the "activities" they will do. These "activities" encompass a wide range of jobs, from being a surgeon to being a police officer. Kids can really enjoy these different jobs, even without understanding Japanese. However, on Wednesdays, there are usually English-speaking staff.

This amusement park is conveniently located in Asakusa and offers a variety of rides suitable for young kids, as well as a few options for older kids and adults. It is one of the best inexpensive theme parks for kids aged 2 to 6, as there are so many rides that are perfect for this age group. More importantly, admission and going on the rides are free for kids under five! It costs 4,000 yen for one adult (1,200 yen admission fee and 2,800 yen for a one-day pass), but if you have a child under five, you can both go on all the rides as many times as you want. Tickets cost 3,000 yen for children aged 5-12 (600 yen admission fee and 2,400 yen for a one-day pass). However, for kids older than eight, you might want to consider a coupon book (1,000 yen for 11 tickets), as they may not be interested in a number of the rides.

Pro tip: Go on a weekday, there tend to be fewer queues, and your little ones can go on their favorite rides as much as they like.

Soft play centers can be easily found using Google Maps, and they are perfect for keeping little kids busy, and you really don’t have to worry about there being a language barrier. They tend to be easy to use, though prices can range from the cheaper side to pricier, depending on the location and the day of the week (weekends being more expensive), but, more importantly, your kids will have loads of fun. They tend to be quiet on weekday mornings, making them perfect for letting your kids blow off some steam, so you can enjoy more traditional tourism in the afternoon while they sleep. There are usually dedicated play areas for babies, too. We recommend giving BørneLund Asobi no Sekai a look, as they have several facilities around Japan.

The Tokyo Toy Museum is run by volunteers and costs 800 yen for children aged 6 months and up, and 1,100 yen for adults (if booked online). Located in an old elementary school building, your kids can play with 10,000 toys from Japan and around the world, learn about traditional Japanese games, and experience making something at one of the craft activity lessons that take place every day. They even have a dedicated playroom for babies. This makes for a good half-day activity.

This aquarium is a fun location located beneath Tokyo Skytree®. Kids of all ages will be fascinated by all of the different sea life on show here, including a massive open indoor tank which has penguins and seals. This makes for a great half-day activity, and if you're visiting in the summer, it offers a welcome escape from the heat outside. It is free for children under three, with a set range of fees that are according to age (800 yen for children aged 3-5, 1,200 yen for children aged 6-14, 1,800 yen for children aged 15-17, and 2,500 yen for adults).

Sunshine Aquarium is a large facility that has a mix of outdoor and indoor aquariums. The Outdoor Marine Garden has overhanging tanks and an “Aqua Ring” where you can see penguins and sea lions swimming right over your head. Be sure not to miss feeding time at the Sparkling Fountain! You can see fish jumping out of the water to get to their food! Ticket fees depend on the day you wish to book; as such, it is advisable to reserve your tickets in advance. They range from 2,600 yen for adults, while fees are fixed at 1,300 yen for children aged 6 to 17 and 800 yen for children aged 4 to 5.

The Ghibli Museum is a prime destination for fans of Studio Ghibli’s movies. Children will still enjoy it even if they aren’t familiar with those movies, but be aware that it is a fair distance from the center of Tokyo! Your ticket will be a piece of 35mm film from a scene in a Studio Ghibli movie, and your kids will love seeing the original short film being shown in the Saturn Theater in the basement and the massive Cat Bus on the second floor.

There are many parks and playgrounds in Tokyo where your kids will love for general play, including the spacious Showa Kinen Park, on the western outskirts of the city, Kasai Rinkai Park, along Tokyo Bay, and the centrally located Yoyogi Park. The large shrine near Yoyogi Park (Meiji Jingu) will be of more interest to adults, but the park itself is perfect for letting kids run around inside a massive natural area.

Keeping teenagers busy and happy during a vacation is a different kettle of fish from entertaining kids under ten, but they will enjoy some of the above, like DisneySea, and some of the rides at Asakusa Hanayashiki. Moreover, Tokyo has a lot more to offer that teenagers will love!

Shibuya Crossing is a must-have photo for your child’s social media, and they will really love experiencing the atmosphere of this very famous area. Also, don’t forget to check out the world-famous Hachiko Statue. The nearby area is a fashion haven for any fashion-conscious youth with many shops selling the latest trends.

Akihabara is perfect for teens who are really into their tech. Whether it is searching for PC parts for upgrading their rig back home, finding anime accessories for decorating their tech, hunting down classic games, or checking out a massive range of anime and game figures and goods, this area has everything. In addition, the whole family can enjoy a maid café experience or dine at one of the great nearby restaurants.

Returning to the teen obsession with fashion, the streets of Harajuku and Takeshita are filled with stores catering to youth fashion, ranging from top trends to truly unique clothing. Your kids will also be fascinated by all the fashionably dressed people walking around, as well as the sheer volume of clothes and accessories that are for sale.

Located under Tokyo Station, Tokyo Character Street is heaven for teens who love character goods; whether that be Pokémon, Studio Ghibli, or Hello Kitty. You can find goods for characters that are particular to Japan alongside world-famous characters – and even if it isn’t quite what your child is into, they will still be fascinated with all the products these stores sell.

Tokyo DisneySea will always be a winner with kids of all ages, and there are plenty of rides at this theme park which even teens will love – never mind all the opportunities to take photos with a volcano, Elsa’s castle (Frozen), or with a Disney character.

This unique venue is full of virtual rides and other interactive experiences alongside indoor rollercoaster-type rides. It is really a unique venue and it absolutely perfect for kids of all ages. A lot of rides depend on the height of your child, and while children under seven can enter for free, in reality only kids that are at least 130cm in height can enjoy all the rides. There are only a handful of rides for very young children. Digital teens will take to this place like a duck to water.

The Making of Harry Potter is for all Harry Potter fans, and with a new TV series coming up, this universe remains as relevant as ever. This amazing venue features sets from the Great Hall, to the Forbidden Forest and the Ministry of Magic. Your teens can experience what happened behind the scenes of the movies, pose at some famous Harry Potter spots, and nip into the Butterbeer Bar for a butterbeer.

Great short experiences also include going up one of the tall buildings in Tokyo.

Shibuya Sky is a great diversion when visiting Shibuya Crossing – now that you have seen those busy streets, try looking at them again from above! Located on the 47th floor, 230 meters above ground, this is the highest open-air observation deck in Japan, offering unobstructed views of the city and a perfect view of Shibuya Crossing. Your kids will be amazed by the panoramic view of this beautiful city.

Located above Sumida Aquarium and not far from Asakusa Hanayashiki, Tokyo Skytree® is the tallest free-standing tower in the world. You and your family can experience either the Tembo Deck, which rises 350m above ground level, or both the Tembo Deck and the Tembo Galleria, which is 450m above ground.

The activities above tend to be more for younger kids or older kids, while most of them are suitable for kids of all ages in one way or another. However, there are also many activities which are great for kids, teens and adults.

teamLab Planets TOKYO is a fun museum filled with immersive, interactive installations that engage all the senses. It’s truly fun for all ages, and whether you're a child or an adult, the ever-shifting digital artworks spark curiosity and wonder.

In January 2025, the museum expanded its space by about 1.5 times, unveiling a new area focused on education and creative exploration. The new sections are especially appealing for families with young children. Athletics Forest is a three-dimensional play space that encourages movement, balance, and coordination through active, hands-on fun. Catching and Collecting Forest lets kids use a smartphone app to find and "catch" extinct animals, blending digital play with real-world exploration. Future Park fosters imagination through collaborative activities that children can enjoy alongside their parents or friends. It's a perfect way to spend half a day in Tokyo.

Just 35 minutes from Shinjuku Station, this amusement park has many fun rides and shows, as well as seasonal events like large-scale illuminations in winter and cherry blossoms in spring.

Spanning an impressive 7,000 square meters, this is the largest miniature museum in all of Asia. With six themed zones, it offers a delightful experience filled with tiny worlds to explore, and even the chance to create a 3D miniature figure of yourself. It’s a truly one-of-a-kind attraction that’s well worth a visit. Workshops are also available, running from noon to 4 PM on weekdays and from 10 AM to 3 PM on weekends and holidays, where both children and adults can enjoy hands-on crafting activities.

Kids and adults alike love noodles so it only makes sense to head over to this one-of-a-kind museum where you can make ramen by hand, try making your own original cup noodle and more! For younger kids there is even a little inside playground.

Now that you have some ideas about all the different places you can go to with your kids according to how old they are, the next important thing is to cover some of the basics that go behind planning your visits to each location.

Transportation
Trains will be your best friend during your trip, especially as kids under six can ride them for free. One thing to keep in mind is that rush hour trains (7:00-9:30 AM and 5:00-7:00 PM on weekdays) in Tokyo are extremely busy and crowded. If possible, avoiding the train during these times is highly recommended, as certain lines will have commuters squeezing into every last inch of space, regardless of whether there are small children or not. Do not be afraid to use the priority seats if you have infants or kids under 6, and if you have a stroller, enjoy how every station has elevators!

Ticketing & Reservations
Some of the venues and parks listed above can be booked in advance, while others have dynamic pricing, where prices vary on different days and times of the year. Be sure to maximize your budget by booking online where possible and looking out for when tickets are cheaper.

Accessibility Notes
As it is Tokyo, accessibility is generally not an issue, and regardless of whether you have a stroller or a wheelchair, you can access every station, venue, or park. Moreover, some places – like Disneyland and DisneySea – have rental strollers available, so you can switch from using a baby carrier on the way there to a stroller once you're inside.

Managing Crowds and Peak Times
It is super important to check the holiday calendar in Japan if you have the option to be flexible about your holiday dates. In particular, all of the locations listed in this article will be very busy during school holidays. As a rough guide, children in school are on holiday from around Christmas Day to the first week of January, for a week around the end of March, during Golden Week at the end of April or the start of May, and from the last week of July to the first week of September.

Unfortunately, many of these dates coincide with school holidays in other countries. However, if you wish to visit child-friendly locations during the above school holidays in Japan, you can expect crowds and queues. However, if you can fit in your trip during spring or autumn holidays, or the beginning of September, then you can escape these domestic crowds. Moreover, by booking venues in advance, you can secure your spot – visiting somewhere like Tokyo Skytree® doesn’t really depend on the time of year if you have your ticket already.

Leveraging Official Apps and Services
It makes a big difference to download the various official apps, etc., for the places you want to visit in advance, or when you are in Japan, so that you can easily whip out QR codes, etc., when you arrive. However, please be aware that many apps are region-specific. For example, with an Android phone, your Play Store will be region-locked, and you may not be able to find the app you want.

Budgeting for Family Activities
Most websites either have an English language version or can be automatically translated using a translation tool, allowing you to view the prices. Look at the places you want to visit and use a spreadsheet, etc., to calculate the total entry costs. Keep in mind child fatigue – if you plan something special for every single day, then your children will get exhausted.

If you have kids of different ages, then do consider whether some places even warrant the whole family going – it might be better for you and your young child to visit Tokyo Skytree® while your partner and teenager go exploring through all the stores below. Vice versa, while you and your teenager are shopping in Akihabara, your partner and younger child can go experience a local playground!