It was our kids’ first visit to Japan. Here are some of our favorite experiences and fun things to do when you’re visiting Tokyo with kids!
Ninja Experience
Definitely a highlight! The kids learned about sword fighting, blow darts and how to use a Shuriken (ninja star!) I believe there are different ninja experience offers around Tokyo but we booked the one at Asakusa.
The experience was a little pricey but it was very memorable and the kids enjoyed it so much! I love the fact that we had the place to ourselves, since you need to pre book your schedule ahead of time.
Chase Mt. Fuji
Iconic and shouldn’t be missed, Mt. Fuji is worth a daytrip if you’re visiting Tokyo. However, a clear view of Mt. Fuji isn’t always guaranteed. So just in case you don’t get a clear day when you visit, turn it into a game for the kids: Where’s Mt Fuji? 😉 Haha.
We visited Arakurayama Sengen Park, Oshino Hakkai and Lake Kawaguchi. Thankfully, Mt. Fuji showed herself to us during the afternoon at Oshino Park. It was brief but the sighting made our day trip worth it!
Look for Gashapons!
There are capsule toy machines around Japan and are a sure hit for kids! The kids will definitely find something for them, and maybe even the adults too? (I got myself this Curious George toy to remind myself of my kids’ childhood huhu)
Tokyo Disney Sea / Tokyo Disneyland
Disney wasn’t initially on our list but decided to take the kids there anyway so they could experience Japan’s unique take at Disney Sea! I love Disney Sea and might possibly be my personal favorite Disney park because the themes, rides and everything was just on point.
Just beware of long lines and you might want to consider getting express passes to maximize your time (Disney is definitely not a budget activity!)
Sushi Conveyor Experience
Super kitsch and touristy but the kids LOVED their first ever sushi conveyor experience! We had dinner at Kura Sushi and it was fun grabbing plates from the conveyor. But that’s not all; you also get to play a game for every 5 plates you order. Extra fun (even though we didn’t win any of the games huhu)
Food Trip at Tsukiji
Do you have little foodies? I do! 😀 And Tsukiji was one of our favorites; so much so that we visited it twice during our stay (it was within walking distance from our hotel.) I know a lot of people complain that it’s touristy and maybe it is but we still loved it anyway and I’m still going to recommend it.
Harry Potter Studio Tour (for fans!)
So this one is only if you have Harry Potter loving kids. I do not have one of those (yet) so I went here with a friend and this big kid had loads of fun! Haha. I can’t wait to bring my kids here once they start getting into the series.
Collect Stamps
Okay so I don’t have photos for this because we didn’t really get to collect any during our brief stay in Tokyo (so weird!) but it’s something I did in Fukuoka and it was fun! Especially if you journal, kids would love the challenge of spotting stamp stations and collection stamps throughout their trip.
I heard there are lots of good ones at JR Line stations and major tourist spots! Maybe that’s why we didn’t get to see stamps during our visit because we didn’t really do a lot of the major attractions. A second visit is required! 😉
Other suggestions:
The following are things we weren’t able to do but I hope to do next time! So consider these as ideas instead of recommendations from me! 😉
- Animal cafes
- TeamLab
- ANA Experience (Need to book in advance and slots run out fast; I wasn’t able to book fast enough!)
- CupNoodles Museum Yokohama
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