Tokyo was one of those places where I had SO many things saved that figuring out how to actually organize everything into realistic days with four kids felt a little overwhelming. The city is huge, and even though the train system is amazing, you definitely don't want to spend your entire trip zig-zagging back and forth across Tokyo. Things are a lot further away because the city is so big. It's much easier to block out activities into different sections of the city.

This is the itinerary we ended up using with our four kids, ages 11, 9, 7 and 4. I tried to group everything geographically as much as possible and mix the bigger attractions with shopping (a must when in Japan! So many fun souvenirs for the kids too), food and things that were just FUN for the kids. We also had to account for jet lag, which is very real when you're coming from the west with kids.

One thing I loved about Tokyo is that there really is something for everyone. We did immersive art, animals, temples, baseball, arcades, shopping, sumo, food experiences and about a million gachapon machines. This itinerary is definitely busy, but you can easily cut things out or slow it down depending on your family. Pick a few things you want to prioritize each day, and anything else you end up having time for that day is just a bonus!

WHERE WE STAYED IN TOKYO

We've stayed in two different areas of Tokyo, and where you stay really just depends on what you want to do each day. The easiest way to figure out a good central location is to map out the things you want to do (save them as a bookmark in google maps) and see where you have clusters of activities- it will help you see a central location based on what you want to do. Oh, and always find something near a train station- it will make a huge difference at the end of the night walking back to the hotel with tired kids.

We stayed in Minami-Aoyama at this house we found on booking.com. As a family of 6, using a website like Booking has just been easier and more affordable because with hotels we don't usually all fit in one room.

Our closest station was Omotesando Station, about a 7-minute walk away. I really liked this location because we were close to Harajuku, Shibuya, Meiji Shrine and the baseball stadium, but the actual neighborhood where we stayed felt much quieter than staying directly in the middle of Shibuya or Shinjuku. We chose it mainly because it was easy to walk home from after the baseball game one of the nights we were there.

We also stayed right near Tokyo Station at this hotel. I loved the location of this one. It was two hotel rooms with a connecting door (so no kitchen or anything here if you need that).

It was about a 10-minute walk from Tokyo Station, and we really liked this area too. It was especially convenient at the end of our trip because Tokyo Station connects to basically everywhere and made getting around with luggage much easier.

If I were choosing between the two for a first trip with kids, I would probably choose the Tokyo Station/Ginza area overall. It is incredibly convenient for transportation, especially if Tokyo is just one stop on a longer Japan trip, and there are tons of restaurants, shopping and things to do nearby. Minami-Aoyama was a little quieter and worked especially well for our Harajuku/Shibuya days, though, so I don't think you can go wrong with either.

FOOD YOU HAVE TO TRY IN JAPAN

One of the best parts of Japan is the FOOD. Even kids who aren't particularly adventurous eaters can find plenty they love. Don't feel like every meal needs to be at a famous restaurant either. Some of our favorite food came from random little restaurants, train stations and convenience stores (my kids still talk about how much they miss their morning smoothies from 7-11!).

A few things I would absolutely put on your list:

• Ramen: Obviously! There are so many different kinds, so try it more than once.

• Conveyor-belt sushi: Such a fun meal with kids because they can choose what they want as it goes by.

• Gyoza: Japanese dumplings and an easy win with kids.

• Karaage: Japanese fried chicken. Another very kid-friendly option.

• Katsu: Breaded pork or chicken cutlets. Katsu curry is especially good.

• Japanese curry: Mild, rich curry over rice that our kids loved.

• Onigiri: Rice balls filled with things like salmon or tuna. Grab them at 7-Eleven, Lawson or FamilyMart.

• Konbini food: Do not underestimate Japanese convenience stores. Try the egg sandwiches, fruit sandwiches, snacks, desserts, drinks and basically anything that looks interesting. My kids loved making smoothies every morning at 7-11 (you purchase a sealed up of frozen fruit and then it gets blended into a smoothies there!)

• Fluffy Japanese pancakes: We went to A Happy Pancake and loved it. One of my favorite meals of the trip.

• Harajuku crepes: Thin crepes stuffed with strawberries, whipped cream, cheesecake, ice cream, chocolate and basically anything else you can imagine.

• Melonpan: A sweet Japanese bread with a crisp cookie-like outside. Look for this around Asakusa.

• Ningyo-yaki: Little filled cakes, usually shaped like traditional Japanese figures. Another fun Asakusa snack.

• Ichigo Ame: Fresh strawberries on a skewer dipped in a clear, glass-like hard sugar syrup. A family favorite

• Matcha everything: Matcha ice cream, drinks, candy, cookies...Japan is the place to try it.

• Chanko-nabe: The hearty hot pot traditionally associated with sumo wrestlers. We had it during our sumo experience.

• Japanese candy and convenience-store treats: Give the kids a few hundred yen and let them pick things they've never seen before. This ended up being one of their favorite things to do.

Now, let's get to what we actually did while in Tokyo! These days are packed, because we are definitely a go-go-go family when we travel somewhere like this, but there's no need to do everything- just prioritize your top 2-3 things each day or cater it to your family's interests. I included the time we started the day each day as well as how long we spent at each place so you can get a gauge of how long each activity takes and what you can/can't fit into your day.

Itinerary Day 1: Meiji Shrine, Team Lab, Odaiba, & Shinjuku

We started this day around 6:45 AM. I know that sounds early, but if you're coming from the U.S., there is a very good chance your kids will wake up ridiculously early for the first few days. Instead of fighting it, we tried to take advantage of it!

• Meiji Shrine (how long we spent here: about 45 min to 1 h): Meiji Shrine is a huge Shinto shrine surrounded by a beautiful forest in the middle of Tokyo. We went around 6:45 AM because everyone was already awake from jet lag, and it was SO peaceful without the crowds. Walk through the giant torii gates, explore the shrine grounds and enjoy how quiet Tokyo can actually feel first thing in the morning.

• Breakfast: Grab breakfast after Meiji Shrine before heading toward teamLab.

• teamLab Planets (how long we spent here: about 2–2½ hours): Buy tickets early for this! They go on sale a few months in advance and if you're traveling during peak season you'll want to grab them early. This immersive digital-art museum was one of our must-do Tokyo activities. It was SUCH a cool museum! You walk through rooms filled with water, mirrors, flowers, lights and huge interactive installations. Your shoes come off and you will walk through water, so wear clothes that can easily be rolled up.

• Lunch at Vegan Ramen UZU: I still dream about the ramen from this place and craved it the rest of our trip. This restaurant is connected to teamLab Planets and makes an easy lunch stop without having to travel somewhere else. Especially on the first day, you want things that are easy!

• Aqua City Odaiba (how long we spent here:about 1½ hours): This large indoor mall has restaurants, shopping and plenty of things for families to do. Our main reason for visiting was AniTouch and grabbing Onitsuka Tigers (the shop is small but there's no crowds which is a bonus with kids, so if you find a pair of shoes you love, grab them)

  • AniTouch: AniTouch is an indoor animal-interaction experience where you can see and interact with animals including capybaras, sloths and other small or exotic animals. The kids loved this and still talk about it.
    

• DiverCity Tokyo Plaza (how long we spent here:about 1-2 hours): this is another mall with lots of shopping but we went for a few specific reasons:

  • UNKO Museum: Yes, this is literally a poop museum. It is bright, ridiculous, interactive and exactly the type of thing kids think is hilarious. There are games, photo spots and plenty of giant colorful poop everywhere.

  • Japanese beauty shopping: DiverCity was also where I did one of my Japanese skincare and beauty-product shopping stops. If you have a list of viral Japanese products you're looking for, drugstores like Matsumoto Kiyoshi are dangerous in the best way.

• Shinjuku (how long to spend here:about 1 hr-ish): IF everyone still has energy, head to Shinjuku after Odaiba. This is the Tokyo you picture with neon signs, giant video screens, arcades and people everywhere. Look for the Godzilla head, the giant crab sign, the 3D cat billboard, Kabukicho and Omoide Yokocho. If your kids are completely exhausted, skip it and come back another night like we did.

NOTES FOR DAY 1

Transportation: A mix of walking, subway/train and the Yurikamome train through Odaiba.

Areas of Tokyo: Meiji/Harajuku → Toyosu/Odaiba → Shinjuku.

Tickets to purchase in advance:

• teamLab Planets — absolutely buy ahead of time because popular time slots sell out.

• AniTouch — check availability for your dates. We purchased tickets day-of, but you can purchase in advance if you want.

• UNKO Museum — I would book ahead if you're visiting on a weekend or holiday, however it's not a must to buy ahead. We were there right before a holiday and purchased tickets day-of.

JET LAG TIP: Don't be afraid to use those crazy early mornings. Meiji Shrine was one of the best places we could have chosen because it was open early and beautiful before the crowds arrived.

Itinerary Day 2: Harajuku, shopping, reset, & Japanese Baseball

We started this day around 10:00 AM. Everyone slept later this morning, which was very needed after our first full day. We also had a late night planned with the baseball game, so I would intentionally make this a slightly slower day.

• Breakfast at A Happy Pancake: Go right when it opens at 10am so you aren't waiting, the lines can get really long later. These fluffy Japanese soufflé pancakes are SO good and absolutely worth trying at least once while you're in Japan.

• Takeshita Street (how long we spent here: about 1 hr): This is the famous pedestrian shopping street in Harajuku filled with fashion, accessories, sweets, novelty stores and gachapon. Let the kids wander through the stores and definitely get a Harajuku crepe while you're here. It was cool to see, but it was SO crowded when we were here, that we were pretty happy to get out fast. We did get the kids a giant cotton candy here though which was really fun (and surprisingly so good!).

• Harry Potter Shop Harajuku (how long we spent here: about 1 hr): The official 2 story Harry Potter flagship store has themed rooms, wands, clothing, exclusive merchandise, Honeydukes sweets and Butterbeer. We saw a lot of things that were unique to the Tokyo shop that we didn't see in London. Harry Potter fans will easily spend longer here. Make sure to grab a Butterbeer from the restaurant!

• @COSME TOKYO (how long we spent here: about 30 min): If you want to shop for Japanese skincare and makeup, this huge beauty store is right in the Harajuku area. You'll find brands like Canmake, Cezanne, Heroine Make, Shiseido, Anessa, Biore, Hada Labo and a ridiculous number of sheet masks. On both floors, they have a wall of all the "viral" product recommendations if you're visiting and need a recommendation of where to start.

• Kiddy Land (how long we spent here: about 30 min): This is a great souvenir stops with kids. This multi-story character and toy store has Sanrio, Snoopy, Disney, anime characters, toys, stationery and tons of little things kids will want to bring home.

• Hands and Loft: Everyone was pretty burnt out on shopping by now, so we skipped these spots, but if you want to keep going, these two stores are in the area! Both stores are incredible for stationery, beauty products, gadgets, gifts and random Japanese things you didn't know you needed.

• Return to the hotel for a nap/reset: Grab food, go back to the hotel, let everyone nap or relax and reset before the baseball game. 

  (BIG BASEBALL FANS: Instead of the hotel reset, you can do what we did and visit Baseball Mario and the Mizuno Jingu Gaien store. Baseball Mario is a serious specialty baseball shop with Japanese gloves, bats, cleats and customization, while Mizuno has tons of Japanese baseball gear, apparel and equipment. Our baseball-obsessed kid loved getting to see these. Note- We loved checking out both shops, but there's not a ton of "kid" selection things so keep that in mind. It was fun to see but if I was doing it again, I'd only go if there's something specific you're shopping for.)

• Japanese baseball game at Meiji Jingu Stadium (the game lasts about 3 hours): Even if you only moderately like baseball, I HIGHLY recommend going to a Japanese baseball game. We went to a Swallows game and they have such a fun tradition with little mini umbrellas every time they score. The organized cheering, songs, food and entire atmosphere are completely different from an American MLB game and made this one of our favorite experiences.

NOTES FOR DAY 2

Transportation: Mostly walking around Harajuku, plus subway/train or taxi between neighborhoods.

Areas of Tokyo: Harajuku/Omotesando/Shibuya area → hotel reset → Jingu Gaien.

Tickets to purchase in advance:

• Baseball game tickets — If you're visiting on a weekend or Japanese holiday like we did, do not wait until the last minute because games can sell out.

• Check the Harry Potter store's current entry system before your visit because timed entry or a virtual queue may be used during busy periods.

Itinerary Day 3: Asakusa, Chopstick making, Sumo, Shibuya, & Shinjuku

We started this day around 9:30 AM. Apart from teamLab Planets, this was easily my kids' favorite day of our time in Tokyo overall. 

• Asakusa (spend the entire morning here until you head to chopstick making): 

  • Kaminarimon Gate: Start at the giant red lantern marking the entrance to Senso-ji and Nakamise shopping street. It's one of the most recognizable spots in Asakusa.

  • Nakamise Street: This traditional shopping street is filled with small souvenir shops, crafts and Japanese snacks.
    

• • Senso-ji Temple: Tokyo's famous historic Buddhist temple is an easy place to explore with kids. Have everyone draw an omikuji fortune while you're there! The kids loved seeing whether they received good or bad luck.
• • Chopstick-making class (takes 1 hour): We booked a hands-on class where everyone made their own Japanese chopsticks to take home. The kids absolutely LOVED doing this. It was a great experience where the souvenir is something the kids actually made themselves. It was easy enough for our older kids to do themselves, and we helped out 4 & 7 yr old.

 

• Tokyo Ginza Sumo Experience (about 2 hrs for the experience & show): This is a must- my kids said this was such a highlight for them. It is a really fun way for kids to learn about sumo without needing to attend an actual tournament. They teach you about sumo, demonstrate a match, and then you get a chance to wrestle in the ring! Our ticket also included chanko-nabe, the hearty hot pot traditionally eaten by sumo wrestlers.

• Shibuya Crossing (how long we spent here: about 30-45 min): Go see the Hachiko statue and then walk across the famous Shibuya Scramble. The kids had fun doing this a few times and then we went to the gachapon store on the 5th floor in the Magnet Store. There's 900 gachapon machines in there and a great view of Shibuya crossing without fighting crowds in other viewing buildings to see the crossing from above.

• Hands Shibuya & Shibuya Loft: both of these stores are nearby and if you haven't been in them yet, they're fun to check out and look around if you have time. No need to do both, especially with kids, so just check one out and keep going.

• Shinjuku: If you skipped Shinjuku on Day 1 because everyone was tired (like we were), this is a good time to add it back in. This is the day we added it back in. Grab dinner here, too. Wander through the neon streets, check out the arcades and claw machines, stop at Don Quijote, find Godzilla and let the kids play a few Japanese arcade games.
  

NOTES FOR DAY 3

Transportation: A mix of subway/train and walking.

Areas of Tokyo: Asakusa → Ginza → Shibuya → Shinjuku.

Tickets to purchase in advance:

• Chopstick-making class (here's the one we booked. It was really kid friendly and I highly recommend it)

• Sumo experience. There's a few to choose from, and I researched a bunch and found that this one was a much better price than others and gave us a really awesome show.

• Any specific observation deck or attraction you decide to add in Shibuya. We didn't do any, but if you want to do one, reserve it ahead of time.

Itinerary day 4: Azabudai, Ginza, & Tokyo Station

This was only a half day for us, and we were finished around 2:00 PM. We started around 10:00 AM. This is a great final Tokyo morning because most of these stops are shopping-focused and make it easy to grab last-minute souvenirs before leaving. A lot of these were places we wanted to check out and never had time to the other day, so since they're all fairly close to Tokyo Station where we needed to be to catch the train back to the airport, we hung around and checked them out.

• Comme'N KIDS (spent about 30 min here): This might be one of the cutest concepts I've ever seen. Comme'N KIDS is a bakery created specifically for children, where elementary-age kids and younger go inside on their own and choose the bread they want to buy. No adults allowed! You help them prep their money beforehand, and a worker will help walk them in and guide them through the bakery.

• Seria: Seria is a 100-yen store and SO GOOD for inexpensive souvenirs. We found cute dishes, stationery, little toys and tons of things that feel much nicer than what you'd expect from a dollar-store-type shop.

• MUJI Ginza: This huge MUJI flagship has stationery, travel gear, skincare, clothing, household items, snacks and gifts. Even if you have MUJI at home, the Japan stores are on another level.

• Daiso: Another great stop for cheap souvenirs, Japanese stationery, little toys, snacks, travel items and random things your kids will suddenly desperately need.

• Ginza Itoya: Goodness I loved this store and would have stayed longer if I could. As a former graphic designer, this stop was mainly for me, but the whole family loved it. It's the largest stationery store in the world (10 floors!) and there's so many beautiful, unique things here. If you like stationery, pens, paper, stickers, or beautifully designed things even a little bit, stop here. Itoya is one of the coolest stores in Ginza.

• Tokyo Station Character Street / shopping: Tokyo Station itself has SO MUCH underneath and around it that it could practically be an attraction. It is a great final stop if you're already staying nearby. Here's a few spots we loved:

  • Tomica Shop Tokyo: This is such a fun stop for kids who love cars. The store has a huge selection of tiny Tomica vehicles and Japan-specific models that make great souvenirs.

  • LEGO Store Tokyo: Stop here if you want a fun Japan souvenier! In the build your own character station, we built a little sumo wrestler figure that was perfect to bring home.

NOTES FOR DAY 5

Transportation: Mostly walking with a short subway/train ride depending on where you're staying.

Areas of Tokyo: Azabudai → Ginza → Tokyo Station.

Tickets to purchase in advance: None.

TIME NEEDED: This works really well as a half day. Just pick and choose the stores that sound fun. We wrapped everything up around 2:00 PM.

OTHER THINGS TO DO IN TOKYO WITH KIDS

There were WAY more things saved on my Tokyo list than we could possibly fit into one trip. These are some of the other places that were recommended to us or things we considered adding if we had more time. I wanted to make sure to add them in so you can see all of the recs in one place. I also added a short summary of each place so you can add it into your itinerary if it sounds like something your family would like!

• Miraikan – The National Museum of Science and Innovation: A large hands-on science museum in Odaiba focused on space, robots, Earth and future technology. This would be an easy addition to your Odaiba day if your kids love science.

• Shibuya PARCO: A shopping center that is especially fun for Nintendo and Pokémon fans. It has Nintendo TOKYO, Pokémon Center Shibuya and other character and pop-culture stores.

• Nintendo TOKYO: The official Nintendo store with Mario, Zelda, Animal Crossing, Splatoon and other Nintendo merchandise.

• Pokémon Center Shibuya: A large official Pokémon store with plush toys, cards, clothing, gifts and lots of Japan-exclusive products.

• Asakusa batting cages/arcades: If you have a baseball-loving kid, there are batting cages and old-school arcade-type stops around Asakusa that could easily be added to your morning there. We tried to fit this into our Asakusa day but ran out of time. This would be a great rainy-day activity too.

• Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observatory: A FREE observation deck in Shinjuku with panoramic views over Tokyo.

• Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden: A huge garden and green space that would be a good break if your kids need somewhere to run around after several days of city sightseeing.

• Hanazono Shrine: A small Shinto shrine right in the middle of busy Shinjuku, so it's easy to add while you're already exploring the neighborhood.

• Omoide Yokocho: A tiny network of atmospheric food alleys in Shinjuku packed with little yakitori restaurants.

• More Odaiba time: Honestly, you could easily spend an entire day in Odaiba. Between the malls, arcades, animal experiences, museums and waterfront, it is one of the easiest areas to fill a day with kids.
  

A few final Tokyo Notes

• Do not underestimate how big Tokyo is. Places that look relatively close on a map can take much longer to get between than you expect. Group your days geographically whenever possible.

• Get Suica cards. Grab them at the train from the airport. It can be hard to find Suica machines in other stations, so we were glad to get them first thing. We used them constantly for trains and subways and it makes getting around with kids SO much easier than buying individual tickets every time. Each kid needs their own (over the age of 6). Jordan and I put our cards on our phone. The kids had physical cards.

• Build in downtime. This is especially important during the first few days if you're coming from the U.S. Jet lag hit different kids differently, and having the option to go back to the hotel for a few hours helped a lot.

• Don't over-plan restaurants. There is amazing food everywhere. We had some restaurants saved that we really wanted to try, but a lot of the time we just found something close to wherever we happened to be when everyone got hungry.

• Convenience stores are your friend. 7-Eleven, Lawson and FamilyMart are perfect when a kid needs food immediately. Onigiri, sandwiches, fruit, drinks, pastries and snacks saved us more than once.

• Expect to walk a LOT. Even with Tokyo's amazing train system, you'll still walk through enormous stations, shopping districts and attractions all day.

• Make sure you spend time just wandering. Some of our kids' favorite moments weren't major attractions. They were gachapon machines, finding crazy Japanese candy, wandering through a 100-yen store, playing a claw machine or picking a random drink out of a vending machine.

I put off planning our Japan trip for so long because it just felt like there were so many good things there I couldn't decide what to include in our days and I just shut down. Tokyo can feel overwhelming when you're first planning it because there is SO MUCH to do, but it ended up being one of the most fun cities we've ever explored with our kids. Don't feel like you need to see everything. Pick a few big things each day, leave room to wander and let the kids get excited about all the random little things you'll find along the way. 

If you want to see our full Japan trip and what we did after leaving Tokyo - Matsumoto, Kamikochi, Kyoto, and Osaka), check out our other Japan itineraries!