Japan, the Land of the Rising Solar, is a tremendous place for a household trip with a child or toddler. There are such a lot of great locations to go to in Japan with children, however the two hottest locations can be to go to Tokyo and Kyoto. With so many unbelievable issues to do in Tokyo with a child and toddler, we made essentially the most of our 4 days within the largest metropolis on the planet.
Previous to our household journey to Japan with our child and toddler, we made a protracted record of the most effective issues to do in Tokyo with children. We knew that visiting Tokyo with a 14 month previous child and a 3 yr previous would make it a bit difficult to see all of our desired Tokyo points of interest, however that’s okay.
The important thing to touring with a child and/or a toddler is to create a balanced itinerary, so we spent plenty of time seeing the most effective of Tokyo, but in addition on enjoyable issues for infants like taking part in at considered one of Tokyo’s playgrounds.
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The ten Finest Issues To Do in Tokyo with a Child or Toddler
We made good use of our toddler airplane beds on the 11-hour flight to Tokyo. On our arrival day, we discovered meals for our child, then settled into our Tokyo rental condominium to get a superb evening’s sleep. We had been very excited to see the most effective issues to do in Tokyo with our children throughout our 4-day go to.
Our child was on stable meals throughout our Japan household vacation. It was a bit of daunting looking for meals for him throughout our journey, so I’ve shared my data on The place to Purchase Child Meals in Japan.
1. Tsukiji Fish Market
For our first day in Tokyo with a child and toddler, we thought we’d begin with a brilliant kid-friendly Tokyo attraction – the Tsukiji Fish Market. It is a actual wholesale fish market is a high vacationer attraction in Tokyo and is very enjoyable for youths.
The Tsukiji Market has a well-known tuna public sale that begins within the wee hours of the morning. As enjoyable because the Tokyo tuna public sale sounds, we determined to not haul our children there at 4am, particularly as we had been coping with toddler jet lag. Our children had been awake for fairly some time in the midst of the evening, however we ultimately bought again to sleep and ventured out to see Tokyo round 9:30 that morning.
It was raining closely as we left our condominium, however that wasn’t going to cease us on our first day in Tokyo with children. Our condominium was effectively geared up with umbrellas for us plus we had packed rain gear.
We arrived on the Tokyo fish market round 10 am, and a lot of the morning motion was over. This was happy with us because the Tsukiji Fish Market is a really busy place and we most popular it to be rather less busy. This allowed our child and toddler to expertise the wonders of this unbelievable fish market with out being too intimidated by the crowds.
The small aspect streets (outer market) surrounding the interior fish market, the place you’ll discover many eating places and outlets, had been nonetheless very busy. The interior market the place the wholesale fish enterprise is performed was enjoyable and attention-grabbing to look at.
The lanes between the market stalls are fairly slender and, as it’s a actual working fish market, there are a lot of vans and carts shifting round. Touring with two small children meant we wanted to concentrate on what was happening and ensure we weren’t getting in the best way. With busy, slender corridors we suggest bringing a child provider or wrap to the Tsukiji Fish Market, as a stroller wouldn’t be enjoyable.
Our toddler was intrigued with all of the fish and was filled with questions. Although they’re typically reserved, the Japanese folks love children. A number of of the fish distributors took the time to indicate her attention-grabbing shellfish, and so on. She cherished it! In truth, she talked in regards to the fish marketplace for days afterwards and wished us to inform her about all of the totally different fish we noticed.
In case your children are inquisitive about nature, the Tsukiji Fish Market is likely one of the greatest issues to do in Tokyo.
Verify the opening time for the interior fish market, as vacationers are solely allowed in after a sure time of day.
2. Ueno Park
After a noon nap for the youngsters, we took a stroll to Ueno Park, which was near our Tokyo condominium. With over 10 million folks visiting Ueno Park yearly, it’s considered one of Japan’s hottest parks. It’s residence to a number of museums, temples, shrines, and even the Ueno Zoo.
If you’re fortunate sufficient to go to Tokyo with children in spring, Ueno Park is likely one of the greatest spots in Tokyo for viewing cherry blossoms. Our go to to Tokyo was in late Fall, so we missed out on the cherry blossoms, however it was nonetheless a beautiful place to go for a stroll in Tokyo with our children. With over 8,800 bushes, Ueno Park can be an important spot to get a bit of time in nature and let your children burn off some vitality.
Since we visited Ueno Park within the late afternoon, we spent most of our time strolling alongside the tree lined paths. The zoo and amusement park had been closed however we discovered a close-by playground. We should always have walked just a bit additional earlier than stopping on the playground, as there’s a Starbucks close by. After letting the youngsters play, we continued our stroll.
3. Kiyomizu Kannon Temple
As we had been leaving Ueno Park we stopped on the Kiyomizu Kannon Temple. This Tokyo temple is residence to a picture of Kosodate Kannon, the goddess of conception, and sometimes visited by girls hoping to conceive. Two children are sufficient – had we recognized this upfront we could have skipped our go to to the Kiyomizu Kannon Temple! ha-ha!
4. Sensō-ji Temple
As a consequence of a wholesome dose of household jet lag, we bought a really early begin to our second day in Tokyo with a child and toddler. Our 3 yr previous was up at 3 am and the newborn was up at 5 am. Reasonably than combat it, we took benefit of the jet lag and bought out the door by 7 am for our 20 minute stroll to Sensō-ji Temple within the Asakusa district. There’s one advantage of touring with younger children – they’re up early and you may get to see the sights earlier than anybody else!
Sensō-ji is an historic Buddhist temple and in addition to being Tokyo’s oldest temple, additionally it is some of the well-liked. Sadly, the Pagoda was below development throughout our go to to Tokyo, however we nonetheless loved exploring the grounds.
Our daughter might have stayed to look at the carp in one of many ponds for ages. We additionally had enjoyable checking our fortunes in the primary constructing of the Sensō-ji temple.
5. Nakamise-dori
After an gratifying, quiet go to to the traditional Sensō-ji Temple, we walked down the close by Nakamise-dori, which is Asakusa’s most well-known purchasing road. As a consequence of our very early begin for our Tokyo sightseeing, we didn’t get to do a lot memento purchasing as a lot of the outlets alongside Nakamise-dori weren’t but open for the day.
6. Akihabara
Affected by jet lag, our children had been fairly exhausted after our morning stroll across the highlights of Asakusa. To assist them get better from jet lag, we made certain to provide our children a protracted good morning nap, as we bought prepared for a stroll to the Akihabara district. This well-liked Tokyo vacationer attraction is legendary for the electronics outlets plus many locations dedicated to anime and manga.
The Akihabara district is a feast for the eyes, however being drained our children weren’t overly . After a fast stroll up-and-down the primary road of Akihabara, we grabbed lunch and allow them to play at a close by playground.
We discovered yet one more Tokyo playground that afternoon nearer to our condominium rental. Though it’s onerous to forgo the time to go see Tokyo’s high sights, it’s at all times a superb funding of time to let your children have play time on a household vacation.
It offers your children a way of normalcy, which is very necessary in a really foreign-looking place like Tokyo. Plus, it helps them burn vitality and can assist your children get a superb evening’s sleep.
Giving your children time to play is very necessary whereas your are on trip. These Tokyo playgrounds for vacationers are conveniently situated to a few of the greatest issues to do in Tokyo.
7. Meiji Shrine
We had been all sleeping higher and had good vitality to discover on day 3 of our journey to Tokyo with a child and toddler.
We took benefit of our good vitality ranges and loved a phenomenal stroll by way of a dense, lovely forest on our strategy to the Meiji Shrine. We entered the park by way of a large torii gate and had been immediately transported right into a tranquil forest. With over 100,000 bushes from throughout Japan, it’s onerous to not really feel like you might be in the midst of a forest despite the fact that your are within the coronary heart of a large metropolis.
It was a ten minute stroll by way of the forest to get to the primary buildings of the Meiji Shrine. We loved watching folks participate in most of the Shinto actions at this Tokyo shrine. One enjoyable factor to do with children on the Meiji Shrine is to put in writing out a want on an ema (a wood plate) to go away on the shrine.
8. Shibuya Crossing
From the Meiji Shrine, we continued our stroll by way of the forest to get to our subsequent vacation spot – Shibuya Crossing, the busiest intersection on the planet. The flashy and trendy Shibuya space has many glorious purchasing and consuming choices. We had enjoyable making our method throughout the crossing a number of occasions, then we headed again residence on the subway.
9. Tokyo Station
On final day of our 4-day itinerary in Tokyo with children, we made a fast cease on the Tokyo Station on our strategy to the Imperial Palace Gardens. We discover that we are sometimes not on time when touring with a child and toddler, and given the world-renowned punctuality of the Japan rail system, we wished to be ready for high-speed practice from Tokyo to Kyoto.
We additionally wished to see if we might discover Bento containers for lunch for our journey. In some methods, stopping on the Tokyo Station was a little bit of wasted time, however travelling with small children means that you’re typically working late. We wished to be effectively ready to keep away from any likelihood of lacking our high-speed practice to Kyoto.
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10. Imperial Palace Gardens
The Imperial Palace is a brief stroll from Tokyo Station and is surrounded by a moats and partitions. The Imperial Palace East Gardens are a part of the interior palace gardens which might be open to the general public.
As soon as contained in the gates and previous the guards station, we discovered a spot within the shade to eat our lunch, then we took a stroll across the Imperial Palace Gardens. Inside is a large Tokyo inexperienced house with a primary paved pathway plus paths all through the various totally different gardens. If you’re visiting Tokyo with a stroller, this park is one other glorious park to flee the hustle and bustle of the hectic metropolis.
For the same itinerary with some nice meals strategies, try this Tokyo Itinerary!
Bonus: Household Picture Shoot
A household journey along with your child is a particular time. On a number of of our household journeys around the globe, we captured particular moments with knowledgeable photographer. A few of the household images from these photograph classes are a few of our most treasured possessions.
Tokyo is such an iconic vacation spot. We didn’t have an opportunity this household journey, however you may ebook a household photograph shoot in Tokyo. Your skilled photographer will make you’re feeling relaxed and assist you to discover the most effective photo-friendly places for your loved ones.
Tokyo Household Photoshoot
A household photoshoot is a wonderful strategy to protect reminiscences out of your journey! Get $25 off your first Flytographer photograph shoot.
Talking of enjoyable issues to do with children in Tokyo, in case your Japan itinerary features a cease in Kyoto, we extremely suggest you are taking a high-speed practice. Irrespective of how younger your children are, they are going to be amazed on the pace of the practice because it speeds throughout the attractive Japanese countryside.
Tokyo Station is large and hectic, so we felt it was effectively definitely worth the effort on our second-last day in Tokyo with children to make sure we knew precisely the place we wanted to go! Issues can get a bit of chaotic touring with all of your baggage and two little children. Tokyo Station is extremely busy however we did discover it simple sufficient to navigate.
For a real Japanese expertise, do because the locals do and get a bento containers for the high-speed practice trip. Once more, this was an expertise in itself. We had been grateful for the plastic meals shows to assist us select which bento field to order for our journey to Kyoto.
The place to Keep in Tokyo with a Child
Because the world’s largest metropolis, there are close to numerous inns to select from. If you’re visiting Tokyo with a child or toddler, we suggest you keep in central Tokyo close to a subway station. It will assist you to simply get round to see Tokyo’s high points of interest by way of brief subway journeys.
If you happen to select to remain at a family-friendly Tokyo lodge we suggest you discover a place with a crib and sound-proof partitions. The “Prime Picks for Households” search filter on Reserving.com makes it simple to discover a kid-friendly lodge in Tokyo.
For our journey to Tokyo with children, we rented an condominium. We discover that having separate bedrooms, a full kitchen and laundry services to be invaluable facilities for touring with children. Once more, when trying to find a Tokyo trip residence rental search for a spot in central Tokyo close to a subway station.
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Celine Brewer is the proprietor of Child Can Journey. Not solely does she have years of expertise touring with infants & toddlers, however she’s helped thousands and thousands of latest dad and mom journey with their infants and toddlers for over a decade. Along with writing on her child journey weblog, she has shared her experience on touring with a child or toddler by contributing to articles about touring with a child with the Washington Put up, USA At present, the Lonely Planet journal and Being pregnant & New child journal.
Celine additionally writes about household journey on the positioning FamilyCanTravel.com, which she co-owns together with her husband. Being from the Canadian Rockies, she shares her ardour about her residence and journey to Banff Nationwide Park and space on their web site TravelBanffCanada.com.
