Tokyo is a dream destination for families: astonishingly safe and clean, endlessly novel, and packed with attractions that thrill children and adults alike. You have two world-class Disney parks (including the one-of-a-kind DisneySea), the immersive digital playground of teamLab, giant pandas at Ueno Zoo, the magical Ghibli Museum, and a wealth of weatherproof options from Pokemon and Sanrio to hands-on science and the role-play city of KidZania. Here are the best family days out, with ages, prices and practical tips.
¥7,900+Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea
Area
Maihama (Urayasu)
Ages
All ages
“DisneySea is the unique, more grown-up park found nowhere else in the world — buy dated tickets online and use the app for ride passes.”
¥3,800teamLab Planets
Area
Toyosu
Ages
All ages
“Kids love wading through the water and light rooms — dress them in shorts and bring a spare towel just in case.”
¥600Ueno Zoo
Area
Ueno
Ages
All ages
“Go early to see the giant pandas before the queues build, then combine with a picnic and paddle boats on Shinobazu Pond.”
¥1,000Ghibli Museum
Area
Mitaka
Ages
All ages
“Kids can climb aboard the giant plush Catbus, and everyone gets an original short film — but tickets must be bought a month ahead.”
Free entryPokemon Center Mega Tokyo
Area
Ikebukuro
Ages
Kids & fans
“It's inside Sunshine City mall — pair it with the aquarium and observation deck for a rainy-day, kid-friendly triple bill.”
¥3,600+Sanrio Puroland
Area
Tama (Western Tokyo)
Ages
Young children
“It's fully indoor, so it's a perfect rainy-day option — buy weekday tickets online for the cheapest, least-crowded visit.”
¥630National Museum of Nature and Science
Area
Ueno
Ages
All ages
“Don't miss the 360° theatre dome and the life-size blue whale model outside — great value and mostly bilingual displays.”
¥4,000+KidZania Tokyo
Area
Toyosu
Ages
Ages 3–15
“Book a session slot in advance and note most role-play activities are in Japanese, though staff help non-Japanese-speaking kids join in.”
Tokyo with kids in detail
1.Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea
Just outside Tokyo in Urayasu lies one of the world's greatest theme-park destinations: two adjacent Disney parks that together make an unforgettable family day (or two). Tokyo Disneyland follows the classic magic-kingdom template with beloved lands, parades and rides, executed to the famously high standard of Japanese service and detail. But the real showstopper is Tokyo DisneySea, a nautically themed park that exists nowhere else in the world, widely regarded as the most beautiful Disney park ever built. Its intricately themed ports — a Venetian harbour, a Mediterranean village, a mysterious volcano, a 1920s American waterfront — are stunning to wander even between rides, and it skews slightly more grown-up, with a few thrilling attractions and superb food and shows. Both parks are impeccably clean, endlessly detailed and hugely popular, so crowds and queues are serious; buy date-specific tickets online in advance and use the official app to grab standby passes and premium ride reservations, plan meal times around the rushes, and consider visiting on a weekday. Reaching the resort is easy — a short train ride from central Tokyo to Maihama, then the whimsical Disney monorail. It is a magical, world-class outing for children and adults alike.
Hours
Daily ~09:00–21:00 (varies)
Price
1-day 1-park from ¥7,900 (date-based)
Getting there
JR Keiyo Line to Maihama Station (~15 min from Tokyo Station), then park monorail
Insider tip: DisneySea is the unique, more grown-up park found nowhere else in the world — buy dated tickets online and use the app for ride passes.
2.teamLab Planets
While teamLab Planets is a headline attraction for adults, it is also one of the most joyful, engaging experiences in Tokyo for children, who take to its barefoot, immersive digital worlds with unbridled delight. Kids get to do things no ordinary museum allows: wade through knee-deep water where projected koi swim around their legs and scatter into flowers, sink into a vast field of glowing beanbag-like spheres, climb soft light-filled hills, and touch interactive walls and floors that respond and transform as they move. The whole experience is designed to be felt and played with rather than quietly observed, blurring the line between visitor and artwork, and it captivates all ages from toddlers to teenagers. Because you go barefoot and some rooms involve water, dress children in shorts or roll-up trousers and bring a small towel. Entry is by timed slot and sells out well ahead, so book online in advance and aim for a quieter time. Allow around 90 minutes to two hours. It is stroller-limited due to the water and stairs, so it suits children who can walk. Magical, safe and thoroughly modern, it is a guaranteed family hit and an easy sell even to screen-loving kids.
Hours
Daily ~09:00–22:00 (last entry 21:00)
Price
Adults from ¥3,800; discounts for children
Getting there
Yurikamome Line to Shin-Toyosu Station, 1-min walk
Insider tip: Kids love wading through the water and light rooms — dress them in shorts and bring a spare towel just in case.
3.Ueno Zoo
Opened in 1882, Ueno Zoo is Japan's oldest and most famous zoo, conveniently located inside the culture-packed Ueno Park, which makes it an easy and affordable family outing to combine with the park's museums and green spaces. Its undisputed superstars are the giant pandas, an enduring source of national excitement whose enclosure draws the longest queues (arrive early to see them before the crowds). Beyond the pandas, the zoo houses more than 300 species across two areas linked by a monorail-style ride, including tigers, lions, gorillas, elephants, polar bears, a large aviary and a five-storey pagoda amid the grounds. A dedicated children's zone lets little ones get close to and pet smaller, gentle animals, a highlight for younger visitors. Admission is very reasonable — adults pay just ¥600 and children under twelve enter free — making it one of the best-value family attractions in the city. The zoo is closed on Mondays. Afterwards, the surrounding Ueno Park offers playgrounds, wide lawns for a picnic, paddle boats on the lotus-covered Shinobazu Pond and street performers, easily rounding out a relaxed, budget-friendly day out with children.
Hours
Tue–Sun 09:30–17:00; closed Mon
Price
Adults ¥600; children under 12 free
Getting there
JR Ueno Station (Park exit), inside Ueno Park
Insider tip: Go early to see the giant pandas before the queues build, then combine with a picnic and paddle boats on Shinobazu Pond.
4.Ghibli Museum
For families with children who love My Neighbour Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service or Ponyo, the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka is a dream come true, a whimsical wonderland designed by Hayao Miyazaki to be explored with childlike curiosity rather than followed on a set path. Kids delight in clambering aboard the giant soft-plush Catbus in a room built just for them, discovering secret staircases and nooks, marvelling at the rooftop Robot Soldier from Laputa, and watching an original Ghibli short film — screened only here and nowhere else in the world — in the cosy Saturn Theatre. Exhibits playfully reveal the magic of animation and recreate a cluttered animator's studio, sparking imaginations of all ages. Photography is not allowed inside, which keeps everyone present and engaged in the moment. The major catch for families to plan around is the ticketing: entry is by date-and-time-stamped ticket only, released on the 10th of the previous month and often selling out within minutes, with absolutely none available at the door, so you must book well ahead. Pair it with the pretty Inokashira Park and its swan boats next door for a full, gentle family day in leafy western Tokyo.
Hours
Wed–Mon 10:00–18:00 (timed entry); closed Tue
Price
¥1,000 adults; children priced by age; advance lottery only
Getting there
JR Chuo Line to Mitaka, then Ghibli shuttle bus or 15-min walk via Inokashira Park
Insider tip: Kids can climb aboard the giant plush Catbus, and everyone gets an original short film — but tickets must be bought a month ahead.
5.Pokemon Center Mega Tokyo
For any child (or adult) who loves Pokemon, the Pokemon Center Mega Tokyo in Ikebukuro's vast Sunshine City complex is an unmissable, joy-filled stop. As the flagship of Japan's official Pokemon store chain, it is an enormous, colourful shrine to the franchise, stocked wall to wall with plush toys of every Pokemon imaginable, trading cards, video games, stationery, clothing, homeware, snacks and exclusive limited-edition merchandise you cannot find outside Japan. Giant Pikachu and other character statues greet visitors and make for irresistible photos, and the whole space buzzes with delighted young fans. It is free to enter and simply browse, though resisting a purchase is another matter entirely. The store's location inside Sunshine City makes it especially handy for families and on rainy days, because the same complex houses the excellent Sunshine Aquarium (with a rooftop penguin and seal area), the Sky Circus observation deck, an indoor theme park, Namja Town food-and-games park and plenty of restaurants, so you can easily build a full, weatherproof day of child-friendly fun around it. Combine the Pokemon Center with the aquarium and observation deck for a triple bill that keeps children happily entertained for hours, whatever the weather outside.
Hours
Daily ~10:00–20:00
Price
Free to enter; merchandise varies
Getting there
Ikebukuro Station, inside the Sunshine City complex
Insider tip: It's inside Sunshine City mall — pair it with the aquarium and observation deck for a rainy-day, kid-friendly triple bill.
6.Sanrio Puroland
Sanrio Puroland is a bright, whimsical indoor theme park in the Tama district of western Tokyo dedicated to Hello Kitty, My Melody, Cinnamoroll, Kuromi and the rest of the beloved Sanrio character family — a paradise for young children and devoted fans of all things cute. Being entirely indoors, it is an ideal choice for a rainy or very hot day, offering gentle rides, character meet-and-greets, a boat attraction, a Hello Kitty house to explore, and — the real highlights — dazzling, high-production musical shows and parades featuring the costumed characters singing and dancing, which enchant little ones. The whole park is a riot of pastel colours, sparkling lights and photo opportunities, with themed cafés serving adorably decorated character food and shops overflowing with exclusive kawaii merchandise. It skews younger than Disney, making it especially well suited to families with toddlers and pre-teens rather than thrill-seekers. Buying date-based tickets online in advance saves money and time, and visiting on a weekday means smaller crowds and a more relaxed pace. It is a little way from central Tokyo but easily reached by train to Tama-Center. For families with young Sanrio fans, it is a genuinely magical, weatherproof day out.
Hours
Daily hours vary (~09:00/10:00–17:00/20:00)
Price
Date-based from ~¥3,600
Getting there
Keio/Odakyu/Tama Monorail to Tama-Center Station, ~5 min walk
Insider tip: It's fully indoor, so it's a perfect rainy-day option — buy weekday tickets online for the cheapest, least-crowded visit.
7.National Museum of Nature and Science
The National Museum of Nature and Science, tucked inside Ueno Park, is one of Tokyo's best family attractions and outstanding value, blending serious scientific collections with plenty of hands-on, kid-pleasing displays. Spread across two buildings — the Japan Gallery and the Global Gallery — its exhibits sweep from dinosaur skeletons and prehistoric creatures to the natural history of the Japanese archipelago, space and technology, evolution, and the human body, with many interactive stations that let children push buttons, handle specimens and experiment. A firm favourite is the immersive 360-degree 'Theater 36' dome that surrounds the audience in floor-to-ceiling imagery, and outside the entrance a striking life-size model of a blue whale and a vintage steam locomotive make instant photo hits. Much of the signage is bilingual, and audio guides help international visitors get more from the collections. Admission is a bargain at ¥630 for adults, with under-18s entering free, making it a superb rainy-day or educational option. Its Ueno Park setting means you can easily pair it with the zoo, the other national museums, playgrounds and green space for a full, varied and affordable family day out in one of Tokyo's great cultural hubs.
Hours
Tue–Sun 09:00–17:00; closed Mon
Price
Adults ¥630; under-18s free
Getting there
JR Ueno Station (Park exit), inside Ueno Park
Insider tip: Don't miss the 360° theatre dome and the life-size blue whale model outside — great value and mostly bilingual displays.
8.KidZania Tokyo
KidZania Tokyo, inside the LaLaport Toyosu mall, is an inventive edutainment attraction where children step into a scaled-down, kid-sized replica of a real city and spend the day trying out grown-up jobs. Dressed in proper uniforms, they can become firefighters racing to put out a 'blaze', pilots and cabin crew in an aircraft mock-up, surgeons and dentists, chefs and bakers, TV presenters, police officers, delivery drivers and dozens more across around a hundred role-play activities housed in realistic mini businesses. As they 'work', children earn the park's own currency, 'kidZos', which they can then spend or save in the city's shops and bank, subtly teaching about money, teamwork and how the adult world functions — all while having enormous fun and building independence. It is aimed at children roughly aged three to fifteen, with the most engagement from primary-school ages. The park runs in two timed sessions a day, so book your preferred slot in advance, especially in school holidays. Many activities are conducted in Japanese, but the friendly staff are experienced at helping non-Japanese-speaking children take part, and the hands-on nature transcends language. For an imaginative, active and genuinely educational day, KidZania is a brilliant, weatherproof family choice.
Hours
Two daily sessions (~09:00–15:00 & ~16:00–21:00)
Price
Children from ~¥4,000; adults ~¥2,300 (date-based)
Getting there
Yurikamome or Metro to Toyosu Station, inside LaLaport Toyosu mall
Insider tip: Book a session slot in advance and note most role-play activities are in Japanese, though staff help non-Japanese-speaking kids join in.