Tokyo is one of the coolest cities in the world! And since it's super safe with a far-reaching public transport system, it's also one of the easiest cities to get around - making it an amazing place to visit with kids! You'll of course want to do all the tourist things (like the temples, the gardens, and the Tokyo Tower)... but don't leave without also experiencing a bit of crazy! And we have a list of the absolute best crazy-ish things to do in Tokyo with kids right here!
Without further ado.....
Get some pets in at an animal cafe!
OK so these have been popping up in the US (we even recently wrote about one in Phoenix), but Japan was the first place this concept really blew up. Since they've been doing this for a few dozen years and have SO many options to pick from - cats, owls, dogs, hedgehogs, mini pigs, and even capybara - the Japanese took this to a whole new level.
When we visited, we went to Chiku Chiku - a hedgehog cafe. Each hedgehog is put in a miniature room for its' playtime with you. You book the spot for an hour, and they show you how to gently handle these little creatures while you feed them and play. The spot isn't huge and the drinks were not fancy, but it was still the best experience. This was a few years ago and our kids still talk about dear Osushi (our hedgehog)... so 100% a core memory was formed!
2, Visit a cool and crazy themed cafe!
Yeah another 'are SO MANY (!) cool cafes in Tokyo - it's unbelievable. There is a cafe for almost every theme you can imagine - so get searching for the perfect fit for you!
Our favorite spot was Kawaii Monster Cafe - pictured above - which has now transitioned to just a pop-up gift shop (with occasional crazy treats). But there are plenty of other options - just do your research to make sure it's appropriate for kids! For example, Robot Cafe is super popular with adults, but they also often have kids (and even help accommodate for them by providing ear covers).
3. Experience an Immersive Art Exhibit!
This city seems to take everything and make it crazier, and their art exhibits are no exception. I was in Tokyo while studying abroad, and I still remember an exhibit I saw in a warehouse there... so when I returned with kids, I knew I wanted to have another experience like that one. I swear this exhibit by TeamLab was the most magical museum experience I've ever had in my entire life. It's professionally done - every detail is perfect - and it's mind-blowing!
The exhibits here are always rotating, but when we went, the entrance was a long dark hallway that was slightly angled downward... opening up into a room completely full of huge bean bags that you had to traverse to get to the next space. At one point you're standing in massive room built of mirrors that has a foot of water on the ground... with reflections of koi swimming in the water at your feet... anyway, it's wild. We took 3 kids - ages 5, 3, and 1 - so I have faith that you can bring your kids along because you don't want to miss this one. And although you'll need to keep your eye on them, they will be in awe of every room - I promise!
4. Relax at an Onsen!
You must visit an onsen for the relaxing Japanese hot spring bath - even with kids! We went to Oedo Onsen Monogatari, which recently closed, but there are plenty of other family-friendly facilities near Tokyo! This one was completely kid-friendly (see those little outfits!) and included a space for eating and little games. (Most bloggers seem to recommend Niwa No Yu as a similar family-friendly option in Tokyo - with many more right outside the city.) Since I was pregnant and the kids were little, we didn't fully submerge in the hot water - but it was perfect just to stick our feet in and enjoy the vibes. A must-do - even if it's just for the photos! :)
5. Play at Kidzania!
Alright this isn't specific only to Tokyo, but it's unique enough that you should NOT skip it - especially if you have kids between ~4 to 8 years old. It's essentially a city run by kids... but with organized direction from a large staff of adults. You need to get tickets ahead of time, and when you arrive, your child selects a few jobs they want to try. For example, Andrew signed up for three shifts - as a gas station attendant, a fast food line cook, and a firefighter. They're assigned a specific time slot, and you must arrive on time for your training and uniform.
Each area has full visibility to the kids at all times, but adults are not allowed in the area. This may seem unnerving, but it completely makes sense once you're there. They spoke only in Japanese, but it didn't matter. Andrew was able to pick up enough based on gestures and watching the other kids that he didn't miss a beat. And it's SUPER realistic. For the gas station area, there were other kids with jobs as race car drivers, and they pulled up to the station for Andrew to fill up their car. For the firefighting, he boarded a real (mini) truck with his new colleagues and the chief and they drove to another area of the city (with us running behind lol) to fight a pretend fire with a real (low impact) fire hose. And for the line cook job, he made a REAL hamburger that we ate afterwards! It may seem like a lot for a little one, but all the kids just rise to the occasion - and it's pretty cool to watch!
6. Cross the Street at Shibuya Scramble Crossing
This one borders between a regular tourist stop and a crazy one. Frankly I've crossed crazier streets (looking at you, Hanoi), but this one is impressive due to the scale and the orderly nature of the pedestrians. It's the world's busiest intersection and traffic stops for pedestrians in all directions every two minutes - and they're with up to 3,000 people crossing AT THE SAME TIME. The consistent crowds are crazy. So first you should definitely cross it, and then you need to get higher to get a good view! There are quite a few options - one of the most popular being the Starbucks (yes, seriously) and another being a vast modern viewing deck with 360 view and glass fences. But our favorite was actually the Magnet. It's at the top of a mall, and they have a little vieweing deck plus a cafe - and the walls are completely covered in local art.
Alright - there you have it - some crazy fun things to hopefully inspire you to take a trip to Tokyo with your kids!
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