Japan is an amazing country, full of unique things to see and do. There’s no shortage of fun ideas and it’s an extremely kid-friendly destination. There is something usually on every street that will catch your eye and attention. Although the flight there is long, we find traveling with our daughter to be very easy once we arrive there. Convenience stores are on every corner so you’re never far from grabbing snacks or drinks. With cute characters like Hello Kitty, Totoro, Anpanman and kawaii stuff all over, it’s like a child’s dream. There’s a surplus of activities to do in Japan for kids that will make them smile (and you too!) Here’s a list of just a few ideas to for your next family trip.
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Things to Do in Japan for Kids
Holding a hedgehog at Harry’s Hedgehog Cafe
Hedgehog Cafe
While wandering around Tokyo we came across Harry’s Hedgehog Cafe. Being a lover of these little critters I had to stop in. Once inside we found the line to be quite long, but it moved quickly. When we got to the front of the line we noticed a menu of choices to pick from, and each one included a drink. We chose a combo of 30 minutes with some meal worms to feed them for a total of $16.
Terra petting one of the hedgehogs, she loved it!
After picking our menu choice, we were seated on both sides of a small open cage and provided gloves to wear while handling. Their spikes can feel quite sharp when they get scared, so we wore gloves most of the time. Terra loved playing with and feeding them. They were pretty calm with a few jittery moments, but I loved holding and cuddling them. Hedgehogs are such interesting creatures! At the end we paid and grabbed a stuffed hedgehog souvenir to take home.
Terra loved watching these interactive displays at the museum
Anpanman Museum
Since Terra loves the Anpanman characters we knew we had to check out Anpanman Museum. It’s an amazing place to spend the day. Across Japan there’s several locations, depending on where you are. Whether your kid is familiar with these characters, they will still love the many fun things to do here.
Adorable breads and sweets made to look like the characters
At some point we got an Anpanman balloon and she didn’t want to let it go!
As we explored the museum we came across a little cafe/village for pretend play, an area to jump around and play with balls, climbing areas, building stations with various blocks and toys, interactive displays, cafes with cute Anpanman themed foods, and much more! Terra loved just wandering around here to explore. We also noticed an occasional show happening with the characters, although we never stopped to watch all of it. Overall, it’s truly a paradise for kids and will keep them happy all day!
On the colorful streets of Harajuku
Harajuku
Another place we enjoyed bringing Terra is Harajuku. It’s fun to explore for people of all ages, and there’s lots to see and do here. With the unique street fashion and kawaii shops we were in delight the whole time. There’s so many pops of color going on and fun music all around. You can also try some of the street foods, Terra especially loved the crepes. It’s a overall cool Japanese culture experience for your kids to have. We loved to people watch, admire the funky fashion and shop for souvenirs.
The outside of the whimsical building of Studio Ghibli
Ghibli Museum
One of our favorite places we’ve been in Japan is Ghibli Museum. Terra absolutely adores all of the movies and loved seeing the history behind it all here. Photos are not allowed inside, so I don’t have any to show except for the outside. The inside was filled with whimsical fun and we walked through windy quirky pathways through each area.
It’s not easy to get a ticket, but if you book this full day Miyazaki Movies Tour it’ll be included. You’ll also get to tour an open air Edo museum and some other spots that are reminiscent of scenery from the films.
Robot sculpture from “Castle in the Sky” on the rooftop
Looking into the cafe area of the museum
It truly is a magical place and you’ll learn how movies were made and see exhibits inspired by the movies. We got a glimpse of how a typical artist studio looks, and some progression of the drawings. Terra’s favorite place here was the play area where kids can climb and go inside the giant Neko bus. We then went to the roof area for some beautiful views of the museum and property. At the end is a really cool gift shop with all kinds of Ghibli goodies. After the shop, we stopped at the museum cafe to grab a bite to eat, and there were plenty of kid-friendly options available. Before leaving we also walked around the grounds of the museum and explored some of the parks around, it was quite a charming area.
Outside of a Daiso shop in Tokyo
Daiso
Every time we go to Japan we make sure to stop at Daiso. It’s equivalent to a 99 cent store in America. The stores are pretty big and there’s an extensive amount of cool stuff to check out here. They are located in various locations around Japan, but the largest one is in Harajuku. Terra loved exploring all the aisles and never got bored. It’s filled with so many random things that everyone will have a blast! It’s also a great place to grab some small souvenirs as well.
A glimpse of the cafe filled with friendly cats
Cat Cafe
Another family favorite to go while in Japan are the cat cafes. Terra absolutely loves them and being able to just hang out with a bunch of cats in a small space made her day. They typically have drinks and snacks available to munch on while visiting. We mostly just focus on seeing the cats and how each one is unique. We found them all to be very friendly and approachable. There were even some sleeping inside cups and bowls, it was adorable! We highly recommend stopping at one while in Japan.
Terra enjoying the prize games at the arcade
Musical drums game at the arcade
Visit an Arcade
Arcades are always fun for kids of all ages, and the ones in Japan are just awesome. You can find one pretty much anywhere and there’s a plentitude of stuff to do to keep you busy all day. You can practice your dance moves, catch and win prizes, play video games, play simulator and racing games, be silly in the Purikura photobooths, and so much more. We had a blast it was hard to leave, definitely a must-have experience for anyone.
Interacting with the wild deer on Miyajima island
Miyajima Island
On the way to Hiroshima, we stopped at Miyajima Island to explore for a few hours. Along with seeing the Great Torii and trying some street snacks, we also interacted with the wildlife. It’s quite an enchanting experience for kids with the wild deer wandering around. Terra always loves to see animals, and being able to get up close and personal with them is so unique. The deer are so tame you can even hand feed some of them. There’s a lot more to see and do on the island so either make a day of it or stay overnight.
Owl Cafe
Yet another animal cafe, but this time with a variety of owls. At an owl cafe like this one you’ll have the chance to get up close and personal with the owls, including holding and petting them. I’ve never really had the chance to interact with one, so here was my chance. They may be hard for little ones to hold, but they’ll still love being able to look at them. We also got some adorable owl-themed desserts and drinks, a nice ending to a cool experience.
Terra fascinated by the scenery outside along the train journey
Take a Scenic Train Ride
During every visit to Japan, we also love to venture outside of Tokyo. There’s so much to see in the countryside and mountain areas. Terra loved looking outside the large windows, this one in particular was on the way to our three day trip to Takayama. Kids are fascinated by trains and love seeing the scenery outside. You can even teach them a bit about what they’re seeing and about the special shinkansen trains in Japan. Regardless of your destination, they will love the journey there!
A view in Koishikawa Korakuen Gardens in Japan
Koishikawa Korakuen Gardens
With every city we visit, we love checking out local parks and gardens. It’s a great way to get outside and be in nature a bit. Koishikawa Korakuen Gardens is a beautiful landscape garden next to Tokyo Dome City. Terra loved being able to run around and search for nature things to collect here. You can also see some wildlife and they can learn about the local trees and plants here. There’s a few bridges hidden within here, so it’s a great photo opportunity. If the weather is nice you can have a picnic or just wind down in between site-seeing. It’s a nice escape from the busy side of Tokyo.
Tokyo Disneyland
Although we haven’t visited here yet, it’s an obviously great choice to go with kids. Rides, games, and Disney characters are always guaranteed to be a day of family fun. If you have enough time to go while in Tokyo, definitely make a stop here. You can buy a one day pass here and skip the line as well!
We hope you enjoyed this list of ideas on what to do in Japan for kids. This is just a few of many activities to do, Japan is full of stuff to discover, and being in a new country is always inspiring!
Mustard Hotel Asakusa 2: Where we stayed near the historic Asakusa.
Keio Plaza Hotel: A classic favorite and great location!
Hotel Gracery Asakusa: Gets great reviews!
Have you been to Japan with your kids? If so, what other things did you do there?
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