Home 

Japan Travel and Culture Guide

 


 
  Japan   »  japan travel   »  tokyo travel   »  best of tokyo (lists)   »  19 best tokyo neighborhoods for kids

19 Best Tokyo Neighborhoods For Kids

        posted by John Spacey, Japan Talk, June 19, 2012

Believe it or not, Tokyo is a great place for kids. It's filled with urban landscapes, attractions, parks, temples, shrines and shopping that are fascinating for children. Here's where to go.

1. Odaiba

Odaiba is a large artificial island in Tokyo Bay that has become the city's leisure paradise. It's one of the only spots in Tokyo where the shoreline is accessible. There's a boardwalk along the bay that affords stunning views of the city.

In a city of tight spaces — Odaiba is spacious. Its many attractions, shopping malls, restaurants and theaters offer a relaxed atmosphere for families.

maritime museum in odaiba

2. Yotsuya

Yotsuya is a central business district known for its ghost stories and ninja grave. It's also home to three of the city's best attractions for kids: the Tokyo Toy Museum, Tokyo Fire Museum and Shinjuku Park (nearby).

The Tokyo Fire Museum has plenty of antique fire fighting equipment. It's interactive — kids can play with equipment and wear firefighting gear.

The Tokyo Toy Museum features thousands of classic toys from around the world. All the toys are for kids to play with — it's oriented towards young children.

tokyo toy museum yotsuya

3. Kichijoji

Kichijoji is a laid-back residential, university and shopping district.

It's best known for Inokashira Park — one of the city's most family friendly parks (except at hanami time when it's a little wild). Kichijoji is a favorite shopping destination amongst Tokyo moms with young children.

kichijoji mom

4. Ginza

Ginza is Japan's premiere luxury shopping district. On Sunday afternoons, its main roads are closed to cars making plenty of room for a relaxing family shopping day.

ginza on sunday

5. Ebisu

Ebisu is an upscale shopping, restaurant and cafe district. It's best known for Ebisu Garden Place — a city with the city that combines business, residential, shopping and entertainment into one building complex. It's centered around a wide public square and features charming western style buildings.

ebisu mom

6. Hibiya

Hibiya is an old area of Tokyo known for the Imperial Hotel and Hibiya Park. Hibiya is a historic part of town on the edge of the Imperial Palace. Hibiya Park was Japan's first public park.

hibiya park

7. Jiyugaoka

Jiyugaoka is a shopping, dining and residential district that feels like Sunday afternoon every day of the week.

jiyugaoka

8. Omotesando

Omotesando is a luxury shopping district that's second only to Ginza. In a city with few good sidewalks — Omotesando features a wide tree-lined boulevard that's often compared to the Champs-Élysées in Paris.

omotesando at halloween

9. Asakusa

Asakusa is an old district of Tokyo that's home to Sensoji temple and Nakamise shopping street.

Sensoji is Tokyo's oldest and most visited temple. School trips to Tokyo inevitably visit Sensoji. It's packed with school children on school days. Nakamise shopping street leads to the temple. It's the best place in Tokyo to purchase souvenirs.

Asakusa is also close to another popular attraction for kids — Tokyo Sky Tree.

sensoji temple asakusa

10. Otemachi

Otemachi is a business district in central Tokyo. Its main family attraction is the Imperial East Gardens (part of Tokyo Imperial Palace).

imperial east gardens near otemachi

11. Daikanyama

Daikanyama is an upscale residential neighborhood known for its laid-back shops, cafes and restaurants.

daikanyama dad

12. Tachikawa

Tachikawa is a suburban area of Tokyo. It's a large neighborhood that features several department stores. Its biggest attraction for kids is Showa Kinen Park — 163 hectares of sublime Japanese gardens and green space.

Showa Kinen Park Tachikawa

13. Yoyogi

Yoyogi is a hipster neighborhood sandwiched between massive Shinjuku and Shibuya.

Yoyogi is home to Yoyogi park — one of Tokyo's largest parks. It gets a little wild at times (party people) but it's popular amongst families nonetheless.

yoyogi mom

14. Nerima

In Tokyo, as in other cities, suburbia is widely considered a convenient place for families. Suburban attractions, shopping and dining venues always have ample parking. Due to the lower cost of living, suburbia is filled with young families.

Nerima is one of Tokyo's best known suburban neighborhoods. It's also the fictional home of Japan's favorite robot cat from the future: Doraemon.

nerima

15. Nakameguro

Nakameguro is a chill residential area known for its sakura tree lined river. The area features many charming cafes and shops.

nakameguro

16. Futako-tamagawa

Futako-tamagawa is an affluent residential district on the outskirts of Tokyo. It has decent shopping centered around a large Takashimaya department store. It's beside the Tamagawa river. The area's long riverside park features an excellent cycling and jogging trail. Baseball diamonds dot the park. It's a popular place for summer BBQs.

Futako tamagawa

17. Koenji

Koenji is an old neighborhood that hasn't changed all that much for the past 50 years. It's home to one of Tokyo's best summer festivals for kids — the Koenji Awa Odori.

koenji kid

18. Komegome

Rikugien Garden in Komegome is considered one of Japan's best gardens. It reproduces 88 scenes from classical poems.

Sakura kid at Rikugien Garden

19. Ueno

Ueno is one of the best and worst neighborhoods for families in Tokyo. It's home to a good zoo and dozens of excellent museums. However, it's not Tokyo's safest neighborhood. Families are recommended to enjoy Ueno in the day but avoid it at night.

ueno zoo

 
 
Please take the time to follow us on google+, twitter or our facebook page. We update all three daily.
 
japan talk to go8




There's no question about it — Japan is an urban wonder.



Trending Member Profiles
Interact with people who like Japan as much as you do. View all profiles.















































most viewed profiles in the past 30 minutes (cached up to 3 hours)


98 Things To Do In Kyoto

101 Kinds Of Japanese Food

It's often the most dangerous areas that are the most interesting.
Japanese travel survival guide lesson #1 - sleeping on a Japanese train.



We are always striving to improve Japan Talk. If you find an error or have a suggestion please let us know.

Permalink:
http://www.japan-talk.com/jt/new/19-best-tokyo-neighborhoods-for-kids


Home »


subscribe in a reader about penpal search culture copyrights trends travel privacy tokyo daily photo friends, penpals and language exchange

Copyright 2012 Japan Talk. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Report violations here.