The Ginza area is famous for being a glitzy and ritzy but, if you find the right kind of accommodation within your own budget I say go for it! SOOOOOO convenient and for kids there are so many fun things to do and see. Here are my recommendations for Ginza with kids if you’re wondering just what there is to do exactly.
If you like little Mum-and-Pop shops and retro alleyways Ginza is probably NOT for you (all some of the back streets do hide some quaint treasures but it’s not the majority of Ginza.) Most options are high rise and modern and slick here. Amazing restaurants ( often with an amazing price tag attached) and great shopping for kids and adults around here too.
PLEASE NOTE: This article contains some affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of these links, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Local stations: Ginza Stations on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, the Marunouchi Line, the Tokyo Hibiya Line. Yurakucho Station on the Yamanote City Loop line, the JR Keihin-Tohoku Line and the Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line. Shinbashi Station is also 10 mins walk from Ginza if you use the Ginza exit. Shimbashi Station is on the JR Yamanote Line, the JR Keihin-Tohoku Line, the JR Tokaido Line, The JR Yokosuka Line, the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, The Toei Subway Asakusa Line, the Yurikamome Line.
Closest JR Yamanote Line ( City Loop) Station: Yurakucho Station ( 5-10 minutes walk from most of central Ginza.)
If you like exploring the city on foot like I do? You can walk to:
– Shimbashi ( 19 mins on foot or approx approx 8 mins./ 1500 yen in a taxi or 12 mins on the subway with a 5 min walk at either end for 170 yen)
– Nihonbashi ( 19 mins on foot or approx 7 mins/ 1300 yen in a taxi or 8 mins on the subway for 165 yen per ticket)
– Tokyo Tower ( 37 mins on foot or approx 12 mins/ 2300 yen in a taxi or 18 mins on the subway with a 5 min walk at either end for 165 yen per ticket)
– Akasaka ( 38 mins on foot or approx 8 mins / 2000 yen in a taxi or 6-10 minutes on the subway for 170 yen per ticket)
– Toranomon, right next to Roppongi ( 34 mins on foot or approx 9 mins / 2000 yen in a taxi or 15 mins on the subway with a 4 minutes walk at either end for 165 yen.)
How to get here from Narita and Haneda airports?
The easiest option after a private shuttle is to take an airport limousine bus. Even if you aren’t staying at one of the bus stop hotels, you can take a cab from that stop for that last little leg OR maybe it might even be close enough to walk!
It stops at : The Peninsula, The Dai-Ichi Hotel, Mitsui Garden Hotel Ginza Premier, Palace Hotel, Imperial Hotel, Ginza Station (Yurakucho), Courtyard by Marriott Tokyo Ginza Hotel. (Airport Limousine bus stops can change so please check before making a reservation.)
What is actually in this area?
Here are my Ginza suggestions when travelling around with kids.
And for kid-free date night options read here.
JUST A REMINDER: IN JAPAN YOU MUST DISCLOSE HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL BE STAYING IN THE HOTEL ROOM. SMALL CHILDREN INCLUDED. I’ve seen hotel guests asked to leave or asked to pay for an additional room in Japan for not doing this. Also, Japan is a country with earthquakes. This means that staff need to know exactly how many people are staying in a hotel room in the case of evacuation. All heads must be accounted for.
IN WHICH HOTELS WOULD I HAPPILY STAY?
Mitsui Garden Hotel Ginza Tsukiji
I really really love this hotel. The lobby and rooms are beautiful, they have a public bath (no swimsuits allowed, of course) and the staff are so kind. Many of the rooms contain their own washer/dryers, a full size refrigerator and a microwave. The largest of rooms accommodate up to 4 adults. The staff here are also so kind – they can store your luggage and assist with forwarding and receiving luggage. This hotel is 5 mins walk from Tsukiji Market and 4 mins walk from Tsukiji Station. When making your way to the hotel, please make sure you add the TSUKIJI part to the hotel name as there are a few Mitsui Garden Hotels in this area.
This hotel is just a 10 minute taxi ride from the Yakatabune departure (family-friendly dinner cruise – this is the exact one I booked and took here) port and 8 mins in a taxi to Team Lab Planets and Kidzania.
Section L Tsukiji
While not in the heart of Ginza, this is nearby in Tsukiji (near the fish market) and it is an apartment hotel. The rooms have a kitchen and a washer and dryer- all in the room. They can cater for families of up to 5 people.
Please note that Section L Tsujkiji also offers longer term stays (month by month, even) if you are interested. This hotel is 3 mins walk from Tsukiji Outer Market and 17 mins walk from JR Ginza Station ( 10 mins by train or 6 mins/approx 650 yen by taxi.)
Hyatt Centric
This hotel is gorgeous ! Every floor has a different touch that reflects the fact that Ginza was, originally, a district for textiles shopping. Also, the hotel premises used to be a newspaper printing building and every details of the lobby and front reception reflects this. The service, facilities and room interiors are all absolutely flawless.
The bars and restaurants (including breakfast) are out of this world. They can deal with allergies, high chairs… everything. These guys will look after you.
Please note that this hotel is only suitable for a couple and a baby OR a couple and and a baby and a toddler who will share bedding with parents.
This hotel has lots of eateries and the metro close by. The staff speak English well. There is also a complimentary drink hour for guests in the evenings.
Hyatt Centric also host gluten free high tea ! Perfect if you are looking for gluten-free options in Ginza, Tokyo.
5 mins walk from Hyatt Centric Ginza
Make reservations 2 weeks ahead if you want to eat those fluffy, jiggly viral Japanese pancakes by visiting A Happy Pancake Ginza (see here for my full list of things to book in advance when visiting Japan with kids.) It is possible to just turn up but wait times can be up to 45 mins long AND some places only take walk-ins until they are sold out. Reservations for famous restaurant called “A Happy Pancake” (also referred to as Shiawase no Pancake in Japanese -and is sometimes spelled this way on google maps) open exactly 2 weeks ahead of your preferred dining date. Reservations open two weeks in advance at midnight Japan time! They have restaurants in Hokkaido, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, Fukuoka and Okinawa.
Click here to make A Happy Pancake reservation for you and your family. You will need to make an account and log in to do so (so this before midnight to ensure your reservation is as quick as possible.)
The Happy Pancake Ginza store is just 2 mins walk from Ginza Station (use Exit A5.) Budget 2000 yen per person to dine here. They accept most major credit cards. The entire restaurant is non-smoking.
A HAPPY PANCAKE GINZA
中央区銀座5-8-5 ニューギンザビル10号館 7F-B
7TH FLOOR-B, NEW GINZA BUILDING NO. 10, 5-8-5 GINZA, CHUO-KU
OPEN WEEKDAYS 10:30AM-7:30PM (LAST ORDERS 6:45PM)
*Please note! Pancakes are only sold until 2:30pm!
OPEN WEEKENDS & NATIONAL HOLIDAYS 10AM-8:30PM
*Please note! Pancakes are only sold until 2:30pm!
See here for other Ginza food and sightseeing suggestions for families
Hotel Gracery Ginza
This hotel is very English friendly. The rooms are modern and clean. They also have a laundry. The location is very central and would be easy to wake up early and start with these suggestions with kids in Ginza.
*A little note on coin laundries in hotels in Japan. The detergent is almost always built into the machine. If someone in your family has allergies to certain washing powders it is probably best to email in advance to find out what they use and what your options are. Oh.. and another note.. if the washer and dryer is built into one machine – the dryer setting really only works well for 1-2 items (big items like a pair of jeans and a long sleeved top, I mean) so don’t do what I do and just put in heaps of things to dry for longer – hoping that they will dry. It doesn’t work like that. Best to do little tiny drying sessions for the best drying results. It a lesson in patience but it will save you lots of coins in the long run
Please note that this hotel is only suitable for a couple and a baby OR a couple and and a baby and a toddler who will share bedding with parents (unless you were happy to get multiple rooms, of course.
Mimaru Hatchobori
This apartment style hotel is perfect for families. It has a kitchenette and the concierge desk staff are kind and helpful.
I’ve written about our stay at Mimaru Hatchobori here.
*If you go to book Mimaru Hatchobori and find it full – you may also like to take a look at Mimaru Tokyo Station East as it is just a few minutes walk away from Mimaru Hatchobori. Mimaru Tokyo Station East can accommodate families of up to 8 people and also have multi-room apartments and interconnecting rooms. Please note that that Mimaru Tokyo Station East is 2 mins walk from Hatchobori Station and 16 mins walk or 6 mins in a cab from Tokyo Station.
Also -if you choose an apartment style hotel with a kitchenette and a manned front desk – did you know that can have different types of milk and gluten free and vegan options delivered anywhere in Japan via the National Azabu website? This international supermarket is located in Hiroo, Tokyo (you can also, of course, visit in person). You can also order online and have them deliver groceries to you if you are staying in Minato-ku, Tokyo (aka the Minato ward, Tokyo) OR you can have these items delivered anywhere in Japan using the Yamato delivery service (price is from 1200 yen per box of food delivered.) This is one of many reasons to stay at a hotel and not an airbnb in Japan – so that a hotel can accept parcels on your behalf -if you’re super clever, you can order ahead and have a box of low-allergen foods for you arrive the day you check in to your hotel (if you email the hotel ahead – they will put cold items in the fridge for you.) National Azabu in Tokyo stocks almond milk, oat milk, walnut milk, soy milk as well as pistachio milk. Here is my general advice on buying different types of milk in Japan.
Mimaru Ginza East
Apartment style hotel. These apartment style hotels are a game changer for families.
The family rooms here are lovely and spacious. Lots of appliances you can “rent” for free. They also have some games in the lobby for kids.
Conrad Tokyo
This is a higher price point – a gorgeous 5 star luxury hotel.
This hotel is also very good with gluten-free diners/guests. Rooms sleep 2-3 people. This is an excellent place to stay if you are gluten free – you can even order the most beautifully wrapped and presented completely gluten free bentos to enjoy on the bullet train – how amazing is that?! 5000 yen each.
The Peninsula Tokyo
And if you like other fancy hotel options- you may want to look into The Peninsula Tokyo. They sometimes have a “stay two night, third night is free” option. If you are staying at a suite, the hotel will organise for a driver to drop you at your dinner restaurant in Ginza.
Most rooms can accommodate 3 adults and 1 or more children if they are young enough to bedshare. The connecting deluxe suite can sleep up to 6 people + any children who are young enough to bedshare.
For babies, the hotel can provide a baby bath and baby bouncer. They can also provide a bed guard. For bigger kids they provide slippers, toothbrush sets and some bath toys. Upon request, the hotel can also provide a cot and high chairs. See the full Peninsula Tokyo room service menu here.
This hotel is right next to the Imperial Palace.
*I don’t recommend visiting the Imperial Palace with kids, by the way. You can enter the grounds so it’s ok to use as some green space to run around – lots of mosquitos here too in the warm months – but there are plenty of other green spaces in Tokyo. You also can’t really see the palace and you also get stuck in no man’s land a bit while in there – limited snack and shade options.
The in-house restaurant “Peter” The Peninsula Tokyo has a special kids course lunch menu for 5000 yen. It’s on the 24th floor.
Karaska Hotel Premier
This hotel has connecting rooms as an option (so you could accommodate a family of four OR a family of 5 if one child is bed-sharing. It is clean and modern.
They also have a lounge for guests with bottomless drinks (including wine) in the evenings.
They also can assist with forwarding and receiving forwarded luggage. You can also order a simple in-room breakfast (Western or Japanese.)
This hotel can provide families with bed guards (bed rails) and plastic plates and cups and a baby bath (as well as other baby-related items.）
Ibis Styles Ginza East (only for a couple and a small child who can bedshare.)
Many of the rooms are tatami floors with western beds. This hotel is 3 mins walk from 24 hour Don Quijote Ginza Honkan ( I have pictures and info on other things close by in my Ginza with Kids article here.)
Koko Hotel Ginza 1-Chome is a convenient option worth considering if you are trying to keep that budget down. The hotel is just 1 min walk from Exit 10 of Ginza Itchome Station. The rooms are simple, small and clean. The reception desk can assist with forwarding packages. There is a coin laundry on the ground floor. The twin and universal rooms can accommodate up to 3 people (two beds and one sofa bed.)
*A little note on coin laundries in hotels in Japan. The detergent is almost always built into the machine. If someone in your family has allergies to certain washing powders it is probably best to email in advance to find out what they use and what your options are. Oh.. and another note.. if the washer and dryer is built into one machine – the dryer setting really only works well for 1-2 items (big items like a pair of jeans and a long sleeved top, I mean) so don’t do what I do and just put in heaps of things to dry for longer – hoping that they will dry. It doesn’t work like that. Best to do little tiny drying sessions for the best drying results. It a lesson in patience but it will save you lots of coins in the long run
Sotetsu Fresa Ginza Nanachome
The Sotetsu Fresa brand is one of the brands I recommends for families who are looking to keep the budget down over most other hotel requirements. The rooms here are small (like, you’ll have to put your suitcase on your bed to open it) but they are clean and the hotel has everything you could need. They also have an option to book connecting rooms. There is no space for cots or a pack and play in rooms here. This hotel has an on-site coin laundry.
They have a breakfast restaurant with a reasonable selection of Japanese and Western breakfast options. You can see pictures of the breakfast buffet at Sotetsu Fresa Ginza Nana-Chome here.
It is 5 mins walk from Exit A3 of Ginza Station or 5 mins walk from Exit A1 of Higashi-Ginza Station. You can also walk from Shinbashi Station (use the Ginza Exit) in just 7 mins.
Sotetsu Fresa Ginza Sanchome
The Sotetsu Fresa brand is one of the brands I recommends for families who are looking to keep the budget down over most other hotel requirements. The rooms here are small (like, you’ll have to put your suitcase on your bed to open it) but they are clean and the hotel has everything you could need. They also have an option to book connecting rooms. There is no space for cots or a pack and play in rooms here. This hotel has an on-site coin laundry.
It is 3 mins walk from Exit A13 of Ginza Station or 3 mins from Ginza-Itchome Station (take Exit 10.). You can also get here by walking for 2 mins from Higashi-Ginza Station – take Exit A8). If you’re coming from a Yamanote line station, get off a Yurakucho Station and walk for 7 mins from the Central Exit.
Other hotels that I have my eye on and look like they would work for us but I have never stayed…
Mitsui-Garden Hotel Go-Chome -this hotel has triple rooms so you could stay as a family of 3 – or 4 if another child can bed share.
The Square Hotel – their premier rooms can sleep 3 – or 4 if another child can bed share.
Remm Plus Ginza – this hotel can accommodate a couple and a baby – or a family of 3 if the child is able to bed share.
PLEASE NOTE: This article contains some affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of these links, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
