This is my guide on the Yoyogi Station area with kids. It is part of my article where I cover things to do with kids at every single Yamanote line train station in Tokyo.
Yoyogi Station is not too far from Shinjuku – see my Shinjuku with kids article here.
Shinjuku Gyoen National Gardens are just 10 mins walk from Yoyogi Station
These gardens are popular for a reason – especially in Autumn and Spring. Please note there is a small cash entry to enter.
There is no play equipment but there a lovely open park, a Japanese garden with a teahouse, a French formal garden and an English landscape garden too. Sport equipment and alcohol not allowed.
I’ve included more details, pictures and tips in my Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden blog post here.
Extra Tip: If you’re looking for an amazing thick, gourmet to eat in or after the park – I recommend a sandwich shop called “&Sandwich.“
It is located just 2 mins walk from the Shinjuku Gyoen Park entrance. They have a dining area with seats for 16 people.
They are open nice and early in the morning too – from 9am on weekdays and 8:30am on weekends.
They have a couple of vegetarian and vegan options too. See here for the “&Sandwich” website and images of their beautiful sandwiches.
Casual italian food for lunch
Another great lunch or dinner option for families near Shinjuku Gyoen is Cafe La Boheme. This is actually a chain for restaurants but this one is particularly beautiful as it has high ceilings and looks onto so much greenery. The food served here is casual Italian. For an extra 200 yen you can also change any of the pasta dishes for gluten free pasta at Cafe La Boheme in Shinjuku.
It is best to make a reservation. Although it’s only a couple of options each – there are vegetarian and vegan items on their menu too ( their vegan quinoa and kale salad is so good and they also have some vegan pasta dishes.)
At lunch time I would budget for 2000 yen per adult and 4000 yen for dinner. You can see the entire Cafe La Boheme menu here.
Please note that at dinner time, there is a 800 yen service charge per person. This restaurant does accept most major credit cards – and are a cashless restaurant.
If everyone is tired, these guys are also on ubereats.
The Fire Museum & The Tokyo Toy Museum
Sizzler in Nishi-Shinjuku is just 6 mins by taxi (or ten mins by train) from Yoyogi Station
Order a steak or other main meal and then help yourself to desserts, soups and salads at the buffet. You can make a reservation (a good idea on weekends as it can get busy.) I recommend budgeting 2000 yen per adult at lunchtime and 3000 yen at dinnertime. They accept most major credit cards. This restaurant has a lovely view at night time. It is also 2 mins walk from Tochomae Station or 8 mins walk from Shinjuku Station.
SIZZLER, SHINJUKU MITSUI BIRU
新宿区西新宿2-1-1 新宿三井ビル 別館 2F
2ND FLOOR, SHINJUKU MITSUI BUILDING ANNEX, 2-1-1 NISHI-SHINJUKU, SHINJUKU
OPEN WEEKDAYS 11AM-10PM (LAST ORDERS 9:30AM)
OPEN WEEKENDS 8AM-10PM
A family restaurant dinner just 6 mins by taxi (or ten mins by train) from Yoyogi Station
Royal Host is a well-known and loved family restaurant chain in Japan. The menu is affordable and so big! There are plenty of western and Japanese meal options. I have written in detail about dining at Royal Host here. This is a walk-in only restaurant (the restaurant seats 50). They accept most major credit cards. The restaurant is non-smoking but there is an enclosed smoking booth for smokers. It’s also 3 mins walk from Nishi-Shinjuku Station.
Royal Host Shinjuku Mitsui Building
ROYAL HOST, SHINJUKU MITSUI BIRU
新宿区西新宿2-1-1 新宿三井ビル 1Ｆ
GROUND FLOOR, SHINJUKU MITSUI BUILDING, 2-1-1 NISHI-SHINJUKU, SHINJUKU
OPEN 7AM-11:30PM
A Japanese/Italian Fusion Izakaya (10 mins walk from Yoyogi Station)
Kichiri Shinjuku West is another fantastic option when looking for a dinner option when in Shinjuku with kids. It is also just 200 metres from Shinjuku Station, West Exit.
The food is Japanese/Italian-fusion at this Kichiri though. For adults I would budget approximately 5000 yen. This restaurant accepts most major credit cards and it does also takes reservations. The entire venue is non-smoking. You can see the Kichiri Shinjuku West menu online here.
KICHIRI SHINJUKU WEST
新宿区西新宿1-10-2, 110 ビル8F8TH FLOOR, 110 BUILDING, 1-10-2 NISHI-SHINJUKU, SHINJUKU-KU
OPEN 5PM-11PM (LAST ORDER AT 10PM)
Please see my article here on how to go about making a reservation for a restaurant in Japan when the website doesn’t have an English website option.
A Casual Standing Sushi Restaurant (10 mins walk from Yoyogi Station)
Tachi Sushi Yokocho Shinjuku Nishiguchi is a fabulous option. It is also 5 mins walk from the West Exit of Shinjuku Station. They welcome children here and the restaurant gives the most beautiful traditional Japanese restaurant vibes. They have more than 65 different sushi plate options. Because it’s a standing sushi bar, it’s a great place to try a few things without having to commit to a full meal. There are a few tables. Ask your hotel to make a reservation on your behalf and you can request a table if you like- there are limited options though. All 65 sushi plate options are between 130-400 yen. For kids who aren’t feeling super adventurous right away, you can order just cooked egg sushi, fried shrimp sushi, cooked egg on its own. They also have sushi platters. Their takeout sushi platters are incredibly beautifully presented – so gorgeous. They do take reservations and they also accept most major credit cards. If one parent wants to venture out in the evening to try some sushi and maybe meet some locals – this is great spot. This is a fabulous way to try different types of sake and other alcoholic drinks in Japan – while also being in a family-friendly spot. See here if you would like to find more restaurants in Tokyo you can visit with kids but also try some different types of sake.
TACHI SUSHI YOKOCHO SHINJUKU WEST GATE
新宿区西新宿1-18-13 近江ビル 1F
GROUND FLOOR, 1-18-13 NISHISHINJUKU, SHINJUKU
OPEN 11:30-10:30PM
Gluten free food including Okonomiyaki (10 mins by taxi from Yoyogi Station)
Or if you feel like okonomiyaki or simply a restaurant with lots of gluten free food in Shinjuku, I recommend going to Teppan Baby.
It’s best to make reservations ahead of time. This restaurant accepts most major credit cards. They have an English, France, Spanish menu. Teppan Baby can cater for vegetarians and gluten free patrons. Teppan Baby is 7 mins walk from the East Exit of Shinjuku Station. If coming on the subway take Exit B3 and walk for 3 mins. This is a non-smoking restaurant. For this restaurant I would budget approx 5000 yen per adult for a full meal (with drinks.). Please note that every customer needs to order one drink (doesn’t have to be alcoholic) when visiting after 6pm. Read here for how to order a vegetarian version of okonomiyaki
TEPPAN BABY, SHINJUKU EAST EXIT
OPEN MON-SAT: 5PM-5AM
OPEN SUN: 5PM-MIDNIGHT
Street Food/alleyways with kids – just 16 mins walk from Yoyogi Station
If you want to be in the thick of it (I want to say with the locals but it’s also touristy these days) I find Piss Alley (part of Omoide Yokocho – sometimes also referred to as “Memory Lane” ) to be fine with kids early in the night. It’s a lane way lined with lots of little eateries – mostly yakitori or grilled seafood and veg. This is not the place to ask for menu alterations etc. What is there is there. It’s not a particularly lovely place to be but I know most people have seen it on social media and want to see it for themselves – and I get that.
Btw : Golden Gai isn’t for meals – it’s just drinks in tiny bars and isn’t appropriate for kids / kids aren’t allowed. Go to Piss Alley if you want a similar vibe but you want food too.
With kids I would only go between 4pm-6pm. Staying longer means you’re going to struggle to get seats but also will run into more drunk people (it’s near Kabuki-cho, the red light district – which is pretty much the only place in Japan I really don’t like to go with my kids.)
One tip with kids – don’t go to the bathroom here – go to a big department store close by instead – for example Lumine.
The well-known 3D Cat Billboard -17 mins walk from Yoyogi Station
(or 5 mins walk from Shinjuku Station)
This is at East Exit of Shinjuku Station.
Put “3D Cat Cross Shinjuku Space” into google maps to find this 3D billboard easily.
Good Quality Japan Souvenirs in Shinjuku- 13 mins walk from Yoyogi Station
This is a really great place to buy good quality souvenirs in Shinjuku is the Beams F Shinjuku Store. There are floors and floors of beautiful gift options.
See my Shinjuku with kids blog post for other fun things to in this area.
See here for our favourite Shinjuku dinner options too.
DRUGSTORES NEAR YOYOGI STATION (WHO SELL DIAPERS/NAPPIES)
Tomod’s Shinjuku 2-Chome drugstore is 12 mins walk from Yoyogi Station. Also, 3 mins walk from Shinjuku San-Chome Station or 7 mins walk from Shinjuku Station.
It is open weekdays 8:30am-10pm, Saturdays 9am-8pm & Sundays 10am-8pm.
The diapers on the bottom shelf here are all pants type (pull-up type)
The nappies in the dark blue packaging are the extra absorbent nighttime type. The exact one pictured are pull ups for children between 13-28kgs. I explain the different types of diapers in Japan here.
*See here for more places in Tokyo to buy diapers / nappies.
I like to use these changing & feeding facilities in this area: (for the most up to date changing and feeding spots for parents, download the MamaPapaBabyMap app.
HOW TO GET TO TOKYO DISNEYLAND FROM TOKYO STATION?
If you are staying near Yoyogi Station and need to get to Tokyo Disneyland or Tokyo DisneySea, I recommend taking a train (takes approx 40 mins, 410 yen per person, 1 train change) or a bus from Shinjuku Busta (Bus Terminal.) This bus terminal is near the New South Exit of Shinjuku Station. The buses take approximately 1 hour and run in the morning and then back from Tokyo Disney Resort in the evening. Bus price is 1000 yen per person. It is 9 mins walk from Yoyogi Station.
My full guide on making the most of Tokyo Disneyland with kids is here.
My full guide on making the most of Tokyo Disneysea with kids is here.
PLAYGROUNDS NEAR YOYOGI STATION?
The Shinjuku Chuo (Central) Park playground is 6 mins in a cab from Yoyogi Station.
This is a great spot for a break from one of the busiest parts of Tokyo.
Just before you hit the park though, you’ll walk past the Shinjuku Chuo Park Starbucks branch (if walking across the footbridge into the park from the Hyatt Regency Tokyo.)
When looking for the park, I put Shinjuku Chuo Park Children’s Square into google to save you from having to walk from the opposite end of the park etc.
There is a fair amount of shade but I still recommend bringing sunscreen and bug spray.
The breastfeeding and nappy changing space is open from 10:30am-4pm.
There are vending machines and toilets next to the playground (and others on the far side)
The far side of the playground also has this change table, toilet, breastfeeding, wheelchair friendly restroom space. It is open from April-September from 9am‐5pm & October-March 9am-4pm.
There is a decent sized playground and a toddler splash pool in the summer months.
IN 2026: The water splash area is open in July and August.
In the heat of summer, there are misting machines at some benches next to the playground. There is also a security guard who goes around in summer to check the temperature of the slide. Only in Japan!
SHINJUKU CHUO (CENTRAL) PARK
PUT SHINJUKU CHUO PARK CHILDREN’S SQUARE INTO GOOGLE MAPS IN ORDER TO FIND IT
OPEN 24 HOURS
For right after a play in the park, I highly recommend breakfast, a snack or lunch at the ‘More Than’ Bakery. It is located literally right on the edge of the park. This bakery also sells many vegan breads and sweets.
MORE THAN, BAKERY
新宿区西新宿4-31-1
4-31-1 NISHI-SHINJUKU, SHINJUKU
OPEN 8AM – 6PM
