I wrote this off the back of an instagram post here– where I was explaining some of the nice little “icing on the cake touches” that are often forgotten by families when pulling together their itinerary for a special trip to Japan with kids.
Here are some of the things families forget to organise for Japan (just the little extra details)
The Tokyo Toy Museum
I have written in detail about it here.
Pop this into your Shinjuku with kids itinerary. Here is my full list of things I recommend doing in Shinjuku with kids.
I recommend pairing it with the free Fire Museum (6 mins walk away), Shinjuku Gyoen National Gardens (11 mins walk away) and having lunch before or afterwards at Cafe La Boheme (as mentioned in my Shinjuku with kids article here.)
A Yakatabune (dinner cruise) Experience
I have all the details on a Yakatabune experience as a family here – and links on how to make a reservation.
This is a great option for dinner after a day out exploring Odaiba, Tsukiji , Toranomon Hills or Ginza. It’s also not too far from Team Lab Planets and Kidzania.
Dinner with a local family in Japan
This is organised through a company called Borderless and I have all of the details here. A reminder that these homes are rarely in the centre of town as these are real families living in their suburban areas, near their kids’ schools etc.
A Jinrikisha (Japanese rickshaw) ride through the bamboo forest in Arashiyama, Kyoto
Best to prebook this as it is a popular option. Arashiyama is just 15 mins on the train from Kyoto so it’s really easy to visit with kids. All the details on visiting Arashiyama and the jinrikisha link is here.
Want to know what else to book ahead and by when for your Japan trip ? See my full list here.
Looking for traditional things to do in Japan without leaving Tokyo? See my suggestions here – so many cute and beautiful things to do choose from.
Not sure what to pack for a trip to Japan? I break it down month by month here.
Here are my suggestions on visiting Tokyo with teenagers.
