A KID-FRIENDLY GUIDE FOR EVERY YAMANOTE LINE STATION

What if I told you I had a guide for every Yamanote line station?
And that every station guide included kid-friendly restaurants, sightseeing spots, shopping tips and places for kids to play?
(I even include supermarket recommendations and places to buy diapers/nappies too.)

Well, I’m currently at 21 out of 30 stations so far and am adding to it daily!
I really hope that this will help parents who are planning (maybe they have chosen their Tokyo hotel already and now want to research what is nearby?) OR maybe they would like to use it while on the go in Tokyo when thinking “okay…. what is there to see and eat around here, I wonder….?”

The Yamanote line is the green “city loop” line around Tokyo.

Allow me to walk you around the Yamanote line, clockwise, starting at Shibuya Station…..

SHIBUYA STATION
Here is my Shibuya with kids guide.
It includes where to shop, what is near different sightseeing spots, hidden gems and fun activities we love, playgrounds and other place spaces and ways to take in Shibuya Crossing in a way that is really fun for everyone in the family.
See here for my list of our favourite places to each dinner as a family in Shibuya (I have more than 35 options at the moment!)
See here for my guide on where to stay in Shibuya with kids (with lots of my own pictures and reasons why.)

My free Shibuya with kids guide is here.

HARAJUKU STATION
Here is my Harajuku with kids guide.
It includes tips on really getting in the thick of Harajuku with kids but also where to get a break and some downtime (and run and play time.) I also have lots of pictures on our favourite purchases in this area and LOTS of fun places to eat fun food (giant fairy floss, latte art, cupcakes) but also have sit down meals (Japanese and Western options.) I also have included toy store, farmers market and ninja cafe recommendations.
See here for our favourite sit-down restaurants in the Harajuku area – as it is fun to eat the street food and explore but you also need somewhere to sit and make sure kids get tummies full of good hearty food too.

My free Harajuku with kids guide is here.

YOYOGI STATION

SHINJUKU STATION
Here is my guide to Shinjuku with kids.
I’ve included the stock standard sightseeing spots but included tips on how to make it fun for kids (ie. this fun place is just around the corner… buy a treat here…. stop at this shop and grab this before you leave…)
See here for our favourite places to eat as a family in Shinjuku (my list has more than 30 options at the moment – all welcome children and babies.)
See here for my guide on where to stay in Shinjuku (although I must admit that it is my least favourite area to stay with children and I explain why here.) Having said that though, you definitely should add Shinjuku to your itinerary with kids – just don’t need to stay there to do so. Here is a kid-friendly itinerary JUST for Shinjuku for kids aged 2-8 years old (I even tell you how many minutes between different points and all restaurant recommendations are, of course, kid-friendly.)

SHIN-OKUBO STATION

TAKADANOBABA STATION
Travel for just 4 minutes on the train or 10 minutes in a cab from Shinjuku Station to the Takadanobaba area to visit the area where Osamu Tezuka set his animation series Astro Boy! I’ve put all the details and pictures of this Astro Boy area near Shinjuku here.
*Extra tip for when travelling on the Yamanote line – if you are just passing through Takadanobaba Station on the Yamanote line and travelling from Shinjuku to Ikebukuro or Ueno – make sure you take notice as you stop at Takadanobaba Station. The station music that plays as you arrive is the Astro Boy theme song as this is where the show was set!) We get a kick out of it every time. If you’d like to read more about Astro Boy and Takadanobaba Station see my blog post here.

Read about Takadanobaba Station with kids here.

MEJIRO STATION

IKEBUKURO STATION
This guide grows every year -with lots of shopping and family-friendly dining spots.
See here for my Ikebukuro with kids guide.
See here if you’re just looking for where to eat in the Ikebukuro area as a family.

OTSUKA STATION
Probably my favourite area to stay in Tokyo right now. So convenient and quiet and just makes a trip with kids (especially kids who are past “needing a playground” age) so easy and enjoyable.
I have written all about my favourite places to eat and shop here with my kids in my Otsuka with kids guide here.
See here for my guide on where to stay in Otsuka with kids (my personal recommendations and why.)