My little girl is exactly at this age so we often have visitors with kiddies of the exact same age and, if they are only in Tokyo for just a few days… there is NO WAY we are going to let a little rain stop us from enjoying the city!
For kiddies of kindergarten age or a year or so younger I think Odaiba is a really good bet. Or another idea is exploring Ginza.
Odaiba is an island of reclaimed land just on the other side of Tokyo’s Rainbow Bridge. It’s on my go-to list for clothing, toy shopping and rainy day entertainment for my children (as there are so many indoor options.)
It’s very close to the city and you may have already spotted the giant ferris wheel at Odaiba on your way from either airport to the centre of town.
The Odaiba Island Area is made up of Department Stores, Museums, a TV Station, some parks and monuments. Once you’re on the island the easiest way to get around is on the Island Monorail.
Almost everything here is indoors!
I would probably start with Decks Department Store & Aqua City Department Store are linked by a ramp so it’s easy to switch back and forth between the two.
Keep in mind that almost all of the department stores are closed until 11am (annoying when you have little children who have already been awake for 5 hours, right?)
If you’re at Odaiba first thing, I recommend Bills for breakfast (or lunch). It’s an Australian restaurant so it’s a nice open space (even accommodates strollers) with an international menu. There are a few other of the Bills Restaurants in Tokyo but this is the least crowded – especially compared to the others on the weekend. The service isn’t the fastest so order for kids as soon as you sit down.
DECKS TOKYO BEACH, SEASIDE MALL 3F, 1-6-1 DAIBA, MINATO-KU
港区台場1-6-1デックス東京ビーチ シーサイドモール3F
OPEN: 9AM-11PM WEEKDAYS, 8AM-11PM WEEKENDS
WEBSITE
Eggs’n’Things is a Hawaiian restaurant built around the concept of “All Day Breakfast” ( a relatively new idea for Japan.) It is light and bright and there are several of these restaurants around Japan but this is branch my favourite – mainly because of the space and shorter lines. This restaurant is well-known for the mountain of whipped cream on their sweet pancakes. YUM! They also have savoury options and a kids menu (egg and hamburger steak plate or fruit and cream pancakes with a chocolate pen to decorate). They have high chairs and the staff are very welcoming when it comes to families.
EGGS’N’THINGS ODAIBA
3RD FLOOR, AQUA CITY DEPARTMENT STORE, 1-7-1 DAIBA, MINATO
港区台場1-7-1 アクアシティお台場 3F
OPEN: 9AM-11PM (LAST ORDER AT 9:30PM)
WEBSITE
If my kiddies could write here to tell you their favourite Odaiba activity they would say Legoland. (Don’t get confused, a brand new Legoland just opened up in Nagoya , not the same. This is a smaller, indoor version.)
Legoland in Odaiba is, essentially, a lego-themed playcentre. There is a Harry Potter Lego ride, a cool minature Tokyo made of Lego, lots of lego building opportunities, a small playground, a little karaoke machine and a jungle gym. Oh and there is a small 3D movie, all in Japanese, but hard-core lego warriors probably wouldn’t care, right?
There is a small cafe inside Legoland (or you could wait and eat something else in the department store afterwards, of course.) They don’t allow outside food (with the exception of baby food.)
Check out this minature Shibuya Crossing made of Lego! So cute!
LEGOLAND DISCOVERY CENTER TOKYO
DECKS TOKYO BEACH, SEASIDE MALL 3F, 1-6-1 DAIBA, MINATO-KU
港区台場1-6-1デックス東京ビーチ シーサイドモール3F
OPEN: 10AM-8PM WEEKDAYS, 10AM-9PM WEEKENDS
If the weather clears up for even a few minutes, Tokyo’s version of the Statue of Liberty in Odaiba (outside of Aqua City Department Store) is worth checking out – just for the “what the?” factor. Don’t ask why……. I have no idea.
Inside the Decks department store is Daiba 1-Chome Shoutengai (4th Floor) a strip of the department store transformed into a retro-kitsch 1950s Japanese shopping street. There are wacky novelty toys, old-school Japanese sweets and arcade games. There is also a takoyaki (Japanese street food: fried octopus batter balls) museum.
The gimmicky toys are quite reasonably priced and this is the place to buy funny joke gifts (or toys to keep kiddies busy on a plane or in a hotel room.) This is area makes for some funny photos too.
Be warned, there is a haunted house in one of the back corners that looks spooky (even from the outside) so keep an eye on little ones. Japan takes it’s haunted houses very, very seriously.
Decks & Aqua City rent out strollers (but only for children less than 18kgs and only for use within these department stores) if little legs get tired.
4TH FLOOR DECKS DEPARTMENT STORE, 1-6-1 DAIBA, MINATO
港区台場1-6-1
OPEN 11AM-9PM
Another shopping suggestion inside the same department store is walk through Daiso on the 4th floor.
This is one of the best 100 yen stores, in my opinion. It is great for buying small gifts or toys for keeping children entertained on planes or at restaurants.
Here are some of the goodies I purchased in Sept 2017.
Sticker books.
Cheap and cheerful mugs.
Insulated snack bags
Masks
DAISO, DECKS DEPARTMENT STORE
港区台場1-6-1
1-6-1 DAIBA, MINATO
OPEN 11AM-9PM
If you decide to go to Bills for lunch but the line has grown too long to wait, there is a Pizza /Pasta restaurant right next door called Trattoria Pizzeria Logic. My kids love their Margherita Pizza and I’m always daydreaming about their Caprese salad.
They have high chairs.
If you are there for lunch, they offer a bottomless juice bar which includes iced tea, grapefruit juice and orange juice.
TRATTORIA PIZZERIA LOGIC
港区台場1-6-1 デックス東京ビーチ
DECKS TOKYO BEACH, 1-6-1 DAIBA, MINATO-KU
OPEN WEEKDAYS : 11AM-3PM & 5PM-10PM
OPEN WEEKENDS: 11AM-4PM & 5PM-10PM
The Odaiba Miraikan : The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation is another good option for rainy days and children who are particularly interested in science. It is worth checking for special events and exhibits. Always there is the gigantic world globe with different images projected constantly as well as exhibits on robotics and extremely realistic androids. Children under 18 cost 210 yen and Adults 620 yen (extra for special exhibits.)
For little children is a whole play/exploration section called ” Curiosity Field” which can be visited for 45 minute sessions. This section is all interactive.
The museum is 5 minutes walk from “Fune-no Kagakukan station.”
This is my little girl loving the kids interactive play section on the 3rd floor (45 minute set play sessions.)
She particularly loved how she could colour a picture and then scan it and have it appear on the tv!
2-3-6 AOMI, KOTO
江東区青海2-3-6
OPEN: 10AM-5PM (CLOSED ALMOST ALL TUESDAYS, SEE WEBSITE FOR DETAILS)
ADMISSION : ADULTS 630YEN, UNDER 18s 210YEN, CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN SCHOOL AGE ARE FREE
Be sure to check out my Odaiba with Kids post for more Odaiba ideas – including a list of change tables and breastfeeding rooms.
And then my other suggestion for a rainy day is Ginza (not that this does involve walking in the rain between venues though.)
The Police Museum is free, opens at 9:30am so makes for a great early morning activity.
It has lots of English descriptions as well as Japanese -which is a rare thing in these kinds of museums. It is spread over 6 floors and my kids, without a doubt, loved getting in the helicopter and on the motorbike. My little girl also loved the costume dress-ups at the entrance (they’ll ask you to fill out a small form with your child’s name and address and they can choose between becoming a Police Officer or a Motorbike Police Officer. ) They also loved all the touchy-feely stuff on the upper floors that gave insight into the forensic research process too.
TOKYO POLICE MUSEUM
中央区京橋3-5-1
3-5-1 KYOBASHI, CHUO-KU
OPEN 9:30AM-5PM
CLOSED: MONDAYS
ADMISSION: FREE
After that morning fun, I’m sure you need a coffee with your face on it, right? Obviously.
If you go to the Nissan Crossing Cafe (exit A3, A4 or A5 of the Ginza subway station) second floor there is not only a cool view one of Ginza’s major intersections but also they offer to take your picture and then scan it onto you coffee foam!
They have cafe latte and matcha (green tea) lattes.
There is also a small cookie and cake selection (which kept my little boy happy.) Also the cafe space itself is quite spacious (for Tokyo) so I was able to pull out a colouring book for my little guy and he could also run between where I was sitting at the window.
I can’t speak for weekends but this cafe was almost completely empty when we went (first thing Friday morning.)
There are elevators up to the second floor.
Nissan Crossing is a global flagship gallery for Nissan. It is free to walk in and take a look around.
The Sony Showroom is on the 4th and 5th floors of the same building, if you’re interested.
Baby change tables are on the 3rd & 6th floors (I would use the 6th as the designated smoking space is also on the 3rd floor.
NISSAN CROSSING
中央区銀座5-8-1
5-8-1 GINZA, CHUO-KU
OPEN 10AM-8PM
And then just 3 minutes away (on foot) is the beautiful and brand new Ginza Six department store.
I recommend going to the B1 floor to check out the Chanel Ginza lipstick vending machine. You know, in case you want beautiful lips but can’t stand social interaction.
中央区銀座6-10-1
6-10-1 GINZA, CHUO-KU
SHOPS OPEN 10:30AM-8:30PM
RESTAURANTS OPEN 11AM-11:30PM
The biggest Sanrio store we have visited is SanrioWorld in Ginza. Don’t be mistaken by the title, it is not a theme park but instead a gift store. There are some interactive sections such as characters projected onto your face and my kids loved being there so much.
Within the store are restrooms with change tables. Unfortunately there is no elevator to the second floor, only escalators.
As well as Ginza, you can also find Sanrio stores in 20 other Tokyo locations. See here for a Tokyo Sanrio store list. Also, if you’re Hello Kitty crazy, see my favourite Hello Kitty Spots in Tokyo.
SANRIOWORLD GINZA
中央区銀座4-1 西銀座2F
2ND FLOOR, NISHI GINZA DEPARTMENT STORE, 4-1 GINZA, CHUO-KU
OPEN 11AM-8PM (UNTIL SLIGHTLY LATER CERTAIN DAYS OF THE WEEK. SEE WEBSITE)
My favourite place to eat out in this area (for date night or for a family lunch, brunch or early dinner) is 6th by Oriental. This place always has a bustling, city-restaurant vibe. They also have a children’s menu where each kids plate is less than 1000 yen. Options change but include a kids curry, fried chicken and fries, soup of the day, fried egg sunny-side up with fries…)
When with kiddies you might want to make sure you have stickers or colouring on hand. Although they are kid-friendly, it’s not a restaurant for kids (if you know what I mean) so they will need to stay seated and self-entertained.
From the regular menu, expect to pay around 2000 yen for lunch (many options include a side salad or soup.) I love the truffle fries and french onion soup.
There is an outdoor terrace – great for people (and train )watching.
The reception staff speak English well so feel free to call and book ahead.
The entire menu is also up on their English website (see below.)
6th BY ORIENTAL
千代田区有楽町1-12-1 新有楽町ビル 1F
GROUND FLOOR, SHINYURAKUCHO BUILDING, YURAKUCHO, CHIYODA-KU
OPEN FOR WEEKDAY LUNCH: 11AM-2:30PM
OPEN FOR WEEKEND LUNCH: 11AM-3PM
OPEN FOR DINNER: 5:30PM – 10PM (UNTIL 9PM ON SUNDAYS AND NATIONAL HOLIDAYS)
*Bar is open until even later
For something different, across the road from 6th by Oriental is a Starbucks that has something called “Starbucks evenings” where they serve alcohol. Something for Mummy & Daddy to do while kids have a hot chocolate and a cookie perhaps?
STARBUCKS YURAKUCHO
千代田区 有楽町1-10-1 有楽町ビル 1階
GROUND FLOOR, YURAKUCHO BUILDING, 1-10-1 YURAKUCHO, CHIYODA-KU
OPEN 9AM-10PM (UNTIL 9PM ON SUNDAYS)
If the rain lets up and you want other Ginza suggestions please see my Ginza with Kids post here (also includes information on change tables.
See here for rainy day ideas for babies in Tokyo
See here for rainy day ideas for toddlers in Tokyo
