THE TOKYO STATION IMMEDIATE AREA
The Tokyo Station area isn’t necessarily the best area to stay with kids but it is great for the night before or after a bullet train ride (see here for my bullet trains with kids tips – including etiquette hints etc.) There are also lots of restaurant options here – it also makes for an easy trip around to some other sightseeing spots including Tokyo Disneyland.
This area can be quite a bit more expensive as you are paying to be near one of the bigger stations.
If you are hoping for an old world Japan feel – Tokyo Station might not be for you.
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” has a special kids course lunch menu for 5000 yen. It’s on the 24th floor. The Peninsula Tokyo is 10 mins walk from Tokyo Station.
Nest Hotel Yaesu is just minutes walk from the Shinkansen side of Tokyo Station or 5 mins walk from the D1 exit of Nihonbashi Station. The rooms here are mostly for 2 adults and a small child (who can bed share) but they do have a universal room type with two large singles and a sofa bed for one person. They have an in-house coin laundry. Here are places to eat and shop with kids in this Tokyo Station area.
Nest Hotels are simple and clean. The rooms are small. They often have a small croissant and coffee style breakfast for guests, provide pyjamas for in-room use and they also usually have an on-site coin laundry. Their hotels are all very centrally located not far from major train stations. This brand can be found in many major cities in Japan.
This hotel is 4 mins by train from Akihabara, 6 mins to Ueno, 2 mins to Ginza, 14 mins to Shinjuku. I have listed this hotel as one of my “Lowest Priced Accommodations for Families in Tokyo” as it is simple without frills or much room space but it is a good option if you are on a budget.
Karaksa at Tokyo Station
These guys are great at doing connecting rooms for larger families and it is lovely for families to stay so central. Especially if you will be taking bullet trains from Tokyo Station the next day. This hotel is 5 mins walk from Tokyo Station.
Palace Hotel Tokyo
If you’d prefer to stay at a high end hotel, the Palace Hotel is beautiful. Rooms (suites included) only sleep 2 adults – and a small child if they can bed share. Some rooms have a private balcony overlooking the Imperial Palace and Gardens. However, they do have some connecting rooms. The hotel has an in-house spa for massages and facials. I do not recommend this hotel for children between the ages of 1-8 as the hotel website even states “We hope your visit to the hotel with young children will be an excellent opportunity to share many learning experiences including proper etiquette in public places.” *Yikes*
This hotel is 9 mins walk from Tokyo Station.
*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.
See here for kid-friendly restaurants, green spaces and sightseeing spots in the Tokyo Station area.
See here if you would like to read my full article on the hotels I recommend in Tokyo for families.
Or read here if you prefer to choose by kid-friendly areas first after reading all of the pros and cons.
