When I plan time in Tokyo with kids, I plan for 1 thing for adults to be mixed with 3 fun things for children. But it’s always ideal if those things don’t cost a thing.
I’ve also written advice on how to keep costs down when traveling in Japan here.
See here for the lower priced accommodation options in Tokyo for families here.
Here are my suggestions:
Amazing Tokyo Retro Playgrounds
I have a gigantic list of retro Tokyo playgrounds here. Most of them are free to enter too.
For example ( see the full list for addresses and access details) :
Asukayama Park in Kita-ku
Easiest way to get there with kids? Take the Yamanote to Otsuka Station and then just grab a taxi from the taxi rank for 12 mins!
Where to eat with kids near Asukayama Park?
Just 3 mins walk from the park is an incredible family friendly restaurant called Apronmark. They accept most major credit cards. They have a kids menu and free baby food. They also have picture books for children to read. They are happy for diners to enter the restaurant with strollers. I recommend budgeting 2000 yen for an adult meal for lunch and more like 5000 yen at dinner time. This restaurant can be busy on weekends and sunny days so it might be a good idea to make a reservation. See images of menu items here.
APRONMARK
北区西ケ原2-16-2 飛鳥山公園
ASUKAYAMA PARK, 2-16-2 NISHIGAHARA, KITA-KU
OPEN 11AM-4PM & 5PM-9PM (LAST ORDERS AN HOUR BEFORE CLOSING TIME) * OPEN UNTIL 10PM ON FRI & SAT NIGHT
CLOSED MONDAYS & EVERY 1ST AND 3RD TUESDAY OF THE MONTH
Robot Park in Roppongi <- Link to my full article on this park here.
*If you are strictly gluten free – before or after Robot Park – go to one of the restaurants at the nearby Grand Hyatt Tokyo, Roppongi, for a meal. They are great at assisting those who need a strictly gluten free meal.
Free Museums
The Police Museum ( I wrote all about the Tokyo Police Museum here )
It’s open earlier than a lot of other Tokyo Museums too!
Please note that the Police Museum in Ginza is currently closed (as of Sept 15, 2025)
It will be opening in a new location, Shinagawa, in 2026.
The Fire Museum just out of Shinjuku (detailed post on the Fire Museum in Shinjuku with kids here.)
Tokyo Gas Science Museum
(6 mins walk from Team Lab Planets)
I haven’t visited yet but many parents tell me that this museum is excellent and very interactive for little ones. Entry is free and there is no need for a reservation. Open 9:30am-5pm (last entry at 4:30pm)
Tokyo Water Science Museum
(20 mins walk or 11 mins – approx 1500 yen – by taxi from Team Lab Planets)
Tokyo Water Science Museum is free and although most of the exhibits are labelled in Japanese they are interactive button pushing type activities – which kids love.
Please note that the Tokyo Water Science Museum is closed on Mondays. Every other day they are open from 9:30am – 5pm (4;30pm is last entry.) Entry is free.
Cool things to see ( and take photos with)
Go and spot Godzilla from the ground and up close in Shinjuku. Details here.
Free Shrines & Temples
There is Meiji Shrine in Harajuku ( it is best on weekends as you may be fortunate enough to witness at Japanese wedding.) Warning – it is quite a walk up to the entrance so little legs will most likely need a stroller.
The details are in my Harajuku with Kids post here.
The Lucky Cat Shrine, Setagaya (details can be found in my ‘A More Traditional Japan without leaving Tokyo’ post here.)
Hie Shrine, Akasaka.
All of the details are in my Akasaka with kids post here.
Tokyo Parks
A run around in Yoyogi Park is also free.
A huge park (no playground equipment) and a lovely slice of green in the middle of the busy city. Like all large, beautiful parks in Japan, the foliage and view is completely different with every season.
The cafe near the entrance sells some savoury snacks and sweets as well as outdoor toys such as wind-up planes, frisbees and bubble liquid and wands. There are lots of vending machines and public restrooms. The pond in the middle has ducks and lots of big trees make for great hide’n’seek sessions. If you have a kite or a scooter – this is one of the best central parks for it (some other parks have funny rules about sporting equipment etc.)
And this is not free but it’s ALMOST FREE…..
Did you know that you can now rent a bike in Yoyogi Park (including kids bikes, tandem bikes and parent & child mamachari electric bikes in Yoyogi Park with prices starting at 100 yen? (they accept most major credit cards, including Diners Club and American Express!)
To rent bikes as a family in Yoyogi Park, put “Yoyogi Park Cycling Center” into google maps (also sometimes referred to as “Pedalico”) – closest station is Yoyogi Park Station Exit 4B but you can also walk from Harajuku easily. Helmet rental is also available. The smallest child sized bike is a 12 inch (for children 2-4 years) and the Parent Child bikes are for children up to
Please note that bikes can only be used within Yoyogi Park grounds. The Cycling Center in Yoyogi is open 9am-4:30pm and is closed on Mondays (and Tuesdays if Monday is a public holiday) and is also closed during the Japan New Year Period.) See more things to do in the Harajuku area with kids here.
Just around the corner at the entrance to Yoyogi Park are the Rockabilly Dancers. This fascinating insight into Tokyo Subculture is a must see on a Sunday afternoon. This is, by no means, a paid performance but, instead a gathering of a large group of people who share a love for Americana-Happy Days-Soda Pop-Grease Lightning fashion and old school Rock’n’Roll.
My kids love to have a little dance along from the sidelines – their own little rendition.
Arisugawa Park, Hiroo
Arisugawa Park is stunning and completely different with every single season.
It has a lovely children’s playground up the top of the hill and a Japanese garden with a large pond down the bottom. It’s perfect for turtle, duck and carp spotting!
More details on this park in my Hiroo with Kids post here.
Japanese Gardens
Happo-en is our favourite ‘hidden’ Japanese garden. It’s a famous wedding and shichigosan (children’s coming of age ceremony) venue and is open early in the morning. Entrance to the garden is free and there is a bakery/cafe (with the unfortunate name of “Thrush” for breakfast, tea time and lunch.) This restaurant is also recommended on the Halal in Japan website.
I’ve included all the details in my Happoen with kids post here.
Summer Splash Pads
*Warning; check my post here for open times – almost always only open in July & August, regardless of the temperatures.
