My kids love Small Worlds, Tokyo. It’s a miniature museum easily accessed by the Yurikamome (monorail-style train line).
(Sorry for the Australia reference but … If you’re from Melbourne and your kids like Scienceworks or Cockington Green Gardens in Canberra – I think they will like this spot too.)
Small Worlds is also relatively close to Team Lab Planets (11 mins by public transport or 5 mins/approx 800 yen by taxi) so it’s easy to put these two together for before or after your Team Lab Planets booking.
Small Worlds is located on man-made island Odaiba. See here for my other things to do with kids while visiting Odaiba.
As the name suggests, the museum is made up of lots and lots of miniature dioramas and also some behind the scenes information on how they are made.
There are mountain scenes, different countries, space stations, airports and even a Sailor Moon section.
My kids loved the attention to detail (it’s a bit like the miniature scenes at Legoland, in that way.)
There are often lots of Japanese students here on school excursions.
Small Worlds also give out little treasure maps for kids and, if they find all of the items on the list, they can go and collect a small prize.
It’s cute and kept my two interested the whole time.
To get there, the closest station is Ariake Tennis no Mori Station (and then a 3 min walk.)
Small Worlds Tokyo is approximately 35 minutes from Tokyo Station by public transport.
We bought tickets at the door but it is possible to look online. It’s a big venue in a kind of random spot so it would be very rare to be sold out.
However, check the Small Worlds website here for the daily hours (as they can vary for different times of year) and for any special event announcements etc.
Small Worlds is wheelchair and stroller friendly (there are elevators between the floors.)
There are also breastfeeding rooms and change tables on floors 2 and 3. There is also boiling and cold water for parents to use to heat up formula or baby food.
There is a prayer room on floor 3.
There is a museum cafeteria that serves curry, sausages, beer, soft drinks and cakes. Here is the full menu of Koukun the Small Worlds Cafeteria.
Personally, I wouldn’t eat a meal here though. I recommend going to one of my other Odaiba meal recommendations in my Odaiba with kids post instead.
SMALL WORLDS, ODAIBA
ARIAKE BUTSURYU CENTRE, 1-3-33 ARIAKE, KOTO-KU
USUALLY OPEN 9AM-7PM (CHECK THE SMALL WORLDS WEBSITE CALENDAR FIRST)
ENTRY FOR ADULTS: 2,700 YEN
ENTRY FOR 12-17 YEAR OLDS: 1,900 YEN
ENTRY FOR 4-11 YEAR OLDS: 1,500 YEN
ENTRY FOR 3 YEARS & YOUNGER: FREE
