I’ll be completely honest here: I did not find Tokyo to be the most baby- or toddler-friendly city. Don’t get me wrong, the Japanese people could not stop cooing over my adorable little girl–obviously. That said, there was almost never a high chair or booster seat available at restaurants, and there just aren’t a lot of things to do that are geared toward babies and toddlers in the city. One coffee shop even had a sign out front that said no children allowed “to create a better experience for everyone.” (Well, everyone except desperate, jet lagged moms who want to support a local coffee shop, I guess.)
So, it’s a good thing my girl is used to just tagging along with me and whatever I’m doing! We looked at the pearls in the Mikimoto store (swoon), went to nice sushi restaurants with no kids’ menus, and did a lot of walking, sometimes with her in her giraffe harness, and sometimes with her in the wearable carrier attached to me. There were, however, several things my daughter enjoyed, despite not being “toddler-friendly!” Japan is very into “cute” things and bright colors, which toddlers and babies also tend to love. So, there are definitely options. Without further ado, here are the best things I did with my toddler in Tokyo!
Senso-Ji Temple
When in Japan, you gotta visit some temples! Senso-Ji is an easy one to visit, because it’s right in Asakusa, near downtown Tokyo. It’s an easy train ride from just about anywhere, and it’s extremely popular. My daughter liked the bright red everywhere, especially the giant lantern at the entrance. She got to walk up the steps to the temple and then down the steps off to the side. We got to see buddha statues and get our photo with a pagoda in the background. It was fun, even for a toddler in Tokyo.
More here: Tips for Your First Trip to Japan
Nakamise Market
This famous shopping market in Asakusa is such a fun place for a toddler. Bright colors, fun foods to try, we even found a children’s shop with traditional yukatas in her size! This market runs 250 meters from the famous Kaminarimon gate to Senso-Ji Temple, with shops running the full length on both sides. I bought my daughter a cute, pink yukata, and she got to try her first mochi while we were here!
Keep reading: Tips for Your First Trip to Tokyo
Samurai and Ninja Museum
This is fun for everyone! Japan’s famous warriors and original secret service are truly unique. They have such an interesting history, which kept my fascination throughout the museum tour, and Iris really liked the Samurai armor displays. It was 50/50 on whether she would think they were scary vs. interesting. Thankfully, I have a brave girl! But the best part was at the very end, with the ninja throwing stars! This requires a bit of extra supervision–thankfully, I had Iris in the wearable carrier for this. The museum tour guide gave everyone a rubber throwing star, and we all got to try our hands at throwing them at targets on the walls. I wasn’t great at it, but Iris thought it was fun to watch.
Read on: How to Spend a Month Abroad with a Toddler (even as a single parent!)
Shibuya Crossing
If your toddler is always wanting to walk–and what toddler isn’t?–you should definitely take them to the world’s most famous crosswalk. Shibuya Scramble Crossing is always busy, and can be kind of intense, but that can be part of the fun. My daughter loves walking, and we’re still learning about crosswalks, but she had fun seeing all the people and being part of the crowd. She did get carried her across because she wanted to be held, but we also had her giraffe harness available in case she had wanted to walk.
Keep reading: The Top 7 Reasons Why Single Parents Should Travel with Their Kids
Day Trip to Mt. Fuji
If your toddler can handle some car time (an hour and a half there and back, plus car time between sites), then a day trip to Mt. Fuji is a great thing to do. There are specific areas that are best for getting epic views of Mt. Fuji, so you’re sure to get some great photos of your little one on your day trip. But you’ll also have the chance to see historic towns in the area, watch koi fish swim in ponds and streams, and meet lots of locals. Toddlers soak up everything, and this day trip has the potential to give them lots of new sights, sounds, smells, and more.
More here: What Happens on a Rainy Day Trip to Mt. Fuji
Try some Fun Foods
This is one of my favorite things to do with my daughter! She has become more “discerning” (aka picky) as she’s gotten older, but she will still try new things when we travel. She surprised me multiple times in Japan. She was a fan of curry bread, Devil’s tongue, and soy mochi. I was not at all surprised that she liked sweet mochi cakes, but I was surprised when she swiped one away from me for herself! I love seeing her try new things around the world, and Japan has such fun, unique, pretty foods to try for a toddler in Tokyo!
(Coming soon) Read next: What We Ate in Tokyo
Honorable Mention: Ueno Park Zoo
This one was on our list, but we didn’t quite make it there! Ueno Park is home to Ueno Zoo, open since 1882 and Tokyo’s oldest and most visited zoo. There are over 3,000 animals here, including everyone’s favorite: Giant pandas. Zoos are always a winner with kids, since they would otherwise never be able to see most of the animals in them. We will definitely make the effort to visit Ueno Park Zoo next time we’re in Tokyo!
Want more? Check out my dedicated Japan Page!
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