10 Places in Japan That Are Perfect For Travelling With Kids

Going overseas with kids can be a little stressful, but it’s also extremely rewarding for the whole family. For any parents thinking of travelling with your kids to Japan, we’ve got you covered. This article highlights ten amazing kid-friendly places in Japan where the whole family can enjoy some fun, wholesome activities — without the kids getting restless! Ready for the perfect family vacation in Japan?

Also read: Best and Worst Times to Visit Japan: A Traveller’s Guide

Best family-friendly places in Japan for travelling with kids

1. Ueno Zoo, Tokyo

The first place in our pick of kid-friendly places in Japan is the famous Ueno Zoo. As Japan’s oldest and most-visited zoo, Ueno Zoo is home to more than 3,000 animals from a whopping 300 different species. Here, you’ll even find unique animals native to Japan, including the Hokkaido brown bear, Japanese serow, and Ezo sika deer! Children and parents who love animals will be thoroughly delighted here.

Ueno Zoo is located inside Ueno Park, one of Japan’s most famous public parks known for its beautiful cherry blossoms during springtime. 

Fun fact: Ueno Park is also home to several cool museums, including the National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo National Museum, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum!

2. Tokyo Dome City Attractions, Tokyo

Tokyo Dome City Attractions is an amusement park located inside Tokyo Dome, a famous leisure complex in the capital. Tokyo Dome City Attractions is home to lots of fun rides that don’t have height restrictions, and are therefore children-friendly. To enjoy a fantastic view of the city, hop onto the iconic ferris wheel ride, known as the Big O. 

You can also find exciting thrill rides here. If your kids have a height of at least 130cm, check out the Thunder Dolphin, a thrilling roller coaster that swings between buildings in the city centre!

Furthermore, because visitors pay for rides on a per-ride basis, Tokyo Dome City Attractions is a lot more wallet-friendly than other amusement parks in Japan. Add it to your list of affordable, fun children-friendly places to visit in Japan!

3. Pokemon Center MEGA TOKYO, Tokyo

Looking for unique Pikachu merchandise? Kids and adults who are hardcore Pokemon fans will be thrilled by a visit to Pokemon Center MEGA TOKYO. Located conveniently in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, the centre offers a wide range of Pokemon products from the oldest games to the latest ones. You’re bound to grab some adorable souvenirs here!

Fun fact: There are 15 other Pokemon Centers located all over Japan! 

4. Nara Park, Nara

Looking to enjoy quality time with your children surrounded by lush greenery and cute animals? We highly recommend visiting Nara Park for a fun time of deer-feeding! Nara Park is home to a multitude of friendly, free-roaming deer that absolutely love being fed and petted by human visitors! 

For just ¥200 (S$1.73), you can purchase a pack of deer crackers which you can feed to the deer. And if you bow to the deer, they’ll return the gesture! Feeding the deer at Nara Park will be a uniquely delightful experience for the whole family, and is one of the best things to do with your kids when in Japan.

Note: Visitors are allowed to feed the deer only with deer crackers!

5. Hakkeijima Sea Paradise, Yokohama

For the perfect combination of time spent with lovely animals and a time of thrill, check out Hakkeijima Sea Paradise, one of the top-visited amusement parks in Japan! This sprawling complex is home to three impressive aquariums: the Aqua Museum, Dolphin Fantasy, and Fureai Lagoon (Touch and Learn Lagoon). If you want to see polar bears and walruses, check out the Aqua Museum, which also happens to be one of Japan’s largest aquariums. And at the Fureai Lagoon, you can even physically interact with the animals!

Hakkeijima Sea Paradise also houses a fun amusement park known as Pleasure Land — here, you’ll find fun rides catering to people of all ages, such as the exciting Surf Coaster roller coaster ride which features a loop over the sea. You might even need more than a day to enjoy everything Hakkeijima has to offer! This is one of the most exciting places to visit when travelling with kids in Japan. 

Note: Hakkeijima Sea Paradise is located in Hakkeijima Kanazawa Ward, in Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture.

6. Cup Noodles Museum, Yokohama

Families who love cup noodles are going to like this next place on our list of kid-friendly places in Japan — the Cup Noodles Museum in Yokohama. Here, visitors will learn fascinating facts about the origins of cup noodles and try their hand at curating their own personalised cup noodles! The museum’s “Chicken Ramen Factory” workshop, in which visitors get to make chicken ramen by hand, is also a huge hit amongst children and adults.

Fun fact: The first Cup Noodles Museum in Japan was actually opened in Ikeda, north of Osaka!

7. Niseko United, Hokkaido

Lots of kids and adults love playing in the snow, which makes skiing one of the best things to do in Japan with your kids — and a great place to do just that is Niseko United in Hokkaido! Located on the beautiful mountainside of Niseko Annupuri, Niseko United actually comprises four gorgeous ski resorts: Niseko Annupuri International Ski Area, Niseko Village Ski Resort, Niseko Grand Hirafu Ski Resort, and Niseko Hanazono Ski Resort. These ski resorts have received glowing reviews, thanks to their abundance of amazing snow, and also offer beginner-friendly slopes which the little ones will love!

8. Nasu Highland Park, Tochigi Prefecture

Located in Nasu Town, Tochigi Prefecture, Nasu Highland Park is a great amusement park for families with young children. It offers more than 40 fun attractions, including roller coasters, character-themed events, and water rides — more than half of which are suitable for little children below three years of age! If you’re travelling with kids in the Kanto region of Japan, Nasu Highland Park will be a fun place to visit.

9. Fuji-Q Highland, Yamanashi Prefecture

If you’re searching for family-friendly and thrilling places in Japan, try visiting the Fuji-Q Highland amusement park in Japan’s Yamanashi Prefecture. This amusement park is best known for its collection of super-fast, steep roller coaster rides, some of which have broken world records — but it’s also home to other fun rides and attractions catering to both children and adults. 

Looking to try an extreme thrill ride with the family? Hop aboard the Takabisha, one of the world’s steepest roller coasters which plunges riders downward at a terrifying 121-degree angle. Need fun rides suitable for young children below one metre in height? Head to Thomas Land, an adorable themed zone based on the Thomas the Tank Engine children’s television series!

As with Tokyo Dome City Attractions, visitors to Fuji-Q Highland pay for rides using a per-ride system, which makes this amusement park more wallet-friendly!

Fun fact: Fuji-Q Highland is located in the Fuji Five Lake region at the foot of Japan’s iconic Mount Fuji, so you’re guaranteed some lovely views here!

10. Legoland Discovery Center Tokyo, Odaiba Island

The final item in our pick of kid-friendly places in Japan is the Legoland Discovery Center Tokyo, located on the beautiful Odaiba Island which is easily accessible from Tokyo Station. Here, families get to observe how the iconic Lego bricks are made and enjoy hands-on play in Lego workshops. You can even enjoy a four-dimensional experience inside the LEGO 4D Cinema. Immersing yourself in the land of Lego is one of the best things to do in Japan with your kids — especially for adults who are passionate about toys!

Also read: 14 Scenic Stays Near Mount Fuji for the Best Views

This article has picked out ten of the best places for family travel in Japan. Gear up for an exciting and wholesome time travelling with your kids in Japan!

---

Featured image credit: Michal Collection via Canva Pro